Normandy Park Towne Center held a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Wednesday, January 22 to celebrate the grand opening of Normandy Park Market located at 19850 1st Ave. South.

The area has not had a full featured grocery store for several years. Previously an XL Sooper and Red Apple Market had served the neighborhood.

The store is just under 24,000 square feet in size and according to building and shopping center owner Tom O'Keefe it is, "Similar to Met Market but with good every day prices."

Amusing and engaging touches are found throughout the store with literary quotes on the wall from "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy - Benjamin Franklin" hanging over the wine and beer area to "Age is something that doesn't matter unless you are cheese -Luis Bunuel" over the deli area and "Coffee first, schemes later- Leanna Rene Hieber" over the espresso bar. The aisles are wide and products and pricing displayed with clarity. The produce department is built with ease of access in mind. Low displays are within reach and in a nod to the Seahawks Championship win a "12" honors the fans, built out of green onions.

In development for 2 and 1/2 years the market is owned and managed by Paul Wilcox.

Normandy Park City Council members, United Grocers representatives and Normandy Park community members were in attendance.