Fareway: Can't wait to get there
Meg Alexander — Staff WriterFAIRMONT - Rumors that Fareway has backed out of coming to Fairmont are untrue, according to the grocery chain's chief executive officer.
Rick Beckwith heard through the grapevine that his company supposedly had changed its mind about purchasing the County Market building and moving to town, because of the city's building codes being too strict. He was quick to nip the rumor in the bud.
"We've made no such decision," Beckwith said. "We are tickled to death to come to Fairmont and can't wait to get there."
A date for an opening is not yet available. Originally, the grocery store was set to start business in August, joining 96 other Fareway stores in the central Midwest.
"We've had some delays, but not to worry," Beckwith said. "We'll get there as fast as we can."
Before that can happen, major remodeling must be completed. The inside of the former County Market store will be gutted and renovated.
"We'll start with four walls and see if we can fill it up," Beckwith said.
Improvements to the building's exterior and parking lot also are on Fareway's agenda. Once finished, the store will employ 50 to 80 people, depending on demand.
Coinciding with work in Fairmont, Fareway is building a new store in Worthington. The two new locations will be the second and third stores Fareway has in Minnesota. The first opened earlier this year in Stewartville, south of Rochester. The other sites are located mainly in Iowa, with a couple near Omaha and two others in Illinois.
Fareway executives discovered Fairmont while driving through the area on their way to Worthington.
"All of us were very impressed by the community and the vitality of it," Beckwith said.
County Market's location was ideal, and the rest is history, he said.
Gordy's Properties of Worthington is selling the building to Fareway, since Jeff and Renae Vetter, who owned County Market, did not purchase it when they bought the business in 2007. Rather than compete with another grocery store in Fairmont, the Vetters opted out of their lease with Gordy's.
For more information on Fareway, visit the company's Web site at www.fareway.com
