FARMINGTON – A new grocery store will move into downtown Farmington with the opening of Trantens planned for Jan. 1.

Donald Tranten and brothers Clay and Neal Tranten, who own and operate two grocery stores in Kingfield, have been working behind the scenes to expand their grocery holdings since Howard’s Rexall closed at the end of September. The store and pharmacy have been cleared and the brothers and their sons are preparing for the grocery store.

“Trantens will be the name,” Donald said of the 7,000-square-foot store that will join the Harold S. Tranten General Store and Tranten’s Too, both on Main Street in Kingfield.

The former drug store has been stripped for new display cases, coolers and a sandwich shop in back where the pharmacy was, he said. Flooring and lights are also being changed, he added. Next spring, Tranten hopes to build a patio at the store’s back entrance from the municipal parking lot for people to sit while enjoying a sandwich.

The store will offer a full service meat and deli case, produce, beer and wine and some specialty cheeses along with a line of groceries.

“It will be hybrid between Tranten’s (general store) and Tranten’s Too,” he said. Tranten’s father expanded the original Kingfield grocery store to add a gas station and convenience-type store, Tranten’s Too, across the parking lot.

“If you want to pick up some meat and rice pilaf for dinner, the new Farmington store offers the convenience of not crossing the river,” he said, expressing the response he’s already heard from many people who have to cross the Sandy River to reach the nearest, large grocery stores.

“It’s hard to compete with their pricing but we’ll be competitive in pricing, especially with milk and meats and offered specials,” he said. “We’ve always had a good reputation for meats and will cut meat right there.”

The Trantens thought about purchasing Don’s AG when it went out of business and plan to continue one service provided by Don’s – home delivery.

Tranten has started accepting applications for the 10 to 15 employees the owners plan to hire to keep the store open seven days a week.

A third generation grocery business, the brothers continue to run the store their grandfather Harold purchased when he moved to Kingfield in 1955, Tranten said. Their father retired in 1998, leaving three of the four brothers and four sisters to continue the business, he added.