EAST BUFFALO TOWNSHIP -- A new Giant Food store opened Friday in Union County. Shoppers say they have been waiting years for this grocery store to open.
It's opening day, check-out lines were packed and carts were full of food. Shoppers took their first look inside the brand new Giant Food store, its newest business to open in the Penn House Commons near Lewisburg.
"We've been waiting a while for it to open."
Sue Vanderpool came prepared. She packed three shopping carts full of food and other items.
"Cut coupons yesterday, got the list, yep went on the Giant app, got the grocery list off the app. We're doing good," Vanderpool said.
"This area only had one other major super market chain and we realized there was a need for someone else to come here," said store manager Marvin Mann.
The grand opening started at 8 a.m. and the parking lot remained packed. People tell us they have been waiting years for this grocery store to open.
"We had the worst time trying to find a parking spot," said Marian Anderson of Lewisburg. "I knew it would be busy, but I didn't know the whole parking lot would be full."
Once inside shoppers were given a first look at the pharmacy, beer garden, and Starbucks.
The crowds kept new employees busy. So far Giant's management team says it has hired over 100 workers, many of them live nearby.
"I live literally two minutes' walk. I can see from my house."
Michelle Pointer was a stay at home mom, but now, "months before it opened I said I'm going to make sure that I put an application in for this is the only place I applied for. I did not apply for anything else. I wanted to work here."
Giant Food is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at Penn House Commons near Lewisburg.