LAPLACE — The LaPlace Winn-Dixie officially unveiled renovations to the St. John the Baptist Parish community Thursday morning, showcasing new signage and food stations designed to meet customers’ needs.

More than 100 Winn-Dixie associates and St. John Parish officials, including Parish President Natalie Robottom, were present to welcome the community with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The newly renovated store offers an enhanced shopping experience with a bright, welcoming design, an improved deli with grab-and-go meal options, a new Dollar Shop section, an updated farm-fresh produce section, a hot wing bar, a grab-and-go sushi bar, an improved bakery department and full service seafood and meat departments.

Amanda Shaw and the Cute Guys provided live music for the occasion as customers tasted samples from local food businesses, and the first 500 guests received mystery gift cards valued between $5 and $500.

Renovations for the LaPlace location, which has served the community for 19 years, were prompted by community feedback during everyday interactions with customers and quarterly focus groups, according to Anthony Hucker, president and CEO of Winn-Dixie parent company Southeastern Grocers.

“We were asked to reinvest back into the community,” Hucker said. “We want our store to provide quality, service and value, and we believe customers will reward us by shopping with us. It’s a relationship built on trust.”

He said the store remained open while renovations took place, and he appreciates the community being patient throughout the process.

“It’s about serving the community of LaPlace,” Hucker said. “They wanted fresh products and a clean store.

“We appreciate the customers bearing with us as we underwent what we like to call ‘invasive surgery,’ and I think they were so understanding because they knew it was for them.”

Robottom said many parish representatives were eager to come to the ribbon cutting and support the remodeled store.

“We support all local businesses, and when a company invests in us, we especially want to show support for that,” Robottom said.

She said she expects new additions such as five items for $20 deals and the Dollar Shop aisle to be especially attractive to customers.

Winn-Dixie sells items to fit varying budgets, Hucker said, offering value items marked with the Southeastern Grocers logo and award-winning brand names.

Hucker said the store is divided into departments for an easier shopping experience.

The new seafood department features a convenient “seafood made easy” option allowing customers to select an entrée, vegetables and seasoning to cut down cooking time at home.

In addition, the meat department has an onsite butcher offering fresh cuts of meat by request, and an expert chef mans the sushi station to provide easy grab-and-go meals to the community.

Store manager David Pitfield said he’s most excited about the improved produce section that welcomes guests as they walk into the store.

He has plans for special events extending beyond the grand unveiling, including sampling stations on weekends and holiday themed cake displays.