Jewel-Osco hosts grand re-opening, featuring Starbucks

MORRIS — For the past nine weeks or so, the Jewel-Osco store in Morris has been undergoing an intensive remodel.

On Thursday, the store had its grand re-opening, and Morris coffee lovers may have to learn a bit of a new lingo.

The centerpiece of the remodel is a Starbucks Coffee counter at the northeast corner of the store, where the Grundy County Bank branch was previously located. So, instead of ordering small, medium or large, patrons are going to have to learn what the terms tall, grande and venti mean.

It didn't seem to stop many, as the counter was busy with patrons all morning, according to Jewel-Osco manager Jim Oetter.

"Starbucks has been having a nice day," Oetter said. "It has certainly brought a lot of people in here."

But there is more than just Starbucks that is new and improved at the store. Oetter pointed out that there is also a sushi bar, a salad bar and a hot bar, all at the north end near the deli section. They have all had their openings within the last week and seem to be popular additions in their own right.

Not only have the food bars been added, but the entire store itself has been remodeled with new flooring and the center aisles have been expanded and re-arranged a bit.

"It's been a while coming," Oetter said. "We have been due for improvement, and our time came up. The company wanted to give the community the best store it could, and decided to put the money into the store.

"We think it worked out really well. The sushi bar, salad bar and hot bar have been open for a week or so and people seem to like those. The floral department has been redesigned and is more open now.

"We have made some big improvements in the center sections, too. The aisles have been expanded, so there is a better selection of items for our customers, as well. We also have fresh orange juice, grapefruit juice and our own infused water. There are improvements just about everywhere you look and we think people are really going to like it."

In the front of the store are a few parking spots dedicated to those patrons who just want to run in and grab a quick coffee at Starbucks, and the coffee counter has its own entrance, just to the south of the main entrance at the north end of the store.

"We put those spots there just for those who want to come in and grab a quick coffee," Oetter said. "They are 15-minute spaces and it doesn't take that long to get a coffee. We didn't think people should have to park far away and walk a good distance if all they want is a cup of coffee."