MONROE - The original Brennan's County Farm Market on Monroe's west side will be spruced up in time for the spring season. But timing couldn't be stranger.
The planned remodeling will be the biggest update since the building was built after the devastating Palm Sunday tornado that ripped through Monroe on April 11, 1965.
David Gebhardt, Brennan's assistant manager at the Monroe store, said some work has already begun.
Tim Culhanes, Brennan's Brookfield manager who is in charge of daily operations, said the goal is to have the remodeling done just before Easter.
"We hope to have most of it done before St. Patty's Day. Easter comes early this year," he noted.
Palm Sunday also comes early this year, March 16, the day before St. Patrick's Day. And this year marks the 43rd anniversary of the famous tornado outbreak.
Brennan's has been at its Eighth Street location since 1943.
But Culhanes is looking at the timing for the update differently.
"The (Monroe) store is doing great, especially in the last two or three years," he said.
And with Walgreens coming next door, Culhanes said they are expecting an increase in traffic in the area.
The last updates to the building 10 or 15 years ago were minor ones Culhanes said.
The new face lift, inside and out, will give Brennan's a more open and "cleaner" look, Culhanes said. The improvements will also bring the store "up to speed" with the stores in Brookfield and Madison.
"We are committed to Monroe. And it's exciting to be able to come back here to do this work," said Culhanes, who grew up here.
Changes in the produce room begin with wider aisles that allow more movement and "more flexibility for sampling - a big part of our consumer confidence," Culhanes said.
The doors will be rearranged and additional grocery and produce coolers installed. The same produce will be more visible in better displays.
The new flooring is expected to be quarry tile in an "earthy, reddish clay" color.
Outside, an extended roof overhang will block the sun and reduce damage to the produce displayed in front of the store.
Cinder blocks will be covered with cedar, to match the inside, and to match the sister stores in Madison and Brookfield.
The planned remodeling will be the biggest update since the building was built after the devastating Palm Sunday tornado that ripped through Monroe on April 11, 1965.
David Gebhardt, Brennan's assistant manager at the Monroe store, said some work has already begun.
Tim Culhanes, Brennan's Brookfield manager who is in charge of daily operations, said the goal is to have the remodeling done just before Easter.
"We hope to have most of it done before St. Patty's Day. Easter comes early this year," he noted.
Palm Sunday also comes early this year, March 16, the day before St. Patrick's Day. And this year marks the 43rd anniversary of the famous tornado outbreak.
Brennan's has been at its Eighth Street location since 1943.
But Culhanes is looking at the timing for the update differently.
"The (Monroe) store is doing great, especially in the last two or three years," he said.
And with Walgreens coming next door, Culhanes said they are expecting an increase in traffic in the area.
The last updates to the building 10 or 15 years ago were minor ones Culhanes said.
The new face lift, inside and out, will give Brennan's a more open and "cleaner" look, Culhanes said. The improvements will also bring the store "up to speed" with the stores in Brookfield and Madison.
"We are committed to Monroe. And it's exciting to be able to come back here to do this work," said Culhanes, who grew up here.
Changes in the produce room begin with wider aisles that allow more movement and "more flexibility for sampling - a big part of our consumer confidence," Culhanes said.
The doors will be rearranged and additional grocery and produce coolers installed. The same produce will be more visible in better displays.
The new flooring is expected to be quarry tile in an "earthy, reddish clay" color.
Outside, an extended roof overhang will block the sun and reduce damage to the produce displayed in front of the store.
Cinder blocks will be covered with cedar, to match the inside, and to match the sister stores in Madison and Brookfield.