Sept. 15, 2021

Want a glimpse of how Hy-Vee envisions the future of grocery shopping? Look no farther than Grimes, Iowa.

That’s where the Iowa-based grocer this week opened its “first entirely reimagined grocery store,” as the company put it in a statement.

Hy-Vee, which also does business in eight states including South Dakota, incorporated a huge variety of nongrocery offerings into the new 93,000-square-foot Grimes location.

The centerpiece is a large, open “Food Hall dining area” for fast-casual dining with Mia Italian, HyChi & Hibachi, Nori Sushi, Chowbotics, Market Grille Express, Long Island Deli and a Wahlburgers at Hy-Vee. The dining area also serves Hy-Vee’s new breakfast menu and features a pub with a full bar and outdoor patio.

And there are plenty of other stores-within-a-store here:

DSW shoes and accessories.

Joe Fresh clothing.

The W Nail Bar.

A Pair Eyewear kiosk.

A Johnson Fitness & Wellness showroom.

An expanded Candy Shoppe with premium, novelty and nostalgic items.

Plus, the new Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits department featuring a walk-in beer cooler, walk-in humidor and walk-in wine room.

Familiar Hy-Vee amenities are here too: full-service bakery and meat and seafood counters, an expanded HealthMarket, an in-store Starbucks and a pharmacy with a drive-thru.

“The Grimes Hy-Vee is our most innovative store to date with state-of-the-art technology integrated into every department,” said Randy Edeker, chairman, CEO and president of Hy-Vee Inc. “From unique lifestyle company partnerships to a world-class Food Hall and everything in between, this store was designed to provide customers with every offering, amenity and convenience to make their lives easier, healthier and happier.”

The new Grimes store includes all-digital shelf labels that display product information and pricing and has more than 100 TVs that feature Hy-Vee products, promotions and services.

Digital kiosks are available for customers to order cakes and fresh prepared foods, as well as to access offerings via Hy-Vee Financial Services.

The store features new mobile payment technology with Hy-Vee Scan & Go, as well as self-checkout options intended to provide a faster, more convenient shopping experience.

Other amenities include Hy-Vee Aisles online grocery delivery and pickup service, mother’s room, dry cleaning, bill pay, money transfers and postal services.

The price tag? Hy-Vee estimates it’s a more than $26 million investment to build, furnish and stock the store, which will create 400 jobs.

As for whether some of the changes could be integrated into existing stores, “as we renovate stores in a market/location, we will certainly look to incorporate the technology designed to make the shopping experience more seamless and convenient,” Hy-Vee said in a statement.