After much anticipation, Extra Foods will reopen as John's Your Independent Grocer on Nov. 1 at the Comox Centre Mall.
As of Saturday evening, the grocery store will be closed until 8 a.m Friday to prepare for the changeover.
Mayor Paul Ives along with Jeff Hampton and Faye Freisen of the Comox Valley Food Bank will be on hand to help store franchisee John Jerczynski and his team celebrate at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“I’m very excited to be a part of the neighbourhood and to serve our customers,” said Jerczynski, who opened the store in 2004. “Customers will be delighted to find a wide assortment of fresh items, including organic produce, meat and seafood, bakery and deli offerings.”
With 35 years of grocery retail experience, Jerczynski is passionate about customer service and fresh food.
The new-look grocery is 38,000 square feet, containing an expanded deli section that will offer sliced meats. There are 35 new positions — including a butcher — bringing the total number of part-time and full-time employees to 104.
A Meals to Go department will feature fresh, daily items including pizzas, hot entrees, salads, soups and sandwiches.
President Choice and no-name products will be available in nearly every aisle.
Rounding out the store is a full-service drugstore and pharmacy. Services include general pharmacist counsel, prescription services, a Food Allergy Management Assessment program, diabetes services and personalized blood pressure checks.
Customers can earn PC points, redeemable toward free groceries or merchandise when using a PC Financial, MasterCard or PC Financial no-fee daily banking debit card.
The store will help raise food and funds during the Extra Helping Holiday Food Drive in December, which will benefit the food bank.
John's Your Independent Grocer is a banner store under Loblaw Companies, a subsidiary of George Weston Ltd., Canada’s largest food retailer.
The store is open daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Friday's opening ceremony begins at 7:45 a.m.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com