Cliff Havens Shopko Hometown manager, cuts the ribbon officially opening the store in Toledo on Thursday morning, Nov. 29. Members of the Tama-Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce and local officials are in the background. Chronicle photos/John Speer

Credit to store employees (“my wife for putting up with me for 34 years”) and “without you, the customers – this would not be possible,” was given by Cliff Havens, manager of the Shopko Hometown Store in Toledo upon the grand opening on Thursday morning, Nov. 29.

The location has just undergone a five-week conversion from a Pamida Store.

Havens cited local contractors involved in the work, 38-year store employee Bev along with the other personnel and temporary help during the process. Havens has managed the location for 30 years.

Toledo City Council members Travis Mullen and Brian Sokol both commented on “growing up shopping” at the store during the opening ceremonies.

Shopko features a wide variety of items in Consumable, Apparel and Home departments. There is also a full-service pharmacy.

Shopko Hometown manager?Cliff Havens (center, back) addresses a big crowd at the store grand opening in Toledo on Thursday morning, Nov. 29. Conversion of the retailer on south County Road (U.S. Highway 63 from the Pamida brand was recently complete Chronicle/John Speer

More than 120 Pamida stores have been converted to Shopko locations this year following a merger of the two companies early this year. A total of $80 million has been invested by Shopko in the transition of the stores, according to a company news release.

As part of the opening celebration the Shopko Foundation awarded grants totaling $2,500 each to South Tama High School and the Herbert hoover High School through the Iowa Juvenile Home Foundation.

The annual South Tama Holiday Adopt-A-Family – Wishmas Tree program also received a donation from?Shopko on Thursday.