By Jenna Oden

A new discount grocery store will soon be moving into the building space formerly occupied by Food World on South Brundidge Street.

Hank Carlstrom, owner of Grocery Advantage, said that this will be his fifth store to open and that the community can expect quality service.

“We may be a discount grocery store, but we cut all of our meat on site and get our produce locally,” Carlstrom said. “We plan for it to be run by local folks and pride ourselves in the services we provide.”

Grocery Advantage got its start in Florida and then another one location opened in Enterprise. Carlstrom said Troy was chosen as the store’s fifth site because it is a growing city that is being underserved in the grocery store market. After a remodel of the building with new shelving, floors, updated design and new equipment, shoppers will not recognize the inside.

“We have spent a lot of time and money investing into the location,” Carlstrom said. “This building has been a grocery store for 35 years, but no one will able to recognize the building.”

After being vacant for over a year, Carlstrom believes that it will be a good opportunity for the store because he knows the community and is close by.

“The same people that own our building in Enterprise rented out this one to us as well, so it was meant to be; it was fate,” Carlstrom said. “Everything just worked out and I am very familiar with the area. I worked in Troy for three years and love the community, plus there is very good synergy with the college. It was worth taking a shot.”

The store will carry all the same name brands as a larger market store but will sell them at a cheaper price.

“We may sell the same items as other stores, but our prices are competitive,” Carlstrom said. “Not only that, but we will have a friendly staff and I just hope the people in this community will give us a chance to earn their business.”

The grand opening will be November 15; in the meantime the store will be accepting applications October 30-31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will conduct interviews on the spot. The store will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.