FAIRMONT – Although it’s only 8 years old, the Walmart store in Fairmont is in the midst of a rejuvenation project that will culminate with a fresh look and some new features, including a much-requested fabric section.

“The company does a remodel every seven to eight years,” said store manager Renae Behrends. That includes “updating, painting inside and outside, cleaning and what we call re-fixturing.”

All the work will be done while the store remains open 24 hours a day.

“We try to minimize the disruption as much as possible,” Behrends said.

The produce area in the grocery section already has new fixtures, and interior paint is being changed from tan to shades of blue.

“There will be a lot of new paint. That’s already done on the food side,” Behrends said. “We’re working on revamping [the fabric area] right now.”

She predicts the fabric section will be larger than the one at the Blue Earth Walmart. The new fabric counter, located in the existing crafts area, will have bolts of fabric, cut fabric, a variety of sewing notions and other merchandise to satisfy area seamstresses.

“We knew that something was needed,” Behrends said of the fabric addition. “We did request for that to come to the store.”

Two other areas also will be upgraded. New fish tanks should arrive within a couple of weeks, and the firearms department will be remodeled and enlarged.

“The entire store remodel will be completed by July 17 – 100 percent,” Behrends said.

In addition to adapting the store for better customer service, consumers also will benefit from a side effect of the remodeling project.

“We’ve got a ton of clearance items,” said Behrends, indicating numerous racks filled with merchandise moved to make way for the renovations.

Behrends assumed management of the store in October, transferring from her previous managerial position at a Sioux City Walmart. She grew up on a farm by Brewster, and she and her husband live in Wallingford, Iowa, where he does plumbing and electrical work for his father’s company, Jerry’s Electric. The couple has four children, two 17-year-olds, one 14 and one 13.

“My two big passions are being involved in my church, and I love to hunt,” she said, explaining her excitement for the soon-to-be expanded firearms section of the store.

“We want to continue to improve and make that customer experience the best it can be, with quick checkout, quick service – what we need to do as a store,” Behrends said. “I want to hear from the community about how I can help.”