Shopko Announces Plans for 5 New Hometown Stores

GREEN BAY, Wis., June 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Shopko announced plans to open five new Shopko Hometown stores.  The stores, located in Afton, Wyoming, St. Peter, Minnesota and Winneconne, Ellsworth and Tomahawk, Wisconsin, are expected to open in late fall 2013. 

The Shopko Hometown retail format, developed to augment Shopko's larger store model and focused on serving the needs of smaller rural communities, combines retail health services with a broad and dynamic offering of strong national brands and high-value private label brands of apparel, home furnishings, toys, consumer electronics, seasonal items, every day consumable items and lawn and garden products – all in an attractive, well laid out, easy-to-shop store format.  

"We're excited to bring Shopko Hometown to these great communities," said Mike Bettiga, Shopko Interim CEO and Chief Operating Officer.  "We understand that consumers in smaller towns are looking for the same variety of high quality goods and trend right merchandise that can be found in larger cities. Customers of our Hometown stores tell us they appreciate the vastly improved shopping experience and access to a broad, differentiated selection of merchandise, including products and brands previously not available in their community."   By year end, these five stores will be part of the over 180 Shopko Hometown stores, making Shopko one of the nation's largest retailers serving smaller communities.

"With our best-in-class pharmacy services, focus on excellent customer service and strong commitment to support the local community, we are confident that Shopko Hometown will be well received by customers in these areas," said Bettiga.

The Shopko Hometown in Ellsworth, Wisconsin will be located at 598 West Lucas Lane, currently the site of Shopko Pharmacy.   The existing 32,000 square foot building will be renovated to accommodate the new Shopko Hometown store. 

The Winneconne store will be located at 925 E. Main Street.   Once the Winneconne store opens, the current Winneconne Shopko Pharmacy, located just down the street at 916 E. Main Street will be moved into the newly-constructed store, which will be approximately 25,000 square feet. 

The Shopko Hometown in St. Peter will be approximately 35,000 square feet and be located at 1002 Old Minnesota Avenue.   The current St. Peter Shopko Pharmacy located at 201 S. Third Street will move into the new store. 

The Tomahawk store will be located  on North 4^th Street just north of County Road A and will be approximately 35,000 square feet.  The new-acquired Shopko Pharmacy at 686 N. 4^th Street will move into the store. 

The Shopko Hometown in Afton, Wyoming will serve the Star Valley area from its location at the intersection of U.S. Highway 89 and Doc Perkes Lane and will be approximately 35,000 square feet.  Once constructed, Shopko will move its pharmacies located in Afton and Thayne into the new store.

The grand openings are planned for November.       

About Shopko
Founded in 1962 and headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Shopko Stores Operating Co., LLC is a $3 billion retailer that operates over 330 stores in 21 states throughout the Midwest, Mountain, North Central and Pacific Northwest regions. Retail formats include 134 Shopko stores, providing quality name-brand merchandise, great values, pharmacy and optical services in small to mid-sized cities; 176 Shopko Hometown locations, a smaller concept store developed to meet the needs of smaller communities; 5 Shopko Express Rx stores, a convenient neighborhood drugstore concept; and17 Shopko Pharmacy locations. 

Shopko Stores Operating Co., LLC is an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a leading private investment firm focused on leverage buyouts, equity, debt, and other investments in market-leading companies that can benefit from its in-house operating professionals and experience.

For more information, visit www.shopko.com.

SOURCE Shopko