SHELBURNE FALLS — McCusker’s Market on State Street is now closed for renovations and is scheduled to re-open on Jan. 15.
In November, the back section near the Clement Street intersection was converted from a seating area into a new, bulk-purchasing area for grains, flours, spices and other nonperishable items.
The present renovation is for the original shopping area, according to Sarah Kanabay, a spokeswoman for the market.
“It’s a continuation of the renovation, to provide a more complete grocery shopping experience,” Kanabay said. “There’s going to be a much wider variety of dry goods, a further expansion of beer and wine, more local cheeses, and a greater selection of things from Green Fields Market.”
“We’re not going to be bringing back the deli counter, but we’ll still have coffee, tea and soup.” There will also be a selection of ready-to-eat foods from Green Fields Market, which can still be consumed in the front dining room area.
The renovation also includes new coolers and refrigeration.
McCusker’s Market opened in 1979 and was run as a natural foods store/deli by Michael McCusker until 2007. At that time, it was purchased by the Franklin Community Co-op, which owns Green Fields Market in Greenfield. The co-op purchased the second store knowing that many of its co-op members live in the hill towns west of Greenfield.
At the time, the Shelburne Falls Wine Merchant rented an adjoining storefront; but it has been closed now for several years. Since then, the market has expanded into the second storefront, providing a seating area and the new bulk-purchase area.