As Country Fair celebrates its 60th anniversary, it’s set to open a new flagship location in downtown Erie, Pa., at the start of April.
“We call it the Country Fair flagship store, because Erie, Pa., is known to the world as the ‘Flagship City,’” said Steve Seymour, director of personnel for Country Fair, which operates 73 c-stores in Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio.
The city of Erie got its nickname due to its connection to Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry and the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813. Perry’s flagship, the USS Niagara (or Flagship Niagara), was stationed in Erie’s Presque Isle Bay and played a key role in the American victory over the British. In remembrance, a reconstructed version of the Flagship Niagara is docked at the Erie Maritime Museum today.
“It’s sort of a historical marker in our area, so we call our downtown store — because it’s right in the heart of the Flagship City — the flagship store,” Seymour said.
The new store is set to open in a historical site at 32 North Park Row, across from Perry Square, which is named for Commodore Perry.
Country Fair partnered with the Erie Downtown Development Corp. — a non-profit organization that is helping to transform the city — which recommended the site and assisted with the development of the location, which at one time housed the Erie Food Co-Op and Gordon’s Butcher & Market. The 9,000-square-foot space is double the size of most Country Fair stores, and it’s situated in the inner city of Erie in a food desert, offering Country Fair the opportunity to provide much more than the typical c-store fare.
“There is not much there grocery wise, so we saw it as an opportunity to do something a little different,” Seymour said.
In addition to the usual candy, snacks and fountain beverages, the flagship store will feature an expanded grocery section, providing Erie residents with access to affordable nutritious food, including fresh produce and meats, as well as an array of hot foodservice offerings.
“We’re working with vendors to expand that grocery section to really try to provide what’s missing downtown,” Seymour said.
The store is located near Gannon University, where a large population of international students are completing their studies; and Erie Insurance, one of the largest businesses in the city and home to several thousand employees.
“We did a study group and especially talked to the students,” Seymour said. “About 35% of their student population is from outside of the country, and so they had some really interesting takes on things that they want to see, as far as fresh vegetables go, and the meats, and particular foods that they’re looking for, so they can create some of the dishes from their homelands.”
The store is also located close to the city courthouse, a hospital and several high-rise apartment buildings, many of which house senior citizens on fixed incomes. The locale means Country Fair can expect to attract a steady flow of foot traffic as it looks to provide affordable grocery options.
Foodservice Expansion
The flagship store will include an ample foodservice program that includes sub sandwiches, pizza and a breakfast program, among other offerings. Country Fair plans to roll out fried foods at the new store, which is a first for the chain.
“We’re going deep fryer. We’re all in,” Seymour said.
And that’s just the beginning.
“We have a lot of extra space for our kitchen down here at the flagship store, so we are going to turn that into an innovation center,” Seymour said.
The chain plans to use the innovation center to test new foodservice products for its menu.
“When we hit a home run with something, we’re going to roll it out to the rest of the company, so it’s going to be a good place for us to experiment,” he added.
Because the store expects to attract a high volume of walk-in traffic due to its location in the heart of the city — a new dynamic for Country Fair — this presents an opportunity for the chain to test some new food concepts tailored to walk-in customers.
“Maybe we can put in a lunch buffet or do a barbecue (program) — things like that. We’re looking at all kinds of different exciting options,” Seymour said.
The chain is also working to implement a delivery program, which it believes will be in-demand in the Erie area given the large number of senior citizens and local businesses.
Interior Elements
The flagship store will feature two entrances, one on North Park Row, and one at the back of the store on Fifth Street.
“It’s not like a typical convenience store at all,” Seymour said. “You walk in and it’s kind of narrow, and then it expands into a grocery store in the middle, and then it gathers back into a narrower store at the end. We’re going for a modern look inside.”
Country Fair’s stores usually feature a green and red color-scheme, but this store will incorporate additional bright colors for a multicolored look. The site will debut Country Fair’s first coffee bar with a barista program and will feature an expanded beer and wine section.
The back of the store, on the Fifth Street side, will provide an expanded seating area.
“You have to have that in Pennsylvania with beer and wine, but ours will be naturally lit,” Seymour said. “The entire north end of the store is all windows like in an office building. It brings a ton of natural light to the back of the building, so people can come and sit in natural lighting and enjoy their food.”
City Market Concept
The flagship site also marks Country Fair’s first foray into the city market concept, and it’s looking forward to the opportunities this new approach brings.
“Other companies have done it and it’s gone well, and we’re really excited to try it,” Seymour said. “All of this coincides with our 60th anniversary, and we’ve been just so pleased and privileged to serve our community.”
While the chain turns 60 this month, it plans to celebrate all year long.
With its strong 60-year reputation in Erie and beyond, Country Fair is ready to branch out in terms of what it can bring to its shoppers as it elevates the customer experience in its flagship store. It hopes that its positive reputation will help drive customers into the store, where they’ll find not only an expanded offering and affordable fare, but also a “good, reliable place to get groceries,” Seymour said.
