Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Roxy’s opening postponed again

Ketchum grocery store takes shape for June 1 opening


By TREVON MILLIARD
Express Staff Writer

Roxy Lawler, co-owner of Roxy’s Market with her husband, Mike, stands besides a line of crates stacked high with shelf parts for their new grocery store. The Main Street building’s interior is starting to come together for a planned June 1 opening. Roxy’s opening postponed again Photo by Trevor Schubert

It will take three months longer to open Roxy's Market than the owners originally planned, but the 12,000-square-foot interior is at last starting to look like a grocery store. Two deep freezers bank the center aisle. Workers are cutting shelves for nine aisles. The deli counter and bins for dairy and produce are in place. Soon will come the food.

"June 1st is my drop-dead deadline," said Roxy Lawler, who owns the market with her husband, Mike.

She then laughed as she joked, "I'm going to kill myself if we don't open by June 1."

The Lawlers announced in late August that they were remodeling the Ketchum building for Roxy's, planning for an early-March grand opening. It then shifted to late March or early April because of changes to equipment being ordered. The Lawlers then said May 1 at the very latest.

The building at Main and First streets, formerly home to Williams Market and Safeway, never failed to surprise the Lawlers. Roxy said the plumbing needed an overhauling but the electrical wasn't in bad shape. The infrastructure is now up to par, but the Lawlers are in no hurry to open the doors. Making a strong first impression is most important.

"Once we had delays pushing us into the off-season, there was no rush," she said while walking through the store Tuesday. "At this point, we had so many hurdles, another few days wouldn't make a difference. It's not our first rodeo."

The married couple opened their first grocery store in Telluride, Colo., and have another in Aspen. She said they expected the building to need improvements but leased it because it was specifically built as a grocery store. A loading dock allows easy deliveries in the building's rear, and the 30-year-old walk-in freezers still work, as do the produce bins and other bins that will still be used.

So, what will Roxy's offer?

"I think the impression is out there that we're a high-end grocery store," she said, especially since they're also in Aspen. "Without locals, we probably cannot survive."

She said Roxy's would offer healthy choices, such as organic and natural foods, but also the "conventional choices." Prepared meals and a salad bar will also be available.

"We'll hopefully have something for everyone at every price point," she said

Roxy's will also open its shelves to local farmers and vendors, Lawler said.

"I say, 'Bring it on.' If it sells, we'll keep it. We want to be a community grocery store."

Those interested in offering products can e-mail Roxy at roxysmarket@yahoo.com.

Trevon Milliard: tmilliard@mtexpress.com




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