By Janie Hodny, Morgan Andrews, Hope Smith & Matt Seger
Hy-Vee has recently expanded into the 125,000 square spaces that Shopko previously occupied; the grand opening was November 9.
Floor plan of Bay Park Square Mall. Photo from simon.com
The largest Hy-Vee in the Midwest includes:
Hy-Vee Grocery Store, 2395 S Oneida St, suite 100, Ashwaubenon, WI 54304
Starbucks
#HyChi & Hibachi
Wahlburgers
Nori Sushi
Long Island Deli
Mia Italian
Cake this! Bakery
Bellissima Italia (Beauty)
Photos of some of the stores in the new Hy-Vee in Ashwaubenon. Top row: Nori Sushi, Mia Italian, Starbucks, Long Island Deli. Bottom row: #HyChi & Hibachi and Cake this! Bakery. Photos by Hope Smith.
The Hy-Vee brand has been around for more than 90 years in the U.S. Hy-Vee was founded in 1930 in Beaconsfield, Iowa. Charles Hyde and David Vredenburg started a small general store that transformed into 285 stores in eight different Midwestern states, including Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Hy-Vee is an employee-owned corporation that employs approximately 93,000 workers. University of Wisconsin- Green Bay Communication alumni, Natasha Wilger, was recently hired at the new Ashwaubenon Hy-Vee. Natasha says, “I am an assistant general merchandise manager at Hy-Vee. I oversee displays and flip them. A lot of behind-the-scenes marketing tactics go into the displays. I help organize the backroom and make sure items stay stocked.”
Holiday shopping has increased the foot traffic in the store. Wilger says, “Our seasonal section is perfect for little stocking stuffers and gift baskets. The Candy Aisle is the most popular department. Hy-Vee sells candy that kids see on TikTok and other social media platforms, such as Freeze-dried Skittles. The candy shop is unique as it carries candy that you don’t usually see at other grocery stores.”
A frequent shopper at Hy-Vee, Danielle Andrews, shops at the grocery store once a week. Her first time visiting the Hy-Vee was the grand opening day, and she has been shopping at the grocery store since then. Andrews’s favorite items to purchase at the Hy-Vee are fresh produce and bakery items. “The Hy-Vee opening is a game changer for Green Bay. The Hy-Vee offers so much more than a regular grocery store, and I enjoy going there because of all the different products they carry. I was extremely impressed with how big the store was and what it all had to offer to its shoppers,” said Andrews.
Hy-Vee has also become partners in the Green Bay community, most recently with the Green Bay Packers and Titletown.
Wilger said, “Hy-Vee has been such a great addition to Green Bay and Ashwaubenon. I absolutely love seeing customers enjoying the experience and products that Hy-Vee has to offer. We have had such great feedback on the new store.”
Visitors have been raving about the new addition to the mall. With food choices, a bakery, grocery options, and a wide variety of wines and spirits, people of all ages can find something to enjoy.
Brenna Barlow, a current UWGB senior, visited Hy-Vee to grab something to eat after a long day at the mall shopping for Christmas gifts. Barlow raved about the food court by saying that “the food choices were amazing! I decided to eat a sandwich from the deli. They have so many options, and the sandwich I chose was amazing!”
When asked if she would visit again or choose to grocery shop there, Barlow stated, “I will be incorporating Hy-Vee into my grocery routines. I work on the west side of Green Bay, so it will be easy to just hop over there.”
Grant Meeks, a current UWGB senior, also had something to say about the new store. “I enjoyed the produce section a lot. The selection was huge, and the setup was organized. All the selections were fully stocked even at 5 pm!” Meeks states.
Hy-Vee has become a successful addition to the Bay Square Park Mall. With more food court options, groceries, and even a bar, this will give the public more options and more places to check out.