W.P. Food Lion Set for Grand Opening

As of Saturday, September 4, 2010

After 160 days of construction, the Food Lion shopping center in Whispering Pines is ready to open its doors.

The 35,000-square-foot grocery store on Highway 22 will open at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

While shoppers peruse the store's new aisles, a grand opening event will be going on all day in the store's parking lot.

Store manager Troy Morris says the grand opening is a great way to welcome the community to the new store.

"We just want to make it a memorable grand opening," Morris said. "This [store] will be the biggest retailer in Whispering Pines. We want it to be special for [the community]."

Activities will include a performance by the Union Pines marching band and a golf cart give-away from Food Lion, along with contests and vendors on site.

The Moore County Sheriff's Department will be available to check child car seats, and the Whispering Pines Police Department will fingerprint children for the National Child Identification Program.

The Whispering Pines Fire Department will also be at the shopping center to give children fire truck tours.

Whispering Pines Village Manager Steve DeBolt says the store's opening will give the area's residents a much-needed convenience.

"It's going to be a great addition to the community, and all the residents are excited about it coming in," DeBolt said. "We think we have a lot to offer here in Whispering Pines. The only thing that we could add was convenient shopping. Now we have that as well, so we're a full-service community now."

DeBolt toured the new store along with Mayor Bob Zschoche on Friday as people worked to stock shelves in preparation for the grand opening.

"It's a lovely store," Zschoche said. "It's the nicest Food Lion around, and everybody's going to be pleased."

The store's regular hours will be Monday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Contact Hannah Sharpe by e-mail at hannah@thepilot.com.

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runorbike 2 years, 8 months ago

I never thought I'd be excited over a grocery store opening but just knowing I don't have to choose between So. Pines or Carthage really excites me! :)

ladylane 2 years, 8 months ago

Can you tell me exactly where this store is located I come down US 1 alot going home and could stop there instead of Southern Pines. This is good some jobs for people.

TooHot 2 years, 8 months ago

It's doubtful this store will ever come close to succeeding with that location. Not like WP is any kind of population center that can support a grocery store. Tic tic tic.......

CSmithson 2 years, 8 months ago

@TooHot Within a 3 mile radius of the new Food Lion store, you have all of Whispering Pines, most of Southern Pines north of Midland and US-1, and Pinehurst #6. The store will live or die based on the service they provide and how they stack up against their competition (the Harris Teeter going up right down the road, for one), but not for lack of potential customers.

greentara13 2 years, 8 months ago

Yay!

I want to win a golf cart!

HolleysLives 2 years, 8 months ago

I just left the pre-opening of the new Food Lion in Whispering Pines. Very impressed. It's a very nice store with some very nice features. After some initial reservations, I feel it will serve the community in a most positive fashion.

On a related note, however, it is fairly evident that it will result in a significant increase in traffic on Sullivan Drive. While walking home, I was passed by more than a few cars exceeding the speed limit. I've never been a fan of speed bumps - despised them actually - but in this situation they may be in order. Quite a few children live on Sullivan. Let's be proactive and provide some protection for them.