theordquiz.com

By Kate Wolf
   If there is one thing people tend to take for granted, regardless of where they live, it’s the presence of a grocery store. It’s our major source of daily food and having one conveniently located even affects decisions about where we choose to reside. Having that single most important feature disappear can leave a community scrambling for ways to fill the gap before the loss begins to negatively impact jobs, population or other demographics. The Village of Arcadia has faced that exact issue, rallied together as citizens and worked together to find a solution that will also help their community grow in the future.
   “We had a community meeting and about 60 people showed up when our grocery store closed,” explained Terina Trotter, of Trotter Inc.  The American Legion building was available, “But it needed a lot of work,” she added. Gutting it was a tough job and the Trotter crew, under Supervisor Stan Soper, did the majority of the work with some other specific jobs contracted out.
   The beer garden that once stood behind the Legion Hall has now been completely enclosed to accommodate a lift for unloading pallets of product indoors, with additional space for necessary storage.  There is also a comprehensive meat department and a room for produce preparation where snack items for parties can be made ready to serve on your own trays. The interior of the store is large, efficiently laid out, generously stocked, well-lit and meticulously clean with all of the up-to-date equipment today’s shoppers have come to expect. It’s an amazing reconstruction and your immediate reaction upon entering those modern sliding doors is just….wow.  It doesn’t even look like the same building!
      Employee, Sawyer Johnson works directly with Kowalski and is learning the intricacies of running a state-of-the-art meat department from the very best.  Other staff members include:  Palyn Sears, Michelle Hickman, Carolyn Sell, and manager, Jonni Mauro Zambon, who has had grocery store experience in her youth.
   Zambon is originally from Las Vegas, NV, lived in California briefly to be near family during COVID, and returned to Vegas where she worked as a kindergarten teacher and Behavioral Therapist.  This pretty, perky lady positively exudes cheerful vibes, as well as a welcoming, sunny personality customers are sure to appreciate.
   It was while visiting her sister, Amber Sheridan who operates a massage clinic, recently relocated to Arcadia from Broken Bow, that Zambon fell in love with the Village of Arcadia and the surrounding area
   “I love it!” she remarked.  “The change from Vegas was very difficult but it’s so peaceful here, you feel like you have room to breathe and the people are so wonderful here too.”  
   The change in weather patterns to our typically brutal Nebraska winters was a little concerning for her. She admitted she fervently prayed for a mild winter – so now we know who to thank for the tolerable weather we’ve enjoyed! Zambon has raised three grown children and decided that now it was “time to do something for me.”
    The Village Market is quickly becoming an essential part of Arcadia’s business community, along with other new businesses that have opened in town the last year including The New You Coffee Co., which features specialized drinks, food items, and indoor seating along with a drive-thru lane for customer convenience. Another welcome newcomer is Luehm Equipment specializing in diesel equipment repair. There are many other essential businesses along their Main Street which help to draw people in from the surrounding area, proving what a thriving community the Village of Arcadia continues to be and introducing many others to the wonderful life to be found in Valley County.

   To read the complete story, pick up this week's Quiz!