A regional grocer has finalized plans to officially join the Saxonburg community later this summer.
After nine months of negotiations over the site of the former Friedmans in Saxonburg, co-owner of Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market Doug Sprankle is committed to bringing an enjoyable shopping experience to the residents of southern Butler County.
“I think that Saxonburg has a lot of beliefs and a lot of ethos to match ours and we are going to do our best to serve them. We have a very big job to do. We have to fill the shoes of that community store for Saxonburg that they haven’t had for a couple years and so we’re going to come out swinging and we’re going to get it done and we’re going to have them have a nice shopping experience that they are proud of.”
The closing on the property took place Thursday, and even with the difficulties presented due to the ongoing coronavirus situation, Sprankle plans to open the store shortly before the 4th of July.
Although Sprankle says the building is a nice size and has “good bones”, there is a lot of work that needs to be done over the next two months.
“It needs the parking lot sealed, new facade, new sign, it needs new lighting outside. We’re redoing the whole front end so that instead of having the double swing doors, it now becomes an automatic single door. We’re also swapping most of the cases in the store. We’re incorporating a rear-fed dairy cooler. We’re adding meat cases. We’re going to cut a 24 foot swath through the entire store so that the isle length is now shortened to 40 feet. It’s just going to feel a lot more open.”
Sprankle believes that the store will need between 42 and 45 employees with hiring expected to begin the middle of next month.
Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market currently has two locations in Leechburg and Kittanning.
