Ray Dietrich, owner of the Rivertown Market shopping center and the new operator of the Rivertown IGA, poses in front of the newly-remodeled store.

Ray Dietrich, owner of the Rivertown Market shopping center and the new operator of the Rivertown IGA, poses in front of the newly-remodeled store.
The Rivertown IGA in New Richmond has received a makeover and was expected reopen Aug. 12 under new management.

Ray Dietrich, the owner of Rivertown Market shopping center, bought the assets of the store from the previous owners, closed the store for remodeling and will now reopen with a fresh new look and a new variety of products.

“I want to see the look on other peoples faces,” Dietrich said about opening day. “The whole town is excited, I think they are going to be pleased with the results.”

One of the big improvements Dietrich made was replacing the floors. The process required the whole shopping area to be broken down so the new floor could be installed. The finished product is easy to clean and covers both the shopping area and back rooms.

In addition, Dietrich made a number of changes to the shopping area by expanding some of the sections, such as the beer and wine section, and including more products.

“We’re going to have a variety that (people) don’t expect from a small independent grocery store,” Dietrich said.

Dietrich said he wanted to expand the beer and wine section to accommodate boaters and other tourists. The section will have hardwood floors, a larger selection and even have beer from local breweries.

And while the renovations have given the store a bit of a face lift, the new products are what Dietrich is really excited about. The products are also what Dietrich has been working to attain for the grocery.

“What we’ve brought in is a whole line of groceries,” Dietrich said. “High quality, low price.”

The new groceries, including Best Choice and Always Save brands, are packaged just like their competitors and placed right next to them in the store. Whether it is a box of macaroni and cheese or chocolate syrup, consumers can compare ingredients and see the difference in price.

“I am trying to adapt the store for what people need, not force them to buy,” Dietrich said. “People cannot afford to live otherwise.”

He has also included huge dollar sections in almost every isle, which feature everything from tupperware to baby toys.

“I love my dollar items!” Dietrich said.

Dietrich, who bought into the companies whose products he’s including in the store, said IGA has agreed to let him experiment with different products.

Another aesthetically pleasing change to the store is the entrance. Dietrich decided to paint a mural of New Richmond on the wall. The mural features the village as it is seen from the river. Elizabeth Zembrodt, of The Twisted Brush, is painting the mural.

“I wanted the people to realize Riverside Market wants to be inclusive,” Dietrich said about placing the mural in the store.

He also said he wanted residents to be able to find the things they need at the market and not have to leave town.

Although Dietrich still has a few things to finish up, he is planning to open the store Aug. 12, a few days ahead of schedule.

“They need groceries,” Dietrich said about residents. “We need to open up and let them through.”