Sherwin-Williams Co. has relocated its Kalispell store to the long-vacant Dollar Store building next to the downtown Super 1 Foods, a move that will nearly double the floor space for the paint store.

The expanded Sherwin-Williams store will open for business at 7 a.m. today at 53 First Ave. E.N.

“With this new location we’re excited with the potential for growth,” store manager Matt Stone said.

Sherwin-Williams had operated at 405 West Idaho St. for more than 20 years in somewhat over 6,000 square feet and has outgrown the space.

The new store features nearly 11,500 square feet of space. With the extra room, Sherwin-Williams will offer more carpet and flooring products and window treatments in addition to paint and wallpaper and related products, Stone said.

The publicly held corporation spent several hundred thousand dollars to gut the former Dollar Store and install new drywall, ceiling and flooring.

The Dollar Store was built in 1991 next to the Tidyman’s grocery store, which closed in 2006. The Dollar Store closed a number of years ago and has been vacant until now.

For convenience, a rear entrance provide additional access for contractors, Stone said.

Ten people are employed at the store, and Stone said the work force will remain at the same level until the Flathead Valley sees a rebound in economic growth.

Sherwin-Williams was founded by Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams in 1866 and has grown to be a global leader in the development, manufacture and sale of coatings and related products, with annual sales of $7.8 billion. The company has more than 32,000 employees and does business in 109 countries, according to the company’s website.