Fareway opens new store in LeClaire, Iowa; relocates company headquarters

Fareway Stores, Inc. opened its newest store in LeClaire, Iowa, on Wednesday, but that’s not the only news for the Boone-Iowa based grocery retailer this week. The Midwest grocery retailer is moving its corporate headquarters from Boone to Johnston, which is located just north of Iowa’s capital city of Des Moines.

Boone Mayor John Slight on Tuesday said the city is "disappointed" but understanding of Fareway's decision to relocate about 35 miles south.  

“Fareway has been, is and will remain a vital and valued corporate citizen in Boone," Slight said. "The decision announced by its leadership today that its corporate headquarters will be moving to Johnston is one that is important to Fareway’s continued expansion. While we may be disappointed, the move is also beneficial to Boone for several reasons. Fareway’s downtown office will become the new home for approximately 45 wholesale office employees. That’s more people than are currently working in the downtown office and will boost our downtown’s vitality. As [CEO] Reynolds Cramer emphasized, what hasn’t changed is Fareway’s commitment to Boone as more than 600 employees continue to work at the wholesale campus and office. Just as it always has, Fareway will continue to make significant investments in its local facilities and our community at large. And as Fareway continues to expand throughout the Midwest, we know that Boone’s role in its success will also grow.”

Fareway did not immediately respond to a WGB request to comment on the move.

During Wednesday's ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony for its new store in LeClaire at 1301 Eagle Ridge Road, Cramer expressed excitement for the grocer's new location in the Mississippi River town. 

“We are excited to join and serve the community of LeClaire,” Cramer said. “We want to thank the community and local officials for their support in welcoming Fareway to LeClaire.”

Local and state officials echoed positive comments regarding the store’s ground-breaking ceremony. “Area residents have been eagerly anticipating a community grocery store with some of the freshest meat and produce in the market,” said LeClaire Mayor Dennis Gerard in a statement. “Thank you for continuing to serve and invest in the community of LeClaire.”

The 85-year-old grocery retailer known for its commitment to rural areas, is also planning a new store relocation in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Construction for this location is scheduled to begin in spring 2024.

Fareway, which is a family-owned business, operates more than 135 stores and has more than 12,000 total employees.