Arlee grocery store upgrades

ARLEE — Wilson Foods in Arlee is nearing the completion of its remodelling project, which began with additions and renovations in October 2008.

Plans were completed in January 2008 for the 2,000 square foot addition, which included:  Hot Stuff Subs and Smash Hits Pizza, a redesign of the grocer layout and repaving of the parking lot.

“We bought the restaurant next to Wilson’s in 2005 knowing that we’d have to expand in some time,” said owner Dara Wilson.

She said the remodelling/addition process went as quickly as she and her husband expected it to. She said she is proud that the store never closed during the renovations, even during the painstaking rotations of the shelves.

“We only have the finishing touches left to do,” Wilson said.

Store manager John Carranco was at the store throughout the renovations. He said more than 200-300 grocery items have been added to the store as a result of an additional 90 feet of grocery space and aisle rotations. A new freezer was also installed, and an additional 20 feet of space to the front of the store - which was at the southern end of the store.

“We’ve had new siding, windows and gas pumps,” Carranco said, adding that an additional pump was placed outside the store at the Cennex, with a new image and Cennex decor’s to come.

“The deli and Smash Hits Subs is doing really well,” he said of the franchise. He said the franchise has high standards for their employees and conducts trainings bi-monthly.

There are 30 Hot Stuff Pizza franchises in Montana, and Wilson said their branch is already ranked fifth in the state. She said breakfast and dinner menus are available by walk-in or pre-ordering.

Most of the work done on the additions and renovations were contracted from local businesses. Matt Whetzel of Arlee, Five Valleys Roofing, B & B Construction of Charlo, Felton Plumbing of St. Ignatius, Pierce Insulation of Arlee, and Miller Drywall of St. Ignatius, and Mike Love from Love’s Electrical in Arlee contributed. Supplies were also bought locally from WBC in Ronan.

The parking lot is planned to be repaved by the end of the summer.