Rhett BrinkleySteve Edwards (left with scissors) and North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick (center).
In the unseasonably chilly April air, a large crowd of eager shoppers gathered this morning in front of the new Edwards Food Giant in North Little Rock’s Lakewood Village Shopping Park. The store’s grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony, hosted by the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, marked the ninth Food Giant for Arkansas-based GES Inc.
Rhett BrinkleyMeat me at Edwards.
Steve Edwards, owner and president GES Inc., gave a short speech ahead of North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick, who proclaimed that today is hereby Edwards Food Giant Day.
At around 9 a.m., the line to enter the store snaked past the entrance to the neighboring Honey Baked Ham shop. Edwards is celebrating the occasion by giving away a $500 gift card and PK 360 grill to a couple of lucky shoppers. The hosts of KABZ 103.7 The Buzz were broadcasting live from inside the store and speculating about the future of Razorback basketball in light of the news that head coach Eric Musselman is interviewing for the University of Southern California job this week.
In a tour of the new facility in February, Gary Proffitt, vice president of GES Inc., said the decision to open an Edwards in North Little Rock came down to the location. Lakewood Village is a highly trafficked shopping center just off McCain Boulevard. Edwards is taking the place of the former Stein Mart at the west end of the complex. Owned by the Ashley Group, the retail center landed some popular tenants in 2023 that include Crumbl Cookies, Rock N Roll Sushi and Brewski’s Pub & Grub.
Known as “The Meat People,” Edwards features a Pick 5 program in which customers can mix and match five meat items for $19.99. The Lakewood Village store features a burrito bar, specialized dry-age beef coolers, a dedicated space for online shopping orders, fresh sushi prepared onsite and hot plate lunch specials.
Rhett Brinkley
GES operates four stores in Little Rock and one each in Bryant, Brinkley, Marianna and Harrisburg. The company also operates six Cash Saver supermarkets.
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