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Dowagiac Family Fare celebrated its renovation with a ribbon-tying ceremony presented by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)

Dowagiac Family Fare celebrated its renovation with a ribbon-tying ceremony presented by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)

Dowagiac Family Fare celebrated its renovation with a ribbon-tying ceremony presented by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)

Dowagiac Family Fare celebrated its renovation with a ribbon-tying ceremony presented by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)

Dowagiac Family Fare celebrated its renovation with a ribbon-tying ceremony presented by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)

DOWAGIAC — A local grocery store’s renovation was celebrated by the community Friday afternoon.

Dowagiac Family Fare, 56151 M-51, Dowagiac, celebrated its renovation with a ribbon-tying ceremony presented by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce. 

“This (ribbon-tying) represents how important this particular business is for our community by providing a great place to shop,” said Chamber President Kris Soenen. “We are not a food desert because this business has chosen to advance in our community, which is really important.”

Several chamber members and city and store officials were on hand for the event, which allowed guests in attendance to see the upgraded facility, which featured new flooring and enhancements to its produce, meat, bakery and deli offerings, adding hot food options, grill-ready options, a sushi bar and a larger selection of produce including its “Fresh and Finest” cut fruit. In addition, its pharmacy now has a consultation room for customers and an expanded entry/exit way will allow customers to go in and out quicker.

The store also opened a Starbucks kiosk in April, offering hot sandwiches, pastries and nitro and cold brew coffees.

“We very much appreciate the patronage that the community has provided to Family Fare and we very much appreciate in return what the Family Fare is doing in Dowagiac, which is creating a 21st century space for people to shop, get their pharmacy and their coffee,” said Mayor Don Lyons. “Without that continued investment, you fall behind and that reflects poorly on the community… They said ‘we’re going to make this a place where not only people want to shop, but they can find what they need’ – they don’t have to drive to Niles or Mishawaka. I think that’s critically important for us as a community to keep that nexus of the economy here.”

For Store Manager Dan Stuck, the extensive renovation is the continuation of SpartanNash’s “people-first” culture, which aligns with its emphasis on providing quality service to customers and the community.

According to Stuck, staff and community members have been enjoying the improvements made to the facility and look forward to the store’s grand reopening celebration taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The event will feature raffle giveaways, games for children including an obstacle course, a balloon artist and a DIY seedling pot, a dunk tank with proceeds going to the Dowagiac Fire Department and a hotdog lunch with proceeds benefiting Dowagiac Cheerleading.

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