MOSES LAKE - The arrival of Fairchild Air Force Base airmen to Moses Lake helped a new mini mart surpass its sales expectations quickly.

"We thought by March we would be up to $500 to $600 per day," said Airport Grocery Mart store Manager Brett Boehm, on Thursday. "Already, we're a little above that. Of course, Fairchild helped."

Store owners didn't know Fairchild was temporarily relocating operations to Moses Lake until after negotiations for the store building were in place, he said.

"That was just a bonus," he added.

The business, located at 6389 Patton Blvd. NE in Moses Lake, opened in November, he explained.

His bosses have other businesses in town and thought Patton Boulevard would be a good location for a store.

One owner, Asawani Sharma, also owns Adi Food Mart in Moses Lake.

The other partners, Vijay and Adana Kumar, also own Super 8 Motel in Moses Lake.

The store on Patton Boulevard offers hot food, like corn dogs and pizza, and cold items, such as sodas, teas, energy drinks, beer, candy, tobacco, health and beauty items, scratch tickets, Lotto tickets and beef jerky.

Boehm is hoping to add Schwan's ice cream.

"Nothing's been here a long time," he explained. The building last housed an espresso shop, car wash, laundromat and car rental business.

Customers include Big Bend Community College students, Columbia Basin Secondary School students, Columbia Basin Job Corps staff and surrounding residents. 

Boehm plans to extend the store's hours in the summer.

The store employees three employees on a part-time basis. Their hours move closer to full-time in the summer.

Store hours are now 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, call 509-350-8035.