Super Foods, a grocery stalwart in the Camellia City since 1974, will soon get a new look.

Phillip Graham, store manager, made the announcement recently.

The renovation, proving the store’s commitment to serving its Greenville customers, will cost over a half million dollars.

Graham said Friday the renovation comes about after a long time of discussion and planning.

&uot;This was the dream of Mr. Wilson to do this renovation for the Greenville’s store’s customers,&uot; Graham said of John E. Wilson, known to most as &uot;Mr. Jimmy.&uot; &uot;Although we lost Mr. Wilson last year, we wanted to move forward with his plans.&uot;

The manager said customers will see many changes in the renovation including several knew refrigeration units throughout the store.

Also, they will install all new shelving beginning on Monday.

&uot;It will give the store a new modern look,&uot; Graham said.

&uot;We’ll have a new look, but our customers will find we still offer the same quality customer service.&uot;

One of the things that Graham is really excited about is the addition of a covered driveway just off the right entrance at the store.

&uot;We will have a covered drive for our customers to drop off others or pick up others,&uot; he said.

&uot;We believe this will be beneficial to our disabled and elderly patrons.&uot;

The plans call for the renovation to be completed by July 1 and Graham said they would have a large grand reopening celebration.

However, during the time of the renovation, the store will remain open for business.

&uot;We are doing some of the work at night and we’ll work around our customers during the day,&uot; he said.

&uot;We ask that they be patient with our progress and we believe they’ll like the changes.

We are keeping some of good ‘old’ stuff while adding some new ‘good’ stuff.&uot;

Super Foods, which is a member of the cooperative of independent grocery stores known as Associated Grocers of the South. In 1971, Wilson bought the Big Bear store located in Luverne and followed with the Greenville store in 1974.

His son, John Wilson Jr. now heads the grocery company.

Janice Freeland, who was shopping at the store on Friday, said she is happy to see her favorite local grocery store getting a facelift.

&uot;I’ve lived in other cities and it is rare that you enter a store and have people call you by your name,&uot; she said.

&uot;The employees are always very friendly and helpful and you can’t beat their prices.&uot;

Graham expressed his thanks to First Lowndes Bank who worked up the financial aspect of the renovation. He said it was just a good example of local businesses helping each other.

&uot;We like to do business with local people when we can, and this was a good opportunity,&uot; he said.

Super Foods is located at 175 Greenville Bypass next door to Fred’s.

They are open Monday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.