Melvin's expansion boosts business

The staff at Melvin's Fir Street Market - all 26 of them - are happy folks these days. With the completion of a major remodeling project, they now have a whole lot more space to work in.

"It's like you can breath now," said Sandee Herburger as she prepped food for the lunch crowd in an expansive new kitchen. "Heaven."

The kitchen is 500 square feet bigger than the old, cramped quarters in which the staff had to turn out sandwiches, soups and the other fresh, ready-to-go items Melvin's is known for. Overall, the remodel added 972 square feet. The other additional space is for storage and receiving, and it means proprietor Melvin Herburger can order on a bigger scale and pass the commensurate savings on to customers.

In fact, the remodel - as nice as it is for staff - will really end up serving Melvin's customers.

"We're going to try to expand our menu a little bit," Melvin said.

That will likely mean pre-prepared dinners that customers on the go can take home with them and get going in a hurry - a healthy alternative to some other fast options.

"It'll help with our catering," he said. "Mostly it just means being more efficient."

Melvin added three new retail positions in anticipation of increased activity thanks to the remodel, and his foresight was borne out.

"We've seen some increase already and we've only been into it a week," he said.

The parking lot was also resurfaced as part of the project.

The retail space remains the same, because Melvin was determined to keep the small-town corner grocery feel that is as valued by customers as the quality of his goods.

Melvin's Fir Street Market is located at the corner of Fir Street and Hood Avenue, in what was once Sisters' post office building.