Nearly 13 months after the loss of its Bishop location to fire, Golden Pantry today announced details of its new store at the intersection of Highway 441 and High Shoals Road. The new store – the first of Golden Pantry’s next generation of neighborhood stores – will include a mix of new and old offerings, including a wider variety of freshly-prepared meals, a more open floorplan, a Biscuit Theater, and the same brand of friendly service to which its patrons are accustomed.

“We have spent the past year making sure we get this new design right both for Bishop and for the future of Golden Pantry,” said Golden Pantry President Robert Griffith. “This new store will in many ways capture the essence of what makes Golden Pantry special – great food, friendly service, and easy access to the goods the community needs.”

Sitework is currently underway at the store, with completion expected before the end of the year. The new store will be just under 5,000 square feet in size, approximately 1,800 square feet larger than the old store, but will generally occupy a similar footprint of the former location.

An Appetizing Appearance

The updated store design will blend elements of old and new. The iconic logo will remain, but the interiors will feature a new color palette and design. The new store layout will have generous natural light and provide more space for patrons to move around. New features will include a large walk-in Beer Pantry, spacious restrooms including a single-occupancy family restroom and multiple checkout lines stationed centrally by the exit doors. The store will re-use the existing gas pumps, which were saved thanks to its quick-thinking staff and the Oconee County fire department.

Same Biscuits with New Food Offerings

Visitors can see the Kitchen team prepare made from scratch biscuits at the new Biscuit Theater. They can also indulge in lunch and dinner offerings such as sandwiches, pizza, fried chicken, and a variety of soul food sides. Given limited local food options in Bishop, Griffith expects the expanded menu to be a big success.

Community-Oriented Convenience

Golden Pantry plans to continue its track record of supporting the Bishop community in all its efforts. Several team members will return to the location, and to round out the team, Golden Pantry will hire additional staff. A total of 25 employees will work at the new store.

“We really enjoy having local residents as a part of the Golden Pantry team,” said Griffith. “It is a great way to make the customers feel closer to their community when they enter the store, and the team members love serving the community through their work.”

Golden Pantry plans a variety of activities to support the return of its Bishop store, including product and branded giveaways and ongoing social media updates highlighting the construction process.