Fareway breaks ground on new Brandon store

Brandon’s newest grocery store is officially on its way.

Fareway Stores, Inc. held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday, Sept. 16, for its new 21,000-square-foot Fareway Meat & Grocery store on Brandon’s westside, with the store expected to open in November 2027.

The Brandon store will be Fareway’s fifth location in South Dakota, joining stores in Harrisburg, Tea and two locations in Sioux Falls. Dean Snyder Construction is serving as the general contractor for the project, with construction already underway.

This store will largely be powered by a full solar roof and generator, Cramer pointed out, which allows the stores coolers and freezers to continue operating.

Mayor Harry Buck welcomed Fareway to Brandon and said the new store is another indication of the growth taking place in the community.

“We’ve built homes, and so we expect to continue to grow. Having you guys here is going to help that,” Buck said. “We just think that Fareway’s a terrific company. We’re very happy that you’re coming, we’re excited about it, and we look forward to working with you.”

Fareway Vice President of Corporate Outreach & Communications Elias Johnson served as master of ceremonies for the groundbreaking and introduced Reynolds W. Cramer, CEO of Fareway Stores, Inc.

Cramer said Fareway is committed to being both a partner and a catalyst for future growth in the communities it serves.

“What an exciting day, and we’re blessed to have this great weather,” Cramer said. “Our commitment to a community like this is to be a partner and also a catalyst for future growth. We love doing that.”

Cramer credited local officials, the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and others involved in bringing the project to Brandon for making the process an easy one.

He said Fareway, which now operates in seven states with nearly 14,000 employees and almost 150 stores, saw significant potential in the Sioux Falls-area market and its surrounding communities.

“When we came to South Dakota and the Sioux Falls area a few years back, I could just see that it’s a lot of small communities surrounding a great city, and I could see the growth,” Cramer said.

He said the company was attracted to the area in part because of its pro-business approach and continued growth.

Fareway’s Brandon location will feature the company’s full-service meat department, fresh produce, grocery essentials and online shopping options. The store also is expected to create approximately 80 to 100 jobs, with the number potentially reaching 120 depending on the store’s needs.

Cramer said Fareway particularly enjoys employing young people and providing them an opportunity to balance work with school, sports, music, church and other activities.

“We really enjoy hiring the young kids – 14-, 15-, 16-, 17-year-olds,” Cramer said. “We love to balance sports, going to church, music, all the different things that kids do and academics, with working a few hours a week.”

He said hiring for the Brandon store will likely begin approximately three to four months before its opening, with the company looking for both full- and part-time employees and management staff.

Fareway’s family-oriented philosophy also includes its longstanding practice of closing its stores on Sundays.

“Fareway is about family and faith,” Cramer said. “I think the idea that families need to spend more time together, if it’s going to a soccer game, if it’s whatever, and so our employees really appreciate the fact they know that they have that day off every week so they can get things accomplished and spend time at home.”

Cramer said community involvement will be another important part of Fareway’s presence in Brandon.

He said employees and managers will be encouraged to participate in local parades, school events, football games and other activities.

“We’re excited to become a part of that,” he said.

Fareway also expects the Brandon store to benefit from nearby bakery operations, allowing fresh baked goods to be delivered daily.

Cramer said the company’s growth in South Dakota and the surrounding region has made the Brandon location a natural addition to its operations.

The path to the Brandon site, however, took longer than originally anticipated. Fareway initially considered another location before determining that the current site on the P.M. commute time was the right fit.

“Good things happen when you wait,” Cramer said. “Sometimes when you’re trying to figure out where your location’s going to be, and you’re working with different landowners, and you’re working with the cities and all the things, it’s like an orchestra. Everybody’s got to play their instrument just right to make it happen and make that beautiful music.”

Cramer said Fareway is looking forward to becoming more involved in Brandon in the year leading up to the store’s opening.

“I can’t wait to be back here a year from now, before Thanksgiving, so that . we can open the doors and start selling lots of groceries and getting involved in the community,” he said.

Rachael Neiman, CEO of the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, also welcomed Fareway to Brandon and emphasized the role businesses play in helping the community continue to grow.

The groundbreaking ceremony included local city officials, Chamber representatives and members of the Fareway team, along with representatives from Dean Snyder Construction.

Johnson thanked Dean Snyder Construction for its work on the project and said seeing the company’s trucks already at the site is a sign that construction is getting underway.

Fareway Stores, Inc. was founded in 1938 by Cramer’s great-grandfather and has grown into a seven-state operation with nearly 14,000 employees.