Opening of the “local” island market

WAIPOULI – Kevin Chung, ABC Stores District Manager for Kauai Stores, said he was told the Island Country Market has the best fried rice on the market.

He was joined by officials from ABC Stores, Coconut MarketPlace, and Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., in blessing and dedicating the fourth ABC store to open on Kauai, the island market, on Tuesday morning before the Doors open to the public at The Coconut Market Square.

Island Country Market is described as ABC’s flagship store on Kauai with the introduction of its delicatessen section and Island Gourmet Coffee with a unique tea bar within the store’s boundaries measuring 13,000 square feet.

“This is ABC’s fourth store in Kauai in 15 years,” said Paul Kosasa, president and CEO of ABC Stores. “When we visited here in 2014 our mission was to keep it local. We had to make things right and we want to bring this place back to life where we understood that there was a race track nearby and people from all over would come to gather in Kapaa.

Kosasa said to this end that he wanted to fill the market with local tenants and organize activities such as movie night to revive life.

“When I walked in I could smell the aloha,” said Lady Ipo Ferreira of Ke Akua Mana Church who officiated at the blessing and dedication. “I was here the last days of some stores before the renovations, and now with the new store, I feel great.”

LeeAnn Fernandez, manager of the ABC store in downtown Kapaa, said the island’s new market has been busy since it opened about a week ago.

“People love the staging area outside the store,” said Fernandez, who operated the temporary ABC store while Island Country Market was being built.

Jonathan Dahilog is the manager of Island Country Market, which is open seven days a week.