For the first time in more than three months, Louisiana residents can shop at a local grocery.

And for the first time in decades, the location will be downtown.

Karl and Cathy Sippely plan to open the store Saturday in the Your Event Center location at 120 South Fifth.

The city has not had a full-service grocery since Kroger closed its
doors last October, and there hasn’t been one near downtown since at
least the early 1980s.

Niemann Foods — which announced Monday that it is buying four Hickman’s
IGA stores in Northesast Missorui — has been in negotiations with the
Kroger site’s Saint Louis owner about leasing
the space in the Twin Pike Shopping Center. An official with the
company said Monday that the negotiations continue.

The Sippelys already own a video store, taxi service and lawn care firm in addition to other business interests.

The couple has been selling basic food items at its video store a block
from the grocery location, and just decided to expand. The supermarket
will sell fresh produce, dairy products and
other items. Meat may be added down the line.

Hours are still being worked out, but tentatively are 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, with closing times of 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 8 p.m. Sundays.

 Since Kroger closed after citing financial reasons, Louisiana residents
have had to drive to IGA or Walmart in Bowling Green. The Niemann-owned
County Market store in Pittsfield Illinois
has been delivering groceries to Louisiana residents once a week for
the last two months.