After years of waiting, town gets a grocery store

OSCEOLA, Ark. (KAIT) - For the first time in years, people in Osceola will now have a choice for where they want to get groceries.

The town has been without a standalone grocery store for 8 years. For those who have been begging for a store, the wait is finally over. Hay’s Grocer, 815 West Keiser, opened its doors on May 3.

“The people of Osceola enjoy a nice grocery store and now have one,” said Mayor Joe Harris, Jr.

He said the new store is a “game changer” for the Mississippi County town.

“It’s an exciting day in Osceola, with all the steel mills and all the industry coming in,” Harris said. “We are now a first-class city with a major grocery chain.”

Shoppers like Edward Richardson started gathering early Wednesday morning to get a first look at the new store.

“We got something that is closer to the inner city of the town that local people can come and shop at,” Richardson said.

Other shoppers, like Veve Alexander, said she was there for the deals, saying in this economy, it’s nice to have a reasonable option.

“It looks like everything is going to be a little cheaper here, Alexander said. “I got me a pork butt for $6, I couldn’t believe that.”

Copyright 2023 KAIT. All rights reserved.