2018_July-August.indd

FAMILY LETTER

On the Cover Cheese Wheel Wedding Cake on page 30 Cover Photo by Romney Caruso • • • Blue Marlin Grand Championship July 10-15 The Blue Marlin Grand Championship in Orange Beach, Alabama, is billed as the Greatest Show in Sportfishing on the Gulf Coast. There are many opportunities for the public to attend this event and join in the fun — but the over-the-top weigh- in is not to be missed. The Wharf So much is happening at The Wharf Orange Beach this summer. Rouses is sponsoring the summer concert series at the amphitheater, which will host a variety of acclaimed music stars: • Jason Aldean with Special Guests Luke Combs, Lauren Alaina and Dee Jay Silver, July 26 • Dave Matthews Band, July 29 • Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town, August 2 • Imagine Dragons with Special Guest Grace VanderWaal, August 7 • Keith Urban with Special Guest Kelsea Ballerini, August 25 ROUSES ORANGE BEACH, AL 25405 Perdido Beach Boulevard 251-272-5034 Hours: 7am-12am daily Shop online at www.rouses.com/shop for same-day grocery delivery to your house, hotel or condo. ROUSES GULF SHORES, AL 1545 Gulf Shores Parkway 251-948-4715 Hours: 7am-12am daily Shop online at www.rouses.com/shop for same-day grocery delivery to your house, hotel or condo.

ROUSES READY We’re only halfway through the year, but 
I already know
that one of my favorite memories of 2018 will be the day before the official grand opening of our new store in Orange Beach, Alabama. It had been just over a month since we’d signed the lease agreement on the store, which previously had been occupied by a national chain. Rouses is very different from other grocery stores, especially the chains — not only in how we look, but how we operate and the products we offer. We immediately closed the location to get the store what we call “Rouses Ready.” We set an ambitious reopen date — the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend. We’d never done a turnaround in such a short amount of time. Our construction, design and reset teams worked ’round the clock to make room for an expanded selection of groceries, fresh food and local offerings. And our IT team replaced all of the register systems for a more efficient checkout experience. I’d been back and forth to Orange Beach all month, but my dad had other business, so he didn’t see the store in all its glory until the day before our official grand opening. I’ll never forget the look on his face. He was so proud of our team. 
 Dad wasn’t the only one who couldn’t get over the transformation. We soft opened that day, giving curious customers a sneak peek of the store. As I watched them push their carts through the aisles, I knew the rush was worth it. Great communities deserve great grocery stores like Rouses. We’re not done, though. A full remodel of the location will begin once the busy summer season is over. But if you’re vacationing on ’Bama’s beaches this season, I invite you to check us out in Orange Beach — or visit us in Gulf Shores.We have the same delicious food and products you get at your Rouses Market at home, plus the largest beer selection on the Gulf Coast. And you can find everything for the beach lifestyle — clothing, accessories, boogie boards, inflatables, even bait and tackle for fishing — inThe Island, our ’Bama Beach Shop. Donny Rouse CEO, 3 rd Generation

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