A rousing rendition of “Won’t you come home, Bill Bailey” greeted me as I walked into the brand spanking new Giant Eagle in Harborcreek.

For those of you already spoiled by super swanky supermarkets, I am sure this is old hat. But for me, it was like walking through the Pearly Gates. I make no secret that I find grocery shopping a religious experience. Being surrounded by all that food is an ethereal experience.

And what food there was! I had lunch and dinner just walking through the brand new deli and exotic cheese department. Roses were being handed out at the door, as was coffee and all kinds of goodies.

What I thought would be a quick trip just to check things out, turned into an hour of wonderment. I grabbed a cart and sailed through the aisles, looking in every nook and cranny, ogling the freshly steamed lobsters snug in their crushed ice display case, oohing at the expanded meats section, ahhing at the extra checkout stations, and smiling back at the massive number of employees–some old familiar faces and plenty of new ones.

Party atmosphere doesn’t adequately capture the feeling of this new store. When I left with $35 worth of groceries I didn’t know I needed, I shot a photo of the man on stilts who captured my own joy at finally having a beautiful new supermarket to shop in my neck of the woods.