Wow Supermarket finally opening

Wow Supermarket will finally open its doors to shoppers 8 a.m. Sunday.

"We are very excited after so many delays," said Lesly Jaramillo, a company spokeswoman. "Finally everything is coming into place."

Wow Supermarket will fill the spot in Dixie Village, near the Wal-Mart on Myrtle School Road, that had housed Compare Foods until damage from a February 2014 snowstorm caused that store to close.

Building inspections and getting an air conditioning unit fixed were two of the issues that led to monthslong delays, Jaramillo said.

An exact dollar figure was not immediately available, but Wow Supermarket reportedly spent between $1.5 million and $1.8 million to open its fourth store in the Charlotte metro market, company President Oscar Jaquez said in a previous article.

"Everything in there is new," Jaramillo said of the new store.

The store will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. The store could change hours depending on the wants of customers, Jaramillo said.

Much like Compare Foods, Wow Supermarket will cater to the Hispanic shopper in selection of foods and other offerings, but the store will go beyond the traditional Hispanic shopper.

"We have a multi-ethnic store so we are catering to everyone," Jaramillo said.

Not familiar with Wow Supermarket? Jaquez opened the first Wow Supermarket in the Union County city of Monroe in 2012 and has since opened two more Wow Supermarkets in Charlotte, one on The Plaza and the other on South Boulevard.

How does a supermarket cater to Hispanic tastes? The store will carry more chilies, different types of fruits, breads and cheeses, and its meat selections will include different cuts of beef and pork than traditional American stores, Jaramillo said. The store will also have a prepared food section where customers can buy more traditional foods such as barbacoa (pronounced barba-koa), a steamed beef dish with spices that Jaramillo described as similar to American barbecue. A part of the store also will allow Hispanics to send money orders back to their home countries.

Wow Supermarket will employ about 25 to 30 workers, and still has some job openings. Those interested in working at the store should go to the store at 2557 W. Franklin Blvd. to apply.

Compare Foods appeared to be doing well until it closed its doors after a snowstorm in February 2014. Roof damage discovered after the snow storm contributed to electrical and flooring issues, which led city inspectors to deem the building unsafe.

Wow Supermarket will have a ribbon cutting ceremony 4 p.m. Thursday.

You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-869-1823 or Twitter.com/TheGazetteKevin.