Ed Gustafson of Staples, above, was one of the first customers at the new Ernie’s Food Market at 1230 Highway 10 east when the store opened Thursday, June 17. The store has close to 30,000 square feet of sales space, compared to the 15,000 in the former store. They now include the grocery and a convenience store, gas station, liquor store and tobacco shop. The building is also the new home of the local Arvig’s Communications outlet of Staples and will be a pickup and drop-off point for Hockert’s Dry Cleaning.

Belinda Kozitka, the clerk in the top photo, got photos of the first customers to enter the new store. Becky Ruby, left, was the first, followed by Marilyn Hassler, above.