With just a few days left before opening, workers hustled to prepare for the Wednesday, Nov. 19 premiere of the new Ridge Supermarket, stocking newly expanded shelves and testing checkout computers.

The store will offer a broad selection of merchandise from the get-go, and will evolve as operators learn shoppers’ tastes, said Tyler Myers, CEO of the company that has a long-term lease for the space formerly occupied by Village Foods IGA.

“Like any new store, it’s kind of a basic vanilla set, and then it really takes life,” Myers said. “If people want certain products that they don’t see here, we sure hope that they’ll ask.”

A new check stand and two aisles were added, and every aisle was extended. The produce and meat sections were expanded, and produce has been increased by about a third, Myers said. He said the new configuration holds as much as double the inventory that Village Foods was equipped to accommodate. Village Foods closed in September after entering Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

The Ridge Supermarket will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. initially. The store will likely stay open until 10 p.m. during summer months, and hours are subject to change depending on the community’s needs, Myers said.

Among items Snoqualmie residents will see on the first edition of their weekly mailer ad this week is turkey, just in time for Thanksgiving. The birds will be offered at $.29 per pound.

“That’s about as good as you’re going to see anywhere,” Myers said. “We’re very price competitive.”

The store has hired about 25 employees, including about half a dozen people who worked for Village Foods. Myers expects to hire about 10 more workers.

Shoppers will not need to sign up for so-called loyalty cards to get special values.

“Whatever the price is on the shelf, everybody gets the deal,” Myers said. However, he said cards might come into play if he’s successful in partnering with a local gas station to offer a fuel rewards program.