By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews
YACHATS – Customers of C&K Market – “the best grocery store in Yachats” as one employee quips about the only grocer in town – have likely noticed some changes the past month.
Store manager Laura Mulroney had an inkling something was in the works a few months ago when corporate sent people with measuring tapes to look over the store’s layout. She learned in April that it foreshadowed a full store remodel.
The first noticeable change came when new products began hitting the shelves. By May even the most unobservant shoppers likely noticed the out-of-town crews erecting new shelves and shuffling products.
Then came a black metal rack above the cooler along the back wall of the store that quickly sprouted merchandise. There are new wood shingles on the front of the store and contractors will also be painting the rest of the outside as soon as possible.
“It’s been quite awhile since we spruced things up and we wanted to make it a better shopping experience for the customer,” Mulroney said. “We are bringing a lot of new products, we’re remodeling, painting, we’ve redone the bathroom, things like that. Making it more community friendly.”
The employee-owned C&K Market company is based in Medford and has 38 stores in Oregon and northern California. Its flagship retail banner is Ray’s Food Place, but it also owns Shop Smart and its Yachats store is the last remaining C&K Market. The chain started in 1956 with one store in Brookings and in 2020 transitioned to an employee-owned trust. The Yachats store has 12 employees, but Mulroney is looking to add more checkers and stockers.
All of its stores, which includes Ray’s in Waldport, switched its house brands in April from previous suppliers SuperValu and United Natural Foods to C&S Wholesale Grocers and natural grocer KeHe Distributors.
“There are a lot of new products coming in that we didn’t traditionally carry …” Mulroney said.
Some customers expressed concern the Yachats store might be switching to more boutique, gourmet foods, but Mulroney said that is not the case. Although some names have changed, she said, the offerings will remain pretty much the same.
Mulroney believes the remodel creates a “better flow for a better shopping experience.” But if adjustments need to be made over time, she has the flexibility to make them.
“This is really about thinking of the community and wanting to make it a better shopping experience,” she said.
The store is holding a grand re-opening scheduled Friday through Sunday, including beer tastings from Rogue and Deschutes breweries; a wheel customers can spin to win prizes; a hot dog stand run by the Yachats Youth and Families Activity Program; and a give-away where the first 50 people who spend $25 will receive a $50 bag of pre-selected groceries.
- Garret Jaros is YachatsNews’ full-time reporter and can be reached at GJaros@YachatsNews.com
It’s alarming how much the orange juice cartons have shrunk, tho’ we’re seeing this with so many products. Can’t say that the shopping experience is better, just different. As always, we will adapt.
I am grateful to have a fully stocked employee owned C&K grocery store in Yachats.
I love this store and the employees there. They are so helpful and friendly.
It’s great to have C&K here because sometimes I need an ingredient for something I am cooking. Usually something like onion or peppers. I have never shopped there any other way since I would have to take out a mortgage on my home to pay for a small cartload of groceries.
I love having the market right here in town. I eat Gluten free the cost at this market is near what I pay at other markets. Staff are kind and store is clean.
Thank you