Article Photos

Times Supermarkets came to Maui on Tuesday at Kihei and Honokowai, but it will be a while before its famous steak plate lunches are offered.

One local grocery chain replaces another as Times takes over former Star Markets. Bob Stout, the senior director of store operations for Times, said the focus will be on local tastes. Tourist business is welcome, he said, "but the reality is the bulk of our core shoppers will be the people living around the stores."

Since taking over seven Stars on Maui, Kauai and Oahu earlier this year, Times has been refreshing merchandise and upgrading the markets, but Stout said the full Times experience will not be on display until early next year.

The holiday rush precludes the more extensive reorganization the management intends. The grand reopenings are planned for March.

Besides the steak plate lunch made with its signature Sterling Silver beef from the Midwest, Times sets itself apart with in-store bakeries. Unlike some larger chains, it does not supply prepared foods from a central commissary.

"We have a very local flavor; we're a local family company; we just celebrated our 60th anniversary," Stout said as he wrapped up the blessing at Honokowai on Tuesday morning and prepared to move to Kihei for the afternoon ceremonies.

"We are very excited to bringing our Times experience to Maui shoppers," said John Quinn, president of Hawaii-based QSI Inc., parent company of Times. "We think they'll love our new, easy-to-shop layout of the store and appreciate the savings we offer on the products they need."

Quinn said Times is lowering prices on more than 5,000 products.

Stout said the goal is to "meld" the local aspects of Star and of Times, which was founded by two sons of Okinawan immigrants Albert and Wallace Teruya to serve plantation communities in 1949. Since taking over parts of Star, Times has grown into the third-largest supermarket chain in the islands, behind Safeway and Foodland.

The two Maui stores will employ approximately 150 people, including many former Star Market employees.

"We have not hired any new people and kept a lot of positions at Times open to preserve as many jobs for the former Star employees as possible," Stout said.

* Harry Eagar can be reached at heagar@mauinews.com.