LIVERMORE FALLS – Work to get a former discount store and roller rink ready to house a comfort shoe retail store and light manufacturing operation for orthopedic products has begun.

The Planning Board approved a site review application for the business at Thursday’s meeting, Town Manager Martin Puckett said.

Bruce MacDonald of Skowhegan, vice president of Pine Tree Orthopedic Lab, now located in North Leeds, said Tuesday he is hoping to get the store and lab ready to open by Nov. 15.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said.

The front of the building on Park Street has already been painted a cream color. Currently the operation is housed at the North Leeds Building Supply store on Route 106.

“Our expertise is in comfort shoes for people who have foot problems and who want to prevent foot problems in the future,” MacDonald previously said.

The company has nine employees from around the area who will move with it, with hopes to expand that number to 15 to 20 within a year from November.

MacDonald, who has been in shoe manufacturing for more than 20 years and retail for longer, said the company is owned by himself, his son Todd MacDonald, and Junji Tatsuno, who is president.

The company manufactures custom-made orthotics, leather-covered ankle braces and diabetic inserts.

It also plans to add a new product line of braces and shoe bottoms for the Tru-Gait shoe that offer a rocker-style sole in the future that allows the wearer to walk like he’s barefoot, MacDonald has said.