WINTERVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – A new grocery store opened in Winterville Thursday morning.

Lowes Foods opened its doors to the community and it’s part of a chain that has closed two of its ENC locations in the past 9 years.

Ashley Gaskins, just one of many grocery shoppers who came out Thursday says, “When I heard a Lowes Foods was coming here, I was ecstatic.”

In 2015, they shut down their Greenville location and in 2017, their store in Kinston closed.

“I actually moved to Greenville in 2015 right as the other Lowes Foods was closing and it was very disappointing when that happened,” Gaskins told WITN.

However, Lowes Foods President, Tim Lowe says he’s optimistic this new location will be different due to the timing. “We were here back in the Greenville market a few years ago and so for us, we were just looking for the right time and the right opportunity to be able to come back. North Carolina is home for us.”

The chain hopes to attract customers by offering specials unique to Lowes Foods.

“Hot coffee bars, we got smokehouse, we’ve got chicken wings, we’ve got it all. We have our own beer den that’s right here in store. We have flight nights on Friday nights, we have thirsty Thursdays for half price on Thursdays, we’ve got wine-down Wednesdays, we have mimosa Sundays,” Lowe said.

Gaskins told WITN she too is hopeful to see the store thrive. “I really hope that we fill all the little areas around and shops around it. Honestly, it’s such a good location. I can’t see it not doing well.”

The Lowes Foods Winterville location will be open Monday through Sunday 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.