BILLINGS- WinCo Foods will open its new Billings grocery store at 9 a.m. Sunday, the company said Tuesday.
The 84,000-square-foot store is at 2424 Central Ave., the former home of Kmart. That store was torn down in 2018 to clear space for WinCo to build one its first Montana stores.
A second WinCo will open in Helena at the same time, the Boise, Idaho-based company said in a news release.
In Billings, the store will have 150 full and part-time employees. The entrance will showcase WinCo’s “Wall of Values,” where the store highlights its biggest sales.
WinCo joins a growing collection of grocery stores in Billings, headlined by Albertsons with six stores. Other stores include Lucky’s Market, Evergreen IGA, Walmart and Target, which recently renovated its two stores to boost its grocery selection.
WinCo aims to cut costs where it can to keep prices low. For examples, customers typically bag their own groceries, the store doesn’t accept credit cards, saving certain finance fees. WinCo does accept debit, WIC and SNAP cards and checks.
WinCo officials said the new store will have a 700-item bulk foods department, includes rice varieties, dried beans, pastas, baking ingredients, cereals, snacks, candy and pet foods.
“We believe Billings is a perfect fit with WinCo Foods and a prime opportunity for the company and for the people of the city,” said Noah Fleisher, spokesperson for WinCo Foods. “Our philosophy of low prices every day, world-class customer service and employee-ownership will resonate with our new customers and draw back in those who knew and loved us in different cities before they got to Montana.”
