Local News - August 2002

Denver’s New Harris Teeter offers variety

By BETH TOBIN, Staff Writer

August 7, 2002 - DENVER — Got a recipe calling for Japanese Eggplant? Ever heard of Japanese Eggplant? The new Harris Teeter opening up at Highway 73 and 16 in Denver promises to carry it among other hard to find items.

 The 36,000 square foot store will have its grand opening on Wednesday Aug. 14.

 “We’ll have a full variety of produce, including expanded organic produce,” explains store manager Scott Rothell.

 “We’ve also got a Sushi and Soup Bar and of course a Deli and Bakery Shop.”

 For vegetarians, co manager Scott Pittman says they will have lots of soy options.

 “For meat lovers, we feature Angus beef with a new type of very lean ground beef not readily available in other stores.”

 Besides all the food offerings, the store will also have wider aisles and better lighting than most supermarkets.

 “We want our customers to read labels and check pricing easily.”

 Most of the store’s 80 employees have already been hired and are currently going through training.

 Eight cashiers were getting check out instructions from Sharon Taylor who took them through all the paces.

 “Now I want you to enter the price of those peaches, …but suddenly the customer says, ‘I’ve changed my mind I only want three peaches.’

 Now I want you to deduct the price of three peaches from the total you just rang up.”

 And for those who really like to get involved in the grocery experience, they also offer self serve checkouts.

 Outside Harris Teeter three other stores have already opened for business, a State Farm Insurance office, Pizza Hut and Birkdale Cleaners.

 “Business has been slow but it is picking up as more and more people find out we’re here, “explains Brandon Bae owner of Birkdale., “it’s exactly as we expected for being open less than a month.”

 As for those with an urge for pizza after they drop off their dry cleaning, Pizza Hut sits next door.

 “We’re strictly delivery and carry out, “says shift manager, John Rogers.

 “We deliver as far west as Highway 27 up to Alexis Lucia Road.”

 They also go north to Forney Hill Road in Denver and east out Highway 73 almost to Huntersville.

 “We had to go to Cornelius to get Pizza Hut pizza before, “says Shasta Bryant who came with her friend Myra to pick up pizzas.

 “This is really a lot closer for anyone who lives in Denver.

 Other shops set to open include a Japanese Restaurant, nail and hair salon, Blockbuster Video and a Mailboxes Etc.

 Only three units in the 80,000 square foot complex have not been leased.

 Shellco out of Charlotte is the developer.

 Next door is a large single and multi unit housing complex also under construction.

 “We hope to be a neighborhood shopping center,” says Rotheld.

 “But we’ll also draw people all around the lake who want what we have to offer.”

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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