MONTPELIER — The city of Montpelier came alive on June 18 to celebrate the re-grand opening of the newly renovated Broulim’s grocery store and honor the Broulim family’s decades of service and community commitment.

Appreciative residents, local government officials, representatives from Associated Food Stores and longtime Broulim’s employees gathered in the store’s parking lot to await a Fire Department escort for Dick and Vonnie Lue Broulim.

City officials surprised the couple with a proclamation from the Montpelier City Council declaring June 18, 2025, as Dick Broulim Day in recognition of his extraordinary 58 years of service to the community.

Bobbi Leonhardt of the City Council read a letter stating, “Dick Broulim has contributed significantly to the economic vitality and hometown values of Montpelier, fostering the spirit of generosity, reliability and neighborly care that defines our community. Dick Broulim’s longstanding dedication has left an enduring legacy in the city of Montpelier. His contributions have been deeply appreciated by generations of residents, employees and customers alike.”

The new and improved Montpelier Broulim’s is literally bigger and better in every way.

The south side of the building was expanded as part of the renovation project, making room for a new service center and store offices. Self-checkout has been added to the store and the bakery, deli and produce sections are larger with more selections than ever.

Dick Broulim brought the Broulim’s grocery store chain to Montpelier in 1967. The store provided the community access to an exceptional grocery selection, eliminating the need for residents to travel to larger, distant towns.

The store has moved locations multiple times over the years, first opening where the Bear Lake Drug store stands today, then moving to the Ace Hardware location on the corner of Washington and North Fourth streets. The chain then purchased its current Montpelier location at 130 S. Fourth St., establishing a permanent home for the popular supermarket.

The Broulim’s grocery legacy is built on leadership, vision and unwavering dedication to outstanding customer service, with a foundation focused on making an impact within the region’s communities and with the chain’s employees. The company takes pride in being employee-owned.

Dick’s grandson, Rich Broulim, shared moving words at Wednesday’s grand re-opening about his grandfather’s influence, highlighting the family’s values and the importance of giving back.

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” Rich quoted his grandfather, emphasizing the power of relationships and community support in Broulim’s success. “It takes a lot of people to be successful. Grandpa has always said if you’re not changing, you’re dying. If you’re not growing, you’re falling behind. And that’s not what we’re about to do here. We’re here now in 2025 and we couldn’t be more proud of this store and the offerings that we have here in Montpelier. So we want to thank you.”

The updated and fully remodeled supermarket reflects Broulim’s ongoing commitment to provide a high-quality shopping experience in Montpelier.

Dick’s son, Robert Broulim, said, “This isn’t a fair booth you take down after two weeks. This is every day. We have to do it right — every time. We’ve always had the best people and now we’ve got a facility to match.”

Broulim’s is committed to growing with customer needs, bringing fresh foods and trendy brand names to its shelves to provide customers with a one-stop shopping experience.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony concluded Wednesday’s event with employees and their family members participating. The ribbon was cut not only to celebrate fresh paint and completion of the newly renovated store, but to honor a family-run business that has stood firm in its beliefs and values.

Broulim’s grocery stands in Montpelier as a symbol of reliability, service and community pride.