Hy-Vee’s biggest store now open in Nebraska

Hy-Vee’s has opened its largest store to date in a town just outside of Omaha in Nebraska. 

The 135,000-square-foot market in Gretna, Neb. includes a 6,300-square-foot Aisles Online grocery delivery and pickup service and a 4,250-square-foot Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh convenience store. The complex cost over $37 million and will offer 628 jobs.

The store also will have all-digital shelf labels displaying produce information and pricing and more than 100 digital screens announcing product information, store promotions, and other services. Digital kiosks are also available for customers to order custom cakes and fresh prepared foods, as well as access offerings via Hy-Vee Financial Services.

The Food Hall dining area — now becoming a Hy-Vee mainstay in all new stores — have fast-casual dining, which includes Hy-Vee’s expanded breakfast menu; a pub with full sit-down bar, 32 taps and an outdoor patio. Restaurants include Mealtime offerings, Mia Italian, HyChi and Hibachi, Nori Sushi, Market Grille Express, Long Island Deli, and Wahlburgers.

Hy-Vee won a Supermarket News Food Service at Retail Innovator award for its Food Hall concept. The strategy behind the layout is to provide meal options for those families who simply do not have time to cook a full meal at home. 

“Seventy percent of our customers say they have no idea what they are going to make for dinner at four o’clock,” said Ryan Roberts, executive vice president for perishables. “So our concept of our food halls is really to provide very high quality products and a wide variety.”

A full-service bakery, deli, meat counter, and seafood counter are also located in the store. A pharmacy, floral department, eyewear kiosk, beauty shop and candy store are other offerings. Shoppers can also visit a dry cleaners and postal services area.

Additional in-store offerings include a Pair Eyewear kiosk, a beauty department, and an expanded Candy Shoppe department with premium, novelty and nostalgic selections. This location also has a large Hy-Vee Wine and Spirits department featuring a walk-in beer cooler, walk-in humidor and walk-in wine room.

The store will carry about 120,000 items, including over 6,300 specialty items, more than 8,000 HealthMarket items and 3,500 fresh produce items (including 120 organic items).