The grocery scene in Marshalltown is growing and changing rapidly and bringing new shopping opportunities to residents. All of the grocery stores near south Center Street have upgraded and renovated in some way and a brand-new grocery store – Supermarket Villachuato – is gracing downtown.

The $3.6 million supermarket, owned by the Regalado brothers — Jose Angel, Daniel, Jose Luis, Miguel and Ramon, employs 50 people.

Supermarket Villachuato, opened in November, one year after construction began. It brought a full-service Hispanic grocery store to downtown Marshalltown. Not only are there a variety of Hispanic products, but also a deli and an ice cream counter, both offering authentic Mexican cuisines.

The store offers more than just food as a variety of Mexican-made products can be found, along with meat products not found in other stores, such as frozen rabbit and whole octopus.

Fareway is in the process of building a brand new grocery store– right next door to the old one — and is scheduled to hold a grand opening on Aug. 16. The goal is to bring the new updated looks and feels of other Fareway stores to Marshalltown.

Fareway spokesperson Emily Toribio said they are very excited about opening the new facility. The shopping experience of customers will be elevated, she said, with new shelving, better displays, modern flooring and more.

“This store will look and feel like all of our new stores do,” Toribio said.

Hy-Vee went through a full remodel in 2020. The updated store includes unique food service offerings, new departments, updated signage and décor and more. An expanded candy department, a Market Grille and Mia Pizza were added, where customers can create their favorite pizza with fresh ingredients. The popular dish is baked in a wood-fired oven in just six minutes.

Christina Gayman, public relations director for Hy-Vee, said the project began in early 2020 and finished in September.

“Hy-Vee believes our customers deserve an experience as fresh as the products we sell and the deals we offer,” she said. “The Marshalltown remodel is part of Hy-Vee’s initiative to keep our stores up-to-date and reinvest in our communities. Hy-Vee has a long history in the Marshalltown community, and we are excited to give our customers an improved shopping experience.”

Just a few blocks away from both Fareway and Hy-Vee, Aldi also went through a remodel in March. The business reopened in Marshalltown on April 9.

The updated Aldi features open ceilings, natural lighting, environmentally friendly building materials and additional storage for even more fresh produce, meat and dairy. Refrigeration space was maximized to accommodate the expanded product selection, which includes a 40 percent increase in fresh food.

“We’ve invested heavily in remodeling our stores, and it’s paying off,” said ALDI Faribault Division Vice President Matt Lilla. “Not only have we received positive feedback from shoppers, but in-store traffic has increased.”

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.