By Malcolm Butler
Can Ruston support a second Super One Foods?
Well, based on signage that appeared this week on Farmerville Highway by North Village Apartments, Ruston will soon find out.
Although attempts to reach a spokesperson with the Brookshire Grocery Company (BGC) chain have been unsuccessful thus far, a sign appeared this week that leads us to believe a second store is coming to Ruston.
BGC is a Tyler, Texas-based supermarket chain. There are more than 200 stores operating in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma under their five banners, Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods, Fresh by Brookshire’s, Spring Market, and Reasor’s.
Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker said he knew the sale of the land has been in the works, but couldn’t confirm sale. He also wasn’t sure of the timeline or whether the new store would be another Super One Foods or a Brookshire’s or Spring Market.
(UPDATE: the property was sold to BGC in 2021).
Super One Foods on North Trenton Street in Ruston has been the main grocery store of our community for a few decades. It is one of the busiest in the franchises fleet of stores across the country.
With the alcohol referendum passing back in March of 2023, Proposition 4 allows Super One Foods and other stores “to sell beverages containing one half of 1% alcohol by volume and above by package only and not for consumption on the premises in the city.”
This is one of the reasons that many believe BGC has opted to add a second location in our city.
“We knew when the alcohol referendum passed (last year) that this would open up the doors,” said Walker. “We had been told by the different groceries that if there was alcohol sale available they would be coming. So this does not surprise us.
“There have been several different grocery chains that have contacted us. The biggest issue is where can we build, price of land, and those sorts of things. We are excited to see this happening. We need it on our north side of town. We appreciate the Brookshire’s family of groceries for choosing to put another store here in Ruston.”
