ATHOL — Colorful, brightly lit departments, a growler beer station, an Ace Hardware, friendly and knowledgeable staff — the Super 1 Foods in Athol has it all.

"This is awesome. We are really excited to have this here," Bayview resident Vicky Richardson said Tuesday evening during a VIP event in the new store. "Just being able to go 8 miles and be at a big store that's going to have everything you need ... whereas before you had to go all the way to Hayden. This is really cool."

At least 300 guests attended the VIP event to celebrate Athol's newest addition, a 57,000-square-foot Super 1 at 30585 N. Roberts Road. Those traveling north on U.S. Highway 95 cannot miss the Super 1 sign when they turn onto Highway 54.

"I'm so excited," said Darcee Handley, who has been training at the Rathdrum store to be a cashier at the Athol location. "I'm really excited that it's not just a brand-new store, but that it's Super 1. It's a good store to work for but they just carry good, quality stuff. We love Randy (Wilson) the manager, but I love the store itself. I shopped at the store in Rathdrum before I got hired on."

A large crowd gathered around the 75-foot-tall flagpole in front of the supermarket as members of the Athol American Legion Post 149 raised a 15-by-25-foot American flag, which gracefully unfurled in the breeze and caused cheers to erupt from the onlookers.

A smiling Super 1 president Ron McIntire warmly greeted guests and welcomed them to come on in and explore. He later ceremoniously cut a red ribbon in the entryway, making the opening official.

"I'm so glad that we've had this big of a turnout. Wow," he said. "This is probably the nicest, biggest, more complete store we've ever built, and it's a small community but I think it'll work."

Red "grand opening" balloons floated above displays and check stands, welcoming all to the new site. Visitors dined on an expansive spread of small sandwiches, cheeses, sweets and other refreshments as they wandered the aisles and enjoyed being some of the store's first customers.

"I'm excited to have a store nearby," said Linda Herring, who lives on the outskirts of Athol. "Traffic is getting bad in Coeur d'Alene, so this will be very convenient. I'm really happy that they put in an organic section and my husband's really happy they put in an Ace Hardware."

John and Judy Tustison of Athol were also ecstatic that a big store finally opened in their neighborhood.

"We think it's great," Judy said. "We just retired here about nine years ago, and living out here, there are no stores. It's really nice. It's more like a warehouse than a store."

"It's pretty overwhelming, really," John said. "We only had one little store in town, and now we have this big store."

The 24-hour Athol Super 1 Foods officially opens its doors at 7 a.m. today.