WILLSBORO - The grocery store formerly known as the Country IGA has finally got its new name.
"Riverview Grocery" was the name picked overwhelmingly by store customers, many of whom may be returning after a long absence.
The store dropped its former name after it switched distributors last month in the midst of diminishing sales. According to owner Mark McKenna, it was the high prices set by their former distributor that were driving customers away.
After a thorough search, McKenna found a new grocery distributor that offered significantly lower prices and a comparable product line under the Shur-Fine label.
Since then, the store's sales have increased between 40 and 50 percent, said McKenna.
"The overwhelming response we've gotten is that the prices are much lower," he said.
Also, the track record for the Shur-Fine products has been exemplary. Since stocking them at the store four weeks ago, McKenna said not one has been returned so far.
To acknowledge its interdependency with the community, the store polled customers for a new name, and got a surprising amount of suggestions.
"A lot of them had something with Shur-Fine in it," said McKenna.
However, over 60 percent of the 250-plus write-in votes were for "Riverview Grocery."
The name is appropriate, McKenna said, since the store overlooks the Boquet River in the center of Willsboro.
In addition to the new sign out front, customers will also notice expanded meat and produce sections with more variety, he said.
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