Tom and Jane Mayland of Morton browsed the delicatessen in the newly remodeled Morton Kroger Thursday morning.

The two have shopped at the Morton Kroger for years. Aware of the store’s previous look, Jane said she was impressed with the renovations and added selection.

“We just love it,” she said. “It seems like there’s a lot more space.”

She said it is good to have a solid grocery store to rely on in her hometown.

“Now, we have a choice,” she said.

Morton Kroger celebrated its grand re-opening that day, investing more than $4 million in the renovation of its grocery store.

As part of The Kroger Co. capital investment plan across Illinois and Indiana, the store remodeled its Morton location, creating more space and an improved variety of groceries.

The store’s grand opening celebration welcomed Morton police chief Nick Graff, village board trustee Ginger Hermann and District 709 superintendent Roger Kilpatrick as part of the early morning event.

Morton Kroger employees, along with manager Debbie Neumann, presented $1,000 checks to the Morton Police Department and District 709. The company’s decision to present the checks to those organizations was based off local employee requests.

“We’re so pleased with what has been accomplished,” said Hermann. “It’s so appealing for us to shop locally. We’re very, very grateful.”

The remodel, led by Kroger project manager Natalie Mouw and Peoria Metro Construction includes 60,554 square feet of retail space, a coffee bar with seating, upgraded bakery and deli, expanded produce and frozen food, hot food and sandwich station, specialty (sushi, salad, cheese and soup) shops, upgraded floral, a nature’s market and new U-scans.

“As the Morton community has grown and thrived, we’ve been right there with them,” said Kroger Central Division spokesman John Elliot.

“We’re in communities for a long time,” he said. “We genuinely strive to be local stores in every community.”

The store also added a beer and wine selection following the passage of a liquor ordinance in 2008. Elliot said, though the addition was welcome, it was minor.

“(Alcohol) is not a large percentage of our sales,” he said.

Elliot, whose office is in Indiana, represented Kroger Co. and attended a village board meeting in 2008 during the liquor ordinance debates.

“The Kroger model has been to carefully tailor each store to its community,” he said. “Our (employees) live here.”

Kroger Central Division president Bob Moeder attended the event, along with several other representatives from the company.

Moeder applauded the efforts of the store’s employees, including Dee Everett, who has worked at the Morton Kroger store for 42 years.

“Today, we celebrate not just the grand re-opening of another Illinois Kroger store, but the talent and dedication of associates like our longest-serving employee at this store.”

Everett is a back-door receiver who has worked at Morton Kroger since 1967.