It was a long line of cold customers, but many said the wait outside in the cold this morning was worth it.

Berkot's Super Foods made its return to the Iroquois County seat today. The big bang on opening day included a ribbon-cutting event. The Watseka Chamber of Commerce, the Iroquois County Development Association (IDA), and other local officials were on hand to welcome the grocery chain back to town.

Berkot's Super Foods is back in its original location on the west end of the Eastside Shopping Complex on U-S Route 24. It was two years ago when a lease snafu forced the move from Watseka. Berkot's Luke Kotara said 'we never wanted to move in the first place and said we always were open to a return.'

Berkot's management says the Watseka facility is the grocery-chain's model store, adding an 8,000 square-foot layout for private labeling of food products that will actually add another 10 or more jobs.

Berkot's purchased the now-closed 96-year-old Quality Super Market from the Jim VanNatta family. Several of the Quality employees are now employed at Berkot's.

The Berkot opening (Thursday) attracted hundreds of customers, who braved the below-zero temps to take advantage of the store's bargains.

94.1 WGFA