Ames residents will have the choice of shopping at the east or west Ames Hy-Vee, beginning today.

The new Lincoln Center Hy-Vee, 640 Lincoln Way, is celebrating its grand opening today. Monte Streit, manager of the new Hy-Vee, said many events are planned, and that he encourages everyone to come and check it out.

The Lincoln Center Hy-Vee is about 64,000 square feet, compared to the 70,000 square feet of the Hy-Vee in west Ames, Streit said.

Joe Frizzell, manager of the west Ames Hy-Vee, said the relationship between the stores is one of “cooperation more than competition.” Frizzell said the main purpose is “working together to improve Hy-Vee’s position in the marketplace.”

Six employees from the west Ames store were given promotions and transferred to the new Hy-Vee, Frizzell said. The majority of other employees are made up of Save U More workers.

Every employee of Save U More has been relocated to the new Lincoln Center Hy-Vee, Streit said.

Save U More, 538 S. Duff, which is a subsidiary of Hy-Vee, will be closing. Streit, who formerly was manager of Save U More, said the closing of Save U More is just a relocation of one of Hy-Vee’s stores.

There are currently no plans for the Save U More building, Streit said. The company still holds the lease, and in the future, the building will be subleased, Striet said.

The new Hy-Vee will offer many of the same services as the existing Hy-Vee. Some of the differences include availability of sushi, more expensive European breads in the bakery, a full-service meat department and a larger dairy section, Streit said.

Frizzell said the new Hy-Vee’s main difference from the west Ames location is its decor colors and store layout.