By LINDA KELLETT

C-S-E News Staff

FORT PLAIN — Something’s different at the Fort Plain True Value store.

You notice it when you first walk in. The counter on the left where bike and small equipment repairs were formerly handled has been replaced with shelves of pet supplies; and a colorful and brightly lit paint department has been relocated to the front of the store. The shelving is different, too.

Those are just a few of the more noticeable changes that have taken place at the family-owned hardware store in recent months.

Owners Shawn and Tania Kilmartin, who bought the 12 Willett Street business from Shawn’s parents, Floyd and Susie Kilmartin, two-and-a-half years ago, decided to take the plunge about 10 months ago and remodel the store.

It’s part of a branding campaign promoted by the retailer-owned co-op.

Tania said, “True Value’s idea with the remodel is to make it more appealing to women. That’s why the lawn and garden and paint sections are in the front. Because 90 percent of the women make the paint choices.”

It’s also more user-friendly, she said.

For longtime customers accustomed to the old layout, the new arrangement might take a little getting used to.

It’s not a drawback, however.

Town of Minden dairy farmer Gerald Douglas Jr. said, “It takes a little while to find stuff because they carry a lot of product. That way you can stay local and buy local.”

Fort Plain residents Ginny Hill and Sue Manclow both said they liked the new look, too.

Hill said, “It think it looks great.”

Manclow said, “It’s cheerful and bright, and they’re always so helpful. They know where to find everything.”

Tania explained, “True Value is a co-op. Each True Value store is owned independently. Basically, it’s totally up to you whether you choose to do the remodel or not. It comes out of your pocket.”

She said Shawn’s father had been approached about updating the store about six years ago. Because he was looking ahead to retirement, though, it wasn’t an undertaking he wished to pursue, she said.

Eight months in the planning, the recent transformation was no easy task; and once it got started, owners and employees labored during and after regular works hours to roll out the new look. It took around two months from start to finish and involved the interior and exterior painting of the store, new signage, the installation of new shelving so that new and expanded product lines could be stocked, and more.

“The layout is completely different,” said Shawn. “We added 380 linear feet of shelving and raised the height of shelves to increase our merchandise.”

Among new product lines include ceiling fans, pots and pans, electric fencing and a faucet section. Expanded offerings are available in the paint department with the introduction of Easy Care Platinum all-in-one paint and primer, pet supplies, mailboxes and related equipment, cabinet knobs and barbecue supplies.

“It’s just more modern and up-to-date,” Tania said.

Prior services such tubing and tire replacements on bikes and repairs of windows and screens, snowblowers, lawn mowers and chainsaws are still available in-house.

The local store has 10 full-time and part-time employees and has been in the family for several decades.