Dozens of prospective shoppers waited anxiously for 9 a.m. to arrive so they could enter Kings Super Markets, Garden City's newest addition to Franklin Avenue, which opened this past Sunday morning.

Executives from Kings were joined in celebrating the event by village officials and executives from the Albanese Development Corporation and Castagna Realty, who own the building at 870 Franklin Ave., where Kings has opened their first New York store.

According to those working at the store, people were knocking on the door all week to find out when this store, which will have prepared meals, gourmet cuisine, and ready to cook meals, as well as the products you would typically find in a supermarket, would be open. Many of these anxious shoppers were among those who began lining up at the door of the store at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday. Others were among the hundreds who thronged the aisles throughout the business' first day.

Among those who were on hand for the official ribbon-cutting for the super market were: Kings' President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Levitan; Bob Boyd, general manager of the Garden City store; Rich Boscia, assistant general store manager; Frank Castagna, of Castagna Realty; Russ Albanese, of Albanese Development Corporation; Russell Matthews, of Albanese Development; Village Administrator Robert Schoelle; Village Trustee Dr. Barbara Miller; Village Trustee John Mauk; and Town of Hempstead Councilman Joseph Kearney.

Once the ribbon was cut, officially signifying the opening of the store, shoppers rushed in to see what was offered. In addition to what they could bring home with them, shoppers were also offered the opportunity to sit inside at the store's café or outside at the rear of the building, where tables were set up.

According to Matthews, one of the things Albanese-Castagna insisted upon was an aesthetically pleasing appearance for the store as one drives down Franklin Ave. In answer to this, rather than seeing signs announcing store specials in the front windows, as one looks in from Franklin Ave., they will see people at the café area. In addition to this, there are also attractive awnings above the large windows and beautiful plantings.

Kings' executives thanked everyone for making the opening so successful and expressed pleasure at the improvements that have been made to Franklin Ave., just since they originally selected their new location.

The addition of Kings Super Markets is part of an ongoing process on the part of the village, the chamber of commerce and Albanese-Castagna to bring new businesses to Franklin Ave., as the revitalization of Franklin Ave. continues.