Hy-Vee celebrates 65 years in Newton

It has been 65 years since Hy-Vee brought its “helpful smiles in every aisle” to Newton to give customers another place to shop for groceries. A lot has changed in the more than half a century worth of service.

Hy-Vee opened in Newton with a 10,000-square-foot building at 1702 First Ave. E. Feb. 1, 1954. The building was just the beginning. Over the following decades, it would relocate and add additional services as it grew.

“I think it probably made sense geographically, the demographics and everything for the town in 1954 when they opened up,” Newton Hy-Vee Store Director Rick Morr said.

Hy-Vee would move two times from its original location to 1810 First Ave. E. in 1970, then into the Newton Shopping Mall at 1501 First Ave. E. in 1986. Newton maintained two Hy-Vee locations with Hy-Vee West at 1302 First Ave. W. When the shopping mall was closed and demolished Hy-Vee brought both locations under the same roof when its new building was completed in 2007.

The following year, Hy-Vee Gas opened and would become only the third station to offer E85 fuel. In 1963 the store sponsored entertainer Jerry Smith with his “Hy-Vee Time” on the radio and employee Bill Gibbs placed second in the Hy-Vee “Best Bagger” competition on Aug. 21, 1991.

A lot has changed over the years including technology and the way stores are able to sell items to customers being the most notable. New items and tweaks have changed the experience even since the new store was built almost 12 years ago.

“Just the evolution, you know there’s Aisles Online now, the e-commerce presence is so much different,” Morr said. “The clinic came in last year in November, we have added cosmetics since I have been here. We have tweaked the Market Grille dining experience a little bit, as well since I have been here.”

The Newton Hy-Vee also has some unique features like the Cardinal Pump, which is designed to support the community when customers pump gas at the station.

“One cent of every gallon pumped goes to the booster club,” Morr said.

The Hy-Vee had its 65-year celebration in May and had plenty of fun themes to go along with the party.

“We did a week-long thing. We did a 1965-themed ad, a 1965-themed dinner, all that good stuff,” Morr said.

Hy-Vee has become an important part of the community. The hope is it will continue that well into the future.

“Newton is a great town. I just want to thank them for their business and you know all the opportunities they have given Hy-Vee ... Just really thank them for their business for the past 65 years,” Morr said.

Penny Wrage, human resources manager, has been with the company since the 1980s. Her main goal is make sure the customer is taken care of.

“I try to help them in any way I can because I want them to enjoy the shopping atmosphere here ... It is just a community,” Wrage said.

Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com