By Katie Brown, Journal staff

Employees expected to work through the night to open the new Family Thrift Center in the old Albertsons building at 8 a.m. Thursday, April 3.

Albertsons, at 855 Omaha St., closed at 6 p.m. Monday, leaving only about 2-1/2 days to make the switch, store manager Deb Van Skike said.

Van Skike managed Albertsons and stayed on after the sale to manage the new Family Thrift.

"I'm sure we'll be here right up until it opens," Van Skike said Wednesday. "We'll be making sure all the finishing touches are done."

Nash Finch Co., Family's Thrift's Minneapolis-based parent company, bought the Albertsons store in February, making it the company's fifth Rapid City store.

Michael Mills, vice president of Nash Finch Retail Operations, said much will stay the same at the store but that there will be several enhancements.

The full-service liquor store, floral selection, pharmacy and seafood counter will remain.

One addition will be a Caribou Coffee stand. Mills said Caribou Coffee is based in Minnesota. The Family Thrift location will be the first Rapid City Caribou Coffee location.

Mills said a large natural and organic food section will be added in the produce area of the store.

"It gives our customers a little more to choose from," he said.

Mills said Nash Finch kept all Albertsons employees, including sales clerks, stockers and managers.

"The customers will still be able to come in every day and find the same quality," Mills said.

He said people accustomed to shopping at Albertsons will find most items in the same areas of the store as before but at more reasonable prices.

Hours will remain the same as before: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

"We really invite customers to come look at our offerings," Mills said. "I think they'll be overwhelmingly delighted."

Nash Finch also owns Family Thrift Center stores in Rapid City in Baken Park and East St. Patrick Street, Prairie Market on East Boulevard and the FTC Express on Sturgis Road.

Mills said because Nash Finch owns one more store in Rapid City, it gives the company market dominance.

"You really need that to compete in any town anymore," he said.

Store workers and Nash Finch corporate employees began work shortly after Albertsons closed Monday night.

All Albertsons brand food and other products were donated to the Black Hills Regional Food Bank. Van Skike said about 20,000 pounds of food were donated.

Mills said all nonperishable items of brands that Family Thrift carries were kept and will be sold.

All produce was brought in fresh, and the remaining Albertsons produce was given to the Cornerstone Rescue Mission.

Familiar features

Full-service liquor store

Expanded floral selection

Pharmacy

Seafood counter

Sales clerks

Stockers

Managers

New features

Caribou Coffee stand

Large natural and organic food section

Contact Katie Brown at 394-8318 or katie.brown@rapidcityjournal.com.