The Superior Express -

It is full-speed ahead as workers prepare for the opening of Superior’s new Bomgaars store. Located in the former Shopko building on East Third Street, the store currently has pallets of merchandise waiting to be unpacked and put on display along with pallets of shelving awaitng assembly while 18 employees from Superior and the surrounding communities work diligently preparing for the store’s opening during the first week of November. Most days four or five employees from the company’s other stores are on site to help with the setup. A grand opening will be held later in November.

Chad Bornsen is the store manager. Jim Brick is district manager.

Bornsen grew up in Gordon, Neb., and graduated high school at Alliance. Retail work has been his life for the last 30 years. He’s worked for K-Mart, S&S Country General and Mercantile. He has been with Bomgaars for 10 years. His plan for the Superior store is to meet and greet all customers making sure to put a name and face together for good customer service. Bornsen wants to get to know the community and to find out what the specific needs are for this area. He is counting on customers to tell him what their needs are so he can better accommodate them.

On opening, the Superior store will be modeled after the store in Ainsworth but in the future local needs will influence the store’s merchandise selection.

Jim Brick has 35 years retail experience. He grew up in Mitchell, S.D. and now lives in Kersey, Colo.

Bomgaars will carry a full line of tools including the DeWalt and Milwaukee brands. The store will offer paint but will not have a large selection of household paint. Pet and farm animal supplies are standard for all Bomgaars stores. The major feed brands stocked will include Blue Buffalo, Diamond and Science Diet. They will have chicken, rabbit, hog, equine and other animal feed products available for purchase. Farm animal feed can be ordered in large amounts at a customer’s request. The Superior store will have on hand an assortment of stock tanks and fencing supplies.

Bomgaars will have an assortment of family and name brand work clothes. Carhart, Wrangler, Key, Ariat and Cinch brands will be available. Fall season is here so the store is gearing for winter with thermal underwear, gloves, muck and work boots. They will carry fire-retardant clothing.

The store will stock a variety of toys. This Christmas season Bomgaars will have fresh cut Christmas trees available.

In the spring, a full line of flowers and plants will be available in the nursery in addition to evergreen trees, roses, mulch and rocks.

Company representatives have met with other area store owners with the hope the various stores can complement one another and best serve the customers’ needs.

Brick said he was impressed and encouraged by the outpouring of friendliness and consideration shown to the company at the hiring fair. He said the company representatives were treated well and felt welcomed by the chamber of commerce and auditorium committee and quickly became addicted to the gravel top rolls from the Ideal Market Bakery. Sauerkraut pizza from Dave’s is a new favorite of the newcomers associated with Bomgaars.

The company has scheduled store advertising to start in the next issue of The Express.