"Have you been yet?" It's the toast of Facebook. OGDS shoppers are laughing, crying, bursting into spontaneous applause in the glam produce section. After years of promises and postponements, our neighborhood grocery is getting its long-awaited facelift.

Well, more than just a facelift. This is more like Demi Moore's rumored head-to-toe surgical overhaul. According to Heath Edwards, the new store director, every case, every shelf, every cooler, the cash registers, the floors, the office, the bathrooms - every single thing in the building will be absolutely brand spanking new. Winn-Dixie has spent millions of dollars on this renovation. Not only is it the flagship store for the Mobile area, but right now, our store- Catherine & Government - is the number-one priority, out of 500 stores, for the entire company. What we will see is what the whole corporation is moving towards.

And that includes the new corporate-wide strategy, "Fresh and Local." We'll have a farmer's market-style entrance, with local produce offered in outdoor bins. Winn-Dixie is expanding its natural and organic lines as part of its focus on health. (Well, maybe not that wing bar.)  The grand opening is scheduled for August 4th, but there's plenty to see, smell, and taste already. If there's anything you'd like to see but don't, just ask, and they'll do their best to get it for you.

Edwards is grateful for the patience and positive attitude he's experienced during the chaotic last weeks of the renovation. "Everybody says, 'We're just so glad this is happening!'" he said. Winn-Dixie obviously believes our area can sustain a flagship store. So, let's grab our reusable bags and step up to the cash registers of our fabulous new neighborhood grocery.  Crack-Dixie no more…now we're calling it Mack-Dixie.