GENTRY — Harps Foods is coming to Gentry and hopes to be open for business by the end of the year, according to an announcement made at the close of Monday night's city council meeting by Kevin Johnston, Gentry's mayor.
The new store will be located at the site of the old Marvin's store on the corner of Arkansas Highways 12 and 59, but a complete remodel of the old store building is planned first, according to Johnston.
Johnston made the announcement at the close of Monday's city council meeting, saying he had received the news by text message just minutes before the council meeting started. The announcement brought cheers and applause at the meeting.
According to council member Janice Arnold, Johnston had been working single-handedly on inviting Harps Foods to consider opening a store in Gentry and fill the void left when Walmart closed its Neighborhood Market (formerly an Express store) in Gentry.
Johnston told council members that he was not alone in the work, but all applauded his efforts.
Harps Foods was praised for choosing the old Marvin's location because the store will be accessible from both highways and it will be much less hazardous for drivers to enter and exit from the parking area there than at the former Walmart location.
Some also expressed the opinion that they had hoped it would be Harps Foods which would come to Gentry rather than another grocer.
Harps Food Stores, with offices in Springdale, issued a release on Tuesday announcing the purchase of the James Property building in Gentry, at the intersection of Gentry Blvd. (Arkansas Hwy. 59) and E. 3rd Street (Arkansas Hwy. 12).
"The acquisition of the property, where a grocery store was in operation a few years ago, continues the Harps growth pattern of continually seeking new locations for their stores," the release stated.
"The structure of the store is approximately 23,500 square feet and, after major remodeling, will once again provide a local grocery store for Gentry and the surrounding area," the release stated. "The Harps store will feature a wide variety of groceries, fresh-cut beef, pork and poultry and fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as deli and bakery selections.
"The timing of this opening is still to be determined, but we expect the store to open by the end of this year," the release said.
According to the release, Harps is the largest employee-owned company headquartered in Arkansas and currently operates 80 stores in northern and central Arkansas, southern Missouri and eastern Oklahoma. Harps is opening a new store in Waldron on March 9, to replace an older building purchased a few years earlier. In addition, Harps is currently working on new store projects in Vilonia and in De Soto, Kan. Both stores are expected to open in the fall of 2016.
The Gentry Chamber of Commerce posted the following announcement on its website on Tuesday: "We are excited to have a Harps Hometown Fresh Store as a part of our city. We want to thank Harps Foods for its investment in our city and remind everyone to 'Shop Local, Shop Gentry!'"