TOUR: Lake Region IGA - Hawley, PA

Lake Region IGA
Owner: James Shook

Opened: 1987

Cooperative: IGA
Location: 52 Welwood Ave, Hawley, PA

Photographed: December 22, 2018 and May 29, 2023

Yesterday we saw the former IGA in Hawley, but Hawley still has a functional, operating IGA! This store opened in 1987 and appears to have been built at that time -- I don't think there was anyone else here before Lake Region IGA. The 28,000 square foot store was recently renovated, and I actually have before and after pictures which is a fun bonus!

After

And, as you'll see, I've labeled the pictures as "before" and "after" under each one. The outside has gotten some new signs, but mostly looks the same. As we'll see, the inside didn't get a major makeover, but it looks good.

After

We enter to produce in the front-right corner. The grand aisle continues down the right side of the store, with meat on the back wall. Frozen foods are in the second-to-last aisle, with more in the front left corner, and dairy is in the last aisle.

Before

While we see before, the produce department was plenty attractive, it's looking particularly good afterwards with new IGA-supplied decor, new flooring, and new fixtures.

After

Produce gives way to the rest of the grand aisle around halfway down the store, with a lower set of shelving in the middle. The first grocery aisle is to the left above.

Before

But again, it's amazing what difference some new flooring, fixtures, and simple decor can make. The store looks fantastic and much more modern and streamlined!

After

The decor in the grand aisle wasn't that old, though, and was almost definitely newer than the rest of the store. So the backlit signage we see here wasn't changed.

Before

But if you notice, there have definitely been changes. Notice the new backsplash with faux windows and digital screens, and some new fixtures.

After

It's looking great! And the backlit signage works very well for this new decor setup. The service seafood department is in the back of the grand aisle.

After

Before

The meat department hasn't had its fixtures updated, but it's looking good with new flooring and nice colorful meat pictures.

After

Although I will say, the downside is that the store has lost some personality. You can see some of the props in the meat department, and the most deluxe one was near the service counter, with a little street and train scene that I loved. I don't recall seeing this after the renovation, but I don't know for sure that they removed it.

Before

My cell phone camera was better in my 2023 photos than in my 2018, but it also looks like the store's lighting has been upgraded.

Before

The grocery aisles don't look too different, but there is new flooring and new aisle markers, both of which look great.

Before

As this is an IGA, it sells the IGA storebrand products, but I believe it also sells Seven Farms, Life Goods, and Life Every Day as it is supplied by Bozzuto's (I think).

After

After

The service butcher is at the left side of the store.

After

Before

Many of the fixtures around the store have not been updated, but they all seem to be in exceptional condition.

After

Dairy lines the outside of the last aisle. Again, the store has been streamlined, but it does lose some of the charm with the props gone above the cases.

Before

This aisle does feel a bit smaller than it used to, but I'm not sure if anything actually has changed.

After

Before

Frozen foods begins in the second to last aisle, with the rest of the freezer department in the front corner.

Before

Notice that there's very little decor in the frozen foods department before the renovation, which is likely a result of the low ceilings here.

Before

And not only is the decor more exciting, the lighting is better!

After

Although we can see not all that much has changed in the frozen foods area.

After

I don't seem to have a picture of the front-end before the renovation, but here's a look at how it is after. It looks really great! Open and bright despite the low ceiling, and the self-checkouts all look practically brand-new.

After

From Hawley, we're going to head towards the southern end of Lake Wallenpaupack to take a look at an independent supermarket in a small town beyond the lake's tip!