The store's new owners are moving in this week and the name on the trucks is E.W. James and Sons Supermarkets.
Leitchfield's Winn-Dixie is one of 10 in Kentucky bought by the grocery chain that opened its first store in Hickman, Ky. back in 1934. James has bought stores sold by Winn-Dixie from Lexington to Princeton, including the Elizabethtown Winn-Dixie. The purchases add 10 stores to James' 25 stores in four states -- Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas.
Rogers Signs of Elizabethtown was at the store Tuesday morning taking down the familiar sign, while inside, store shelves were being cleared and new merchandise was lining the shelves. But, there were some familiar faces. The new owners are keeping all the former Winn-Dixie store employees who want to stay.
Transition supervisor at the local store, Jerry Jones, said the store will keep the in-house pharmacy.
Lindell Sharp, president of the Bank of Clarkson, said his bank is "looking favorably at keeping our branch bank open, and I think the new owners favor that, too, but they've just been too busy with the transition in ownership to sit down and talk about it."
There was little time Tuesday for Jones to sit down and talk, but he said the store will remain open during the transition, that any Winn-Dixie employees who wanted to stay on could, "and grocery shoppers around here are going to see some competitive prices when we get the store fully stocked."
The store was hectic Tuesday with store workers from Tennessee and other states getting to know the Leitchfield crew and trying to get the boxes unpacked and new signs up in various departments.
The E.W. James website traces the store's beginnings to a 31-year-old James, a fur and pecan trader, who bought the Hickman store for $5,000.
He credited his success since then to a simple philosophy: "The sale isn't final until the meal is enjoyed."
The James stores feature bakeries that specialize in wedding and shower cakes. They do catering, and sell fine china and crystal. The store will remain open through the transition process, expected to be finished by the end of the year.
The decision to keep the stores open during remodeling was not difficult, according to David James, CEO of E. W. James & Sons Supermarkets.
"We wanted our customers to be able to continue shopping at a convenient location near their homes.
"We believe customers are far more inconvenienced by a closed
store than one that remains open while going through a carefully planned remodel."
"At the same time, we wanted to keep as many people working as possible. "It takes a lot of people to keep 10 stores running, and we realize the impact those jobs have on the local economy. In fact, we're looking forward to creating more jobs and generating greater economic impact in these new communities we serve."
"These days, it is unusual for a family-owned supermarket to be in a position to acquire a group of stores within a large chain," says Lee Ann James, president of E. W. James & Sons Supermarkets.
"It's typically the other way around. E.W. James & Sons has been able to grow and expand into new markets because we stand by the old fashion traditions of providing our customers with fresh-butchered meats, farm-fresh produce, homemade baked goods, all with friendly service and at a reasonable price."
E.W. James & Sons is known for its unique "personal guarantee" of freshness, quality and price for every customer" a principle which, in recent years, led the company away from offering the "bonus cards" and VIP programs popular among other chains.
"We don't believe in those cards," says CEO David James. "We want everyone and not just a select few who shop here to get the same great deal all year round on all of our products."
Mr. James says he believes his father would be proud of that decision "one that shows a commitment to the customer.
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