Coborn’s in Clearwater held a Grand Re-Opening Celebration last week to invite the community in to see the store’s new look and new offerings.

Many in the area took them up on the offer; the parking lot was overflowing and the store was filled with people. From 3 to 7 p.m. guests and customers were greeted with local entertainment, free flowers, cake, and chances to win door prizes. The American Legion Color Guard also greeted customers at the door during a portion of the event.

“It was wonderful,” said Store Director Kristine Holthusen. “We had great support from the community in the number that attended the event.”

With the completion of the Clearwater location, Coborn’s has updated 10 of its 28 Coborn’s stores into its new, next-generation format. The updated locations are now called Coborn’s Marketplace.

Along with the new store concept there are also a variety of new offerings, including the expansion of fresh products in the perimeter of the store, enhanced vitamin and nutrition items, a larger variety of ethnic foods, integrated natural and organic items, and a growing assortment of Coborn’s Four Brothers specialty items, such as gourmet popcorn.

Caribou Coffee shops are also being added to the remodeled stores, which allowed  the Clearwater branch to add 17 new positions. 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at 4 p.m., which was attended by the Clearwater store team, corporate staff, Clearwater Mayor Andrea Lawrence-Wheeler, City Administrator Annita Smythe, city council members, and members of the Clear Valley Business Connection.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to grow in the Clearwater Community and proud to be a part of it,” said VP of Fresh Merchandising Emily Coborn, who thanked the community for their patience during the remodel and the store team for all its hard work.

Throughout the grocery and liquor stores were numerous sampling stations during the event, giving customers the opportunity to try some of Coborn’s new items. There were also free massages available, face painting and cookie decorating. The Clearwater Library manned a booth offering prizes and information on its Friends of the Library group.

Members of the Clearwater Fire Dept., including Chief Ryan Pridgeon, brought smiles to customers’ faces while they bagged groceries throughout the event.

Holthusen took over as Clearwater’s store director in mid-September; she has been employed by Coborn’s in various leadership positions since 2014. She shared that one of the main reasons she came to work for Coborn’s was because of the great experience she had at the Clearwater store; she lived in Clearwater for 10 years, and now resides with her family in Annandale.

“It was great to see the everyone come together and to see the excitement that was in the store the entire day,” said Holthusen. “I want to thank the community for its support.”

Coborn’s has been part of the Clearwater community for over 40 years. Next year the company will be celebrating its centennial.