Tiverton Tom's Market Ready For Opening Weekend

The shelves are stocked, scales adjusted, equipment operating, front parking lot refinished and the front exterior decal "Tom's Market: Fresh, Local, Exceptional" unveiled. Friday at 8 a.m. is the opening day for Tiverton's new grocery store.

It's the first grocery store in town since the Grand Central Market closed in 2006, and aims to compete with in Portsmouth, the chain stores in southern Fall River and Lee's Market in Westport.

Every last item on the punchlist was prepped Wednesday for opening weekend. Workers from the Associated Grocers of America stocked the dairy section. Principal owner Glenn Place adjusted a scale in the front of the store near the produce section.

Aisles in the store are named after every neighborhood in Tiverton, from Fort Barton, to Stafford Pond, to Four Corners, even to Little Compton Commons. Parts of the interior decor has a collage of black and white scenic photos from Tiverton's past.

Place credited the Tiverton Historical Society suggesting historical items from the town to reveal its character. Tiverton's Tom's Market is also aiming to honor the Guimond family and Guimond Farms, formerly the biggest dairy farm around during the mid-twentieth century, which also operated a general store at Bliss Corners.

The store earlier this month and will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Read our previous coverage of Tom's Market: