The new Scarborough Hannaford supermarket is expected to open this October, just over a year since the supermarket chain said it would take over the former Shaw’s space.
The store, which is at 417 Payne Road, will be around 58,000 square feet. Hannaford is in the process of converting the store now.
The new store will be 2.3 miles from its other Scarborough location in the Oakhill Plaza shopping center and less than five miles from the Hannaford headquarters on Pleasant Hill Road.
On a tour of the site, Iris Ayotte, director of operations for the Portland area, told Mainebiz that Scarborough’s rapid growth justified having a second location.
“The [original] Scarborough store is just way too busy,” said Ayotte. “It’s hard for our customers and associates. This store will take pressure off the other location. We want people to shop with us; more customers are now in the area. More housing means more food. Hannaford resonates with this area and it is a preferred grocery store.”
Scarborough joins South Portland, Waterville, Portland, Brunswick and Augusta as the only Maine municipalities with to Hannaford locations. Bangor has three Hannaford locations.
Hannaford, which is part of the Dutch conglomerate Ahold Delhaize, has 186 stores in the Northeast, including 65 in Maine.
Now hiring
The Payne Road store is expected to employ 140 full- and part-time associates.
Ken Kirouac, who will be the store manager, said hiring is in full swing. Some of the new employees are coming from the Christmas Tree Shop, which is closing.
“We are doing quite well getting the key jobs filled,” said Kirouac. “We are ahead of schedule and already have employees training at eight different locations. We hired five employees from the Christmas Tree Shop. When we heard it was closing we reached out to let the employees know we were hiring.”
Construction
Construction began on the site on Feb. 6, led by Saco-based PM Construction Co.
PM Construction’s relationship with Hannaford spans many years and includes numerous projects throughout northern New England. Since 2000, PM Construction has managed over 50 projects for Hannaford, consisting of store renovations and new construction. A recent project of note was the new construction of the supermarket in Brunswick at Cooks Corner.
According to PM Construction, everything was redone in the building down to the studs. It has new cases, new freezers and plumbing.
Construction is expected to be completed in November, just in time for the holiday season.
“We are excited to bring this Hannaford to life and offer this to our Scarborough residents,” said Ayotte.
What’s new
While the structure and the interior will follow the look and feel of all Hannaford locations, this store has some new perks.
The new location will offer freshly made pizza. Customers can call and order for takeout or grab a slice during grocery shopping.
There will be a fine cheese area with freshly cut cheeses out front.
The store will offer self-checkout. But, for people doing bigger shopping, the store will have 11 bigger self-checkouts and five regular-size self-checkouts for those quick trips in and out of the store.
Like most Hannaford stores, it will have fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, snacks and a sushi chef, as well as a bakery.
The store will still have a pharmacy but will be better equipped during flu and COVID-19 shot season. The pharmacy will have a room where patrons can go in and have privacy to have their shots done.
If you are a Hannaford To-Go fan, don’t worry: this location will offer this service and there will be more slots available.
What is your favorite part about grocery shopping? The Mainebiz Food Insider wants to know! Contact Alexis Wells at awells@mainebiz.biz.