City Market is putting on a new face — internally, that is. Shoppers who are presently dodging around particle board partitions, yellow tape, and stray card display racks will soon be rewarded for their patience.

According to store manager Jim Berhost, the improvements will include a drive-up pharmacy and an expanded Vectra Bank-Colorado branch to replace the one currently in the store.

Berhost also said that existing departments are being remodeled. The deli section will be expanded, with new cases and a cheese island. The store is also remodeling, to some degree, the meat and seafood departments. The produce area is also due for a facelift, with additional shelves and space, "hopefully to expand our organic food section," Berhost said.

Berhost confirmed that the City Market Video department will be replaced with a Blockbuster franchise. As for the rumors that a gas station would be added to the City Market property, he said that "we probably will be seeing something ... it’s a possibility." But as of yet, he said, there is "no (planned) date and no (architect’s) plans."

The impetus behind the renovations and expansions is to group products better, and to allow for more convenient shopping, Berhost explained.

Rhonda Bever, the corporate Director of Advertising for City Market, confirmed the plans detailed by Berhost. She said that it is corporate policy to frequently remodel.

"Stores need to update or they get tired and old," Bever said.

The Cortez store is the fourth renovation by the company this year. Remodeling has already been completed for stores at Montrose, Rawlins and Steamboat Springs, with three more planned after the Cortez store is completed, Bever said.

Bever was unaware of how the remodeling would impact staffing at the Cortez store.

"I don’t know if they will be adding more positions," she said. If more positions are developed as a result of the renovations, it is company policy to consider store employees first. Blockbuster, she said, typically hires its own staff.

Cortez City Market will also be the new owners of the J.C. Penney Catalog Outlet franchise in Cortez. Joe Keck, the current franchise owner, cited difficulty in turning a profit at the business’ present location as his reason for giving up the franchise. He explained that the J.C. Penney corporation had also cut commissions on contract stores, resulting in "tremendous work with not enough profit."

He and his business partner and wife, Susan Keck, will use the proceeds from the sale to help fund the expansion of Susie’s Hallmark, which will be relocated into the former Jerry’s Sporting Goods building. The Kecks plan to open the new Hallmark store in early June.

The purchase of the catalog franchise by City Market should be a positive thing for the store, Keck said.

"They’ve got a catalog store in Montrose, (at City Market) and it seems to work well for them," he said.