VONORE-Steve Smith stood in the bright sunshine on Wednesday and smiled as he welcomed a crowd of citizens, along with local and state officials, to the groundbreaking of a new Food City and shopping center located in Vonore. 

Smith, president and CEO of Food City, said, "We feel there are good times ahead in Monroe County. We see positive thing going on here."

Smith went on to explain progress, since the initial announcement, has been slow simply because of the sagging economy. With the first walls of the new store going up in the background, he told the crowd the nearly 49,000-square-foot store should be open in May or June of 2013. The new store will have a deli with seating, as well as a pharmacy. New jobs added to the economy through the supermarket will total 150-160 full time and part time.

See full story in the Sunday, Dec. 9, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.