Welcome to Heebs Fresh Market – still the ‘Eastest Main grocery store’
Such is the case with other districts, Bozeman’s east side is getting its own revamp thanks to the opening of a favorite area grocer’s new store.
Heebs Fresh Market invites the public to stop by with their shopping lists on January 17th, relocating from its longtime home of Downtown Bozeman to the Highland Blvd. space more than double in size – with parking to match.
The move ends a years-long vacancy at the edge of town and offers locals the convenience of an easily accessed option for groceries, lunch, prescription refills from Western Drug, and other last-minute needs.
There’s no one more eager for the doors to finally open than owner Mitch Bradley, along with his wife, Sherri Bradley, whose plans for the new location stretch back to 2015.
“The whole process has been a real education and it’s certainly been challenging,” he says. “I think that’s what life is about, to be challenged. I’ve had some great experiences and I’ve created a lot of really wonderful relationships, so I feel grateful. I’m very excited with what we’ve produced, and I think the public is really going to like what we’ve got out there. I can’t wait to get started.”
With various permit and construction obstacles far in the rearview, this month’s opening is that much more anticipated. The new store will house everything regular shoppers have come to expect, but with a much larger variety. Produce, dairy, canned items, frozen food, meat and baked goods – it’s all there, but thinking ‘bigger’ is the best way to understand Heebs: the sequel.
“We’ve always wanted to maintain what we have done right, but always look for ways to make ourselves better,” he says.
In addition to bulk foods, the 26,500-square-foot Fresh Market, as the store’s updated moniker suggests, has significantly broadened its perishable offerings to include a precut fruit and vegetable section, full-service butcher block, and expanded bakery program.
And to complement the strides its made to encourage healthier eating, Heebs will no longer sell tobacco products.
Spurred by a friend’s suggestion his biggest impact could be with kids, Bradley made the decision to leave the cigarette display case behind.
“I feel like I can really do something that way,” he says, “and I think you can ask anybody as they get older and they wish they had never started. So, we’re going to make a step in that direction.”
Perhaps Heebs Fresh Market’s most notable feature is its sizable deli area, which leans into the evolving ‘grocerant’ business model seen more and more in supermarkets looking to provide an alternative to the traditional restaurant.
“A lot of stores are offering more heat-and-eat meal replacement items, a better selection of foods you can get right there, and seating areas,” he says.
Heebs adds a large space for seating on the mezzanine level of the store to accompany their new menus and daily lunch specials. The second-floor layout will accommodate working lunches, quick solo meals, even dinner when the trip to the store cuts a little too deep into a school night.
But those worried Heebs will lose its small-town, community feel needn’t fret. The cut fruit and veggie area can be found mid-store, staff size has more than doubled, and no self-checkouts were installed despite the increased traffic. These choices were made with intention to retain that face-to-face between Heebs employees and shoppers.
“We created a type of store that allows a lot of interaction between our customers and employees because that’s what we wanted to maintain,” he says.
Bradley plans to host a grand opening celebration sometime this spring, once the store has had a chance to open and perfect its operations. As for the now shuttered Heebs East Main Grocery, the building has sold but plans for the space have not yet been announced.
“I am very community-involved, love where I live, and feel very fortunate to be here,” he says. “I always want to say thanks to our shoppers because they’re the only reason we exist and have an opportunity like we do – so, thank you to Bozeman.”
Heebs Fresh Market, still the ‘Eastest Main grocery store’ opens at 9am on Thursday, January 17th. Following its inaugural day of business, regular hours will be from 6am–10pm, seven days a week. Log on towww.heebsgrocery.com to learn more. •
