Hy-Vee Food Store

This place had friendly staff and they were fun to joke with. We ate at the dinner– first class quality! Again, friendly and attentive staff. The waitress and manager even came over and joked for a little bit before going back to work. Everything is clean and new– such a classy feel. Definite win!

Great variety of products for a small store. Produce is always fresh and appealing. The restaurant has a nice selection of unique yet familiar dishes.
The pharmacy staff are delightful!
They carry Picket Fence milk and locally roasted Greene Bean Coffee beans in the coffee aisle! Thanks for supporting small business, HyVee!

Before I start, I just want to say that this is my 50^th Unilocal!review! YAY!
Can we say, blown away?
While growing up in Churdan, a neighboring small town to Jefferson, grocery shopping wasn’t really a problem, considering Fareway and the infamous SuperValu (I hated that store) were options in the town of 4,000, with neighboring larger towns of Carroll and Ames not too far away (we mainly did our monthly grocery shopping at the now closed Cub Foods in Ames, but did our daily shopping in Jefferson), so we never went without.
In 2003, Fareway built a brand spanking new store along Highway 4 (Elm Street) in 2003, instantly demising SuperValu, which closed two months later, and for more than ten years, they reigned as Jefferson’s only grocery store…
Until February 24, 2015, that is.
Hy-​Vee has had a presence in Jefferson longer than I’ve been alive, which at this time, I’m 30. They operated a then called DrugTown (now called Hy-​Vee Drugstore) at the corner of Lincolnway and Wilson Street, which offered the basics in terms of health and beauty products, with a grocery section almost non existent outside of candy and some snacks. Hy-​Vee announced plans in 2013 to bring a full service Hy-​Vee Food Store to Jefferson, with the anticipation of the Wild Rose Casino opening. This was welcomed by most, and it couldn’t open soon enough!
Now, keep in mind that Hy-​Vee and Fareway are two long time Iowa staples, and I have never seen one close due to lackluster sales. They each have their own niche, Fareway having their hometown values of creating a simple shopping experiences and being closed on Sundays, and Hy-​Vee offering all the bells and whistles. Each has their own customer fan base, and I like both stores, but Hy-​Vee wins my heart, as I’m a complex guy who likes many services (Starbucks, Bill Payment, Chinese Express, the list goes on). Working on Sunday is a way of life in my opinion, so I’m not going to like a grocery store solely because they close on Sunday to make time for family.
So, on to the review after that long history. The exterior looks nice and clean, but since it’s Winter, the landscaping is something to be desired, but you can’t really fight mother nature. Entering the store, you are blown away with the produce department, and the wonderful aroma of the fresh areas fills my nostrils. Shoppers were afoot, checking out the brand new store, and many employees were also plentiful to assist you with questions.
Being spoiled with the Des Moines area Hy-​Vee stores, Hy-​Vee does an excellent job implementing a big city variety into a small town store. The fresh areas are amazing, especially the seafood department. Small towns typically have limited access to seafood, but Jefferson will no longer be. Fareway, no matter which store, no matter how big the city is, has always had a lackluster seafood department, so Hy-​Vee has the seafood market cornered.
Hungry? You won’t go hungry here… I am impressed that Hy-​Vee has included the Chinese Express, and of course, they have their new staple, the Market Café, and offer hot deli food and a salad bar! It looked great!
The amount of merchandise they have presented in this store is astronomical. They have a plentiful frozen and dairy department, as well as the Health Market, produce, bulk items, both candy and non-​candy, and many more items that are too many to name.
The pharmacy, of course, has been upgraded as well, featuring a drive-​up pharmacy, and being open on Sunday, something that the former store didn’t provide.
The front end? They have eight lanes, six lanes with conveyor belts, and two express lanes, as well as the Customer Service desk, so you shouldn’t have to wait too long in lines.
My only complaint, and it is typically a consequence when you want to provide as many items as possible in a small store, is that some aisles (beverage aisle, snack aisle) are slightly narrow. But it’s something to forgive.
On a final note, the addition of this Hy-​Vee is a major game changer, and neighboring Hy-​Vee stores in Carroll, Boone and Perry are jealous, there is no doubt! Of course, Fareway will experience a temporary loss in sales, but the gas pedal will ease eventually, and both stores will flourish!
You won’t find a greater looking small format Hy-​Vee than the one here in Jefferson.