Construction crews will begin work next week to remodel Mountain Mall in Whitefish for a new Shopko Hometown store. 

Interior work is set to begin Monday, according to Tom Kraus, director of operations at Mountain Mall, which is owned by Carrington Co. 

“This really is a wonderful project for Mountain Mall, and it’s going to be great to add a third anchor store that will draw people into the mall,” Kraus said, adding that he hopes the newest addition will draw in shoppers to boost sales for smaller stores already in the mall. 

Montana-based company Martel Construction will head up the project, which is scheduled to take six months. A tentative opening for Shopko is scheduled for September. 

Interior and exterior remodeling for the 37,500-square-foot space, between the walking corridor in front of Sportsman & Ski Haus and mall restrooms, is estimated to cost over $3 million.

“This is no small thing, and we want to make sure it’s done right,” Kraus said. The amount is only an estimate, since several work bids have not been completed.  

Stores currently in the mall will stay open during the project and construction crews will only work four days each week. 

“We want to limit the disturbances to the mall,” said project manager Ryan Dunn  of Martel Construction. Around 20 subcontractors have been hired to work on the project; 18 of these are local. 

The exterior will be remodeled with a look similar to Sportsman with stone work, covered walkways and a similar color scheme. 

Club Bed and All Insurance, which previously were in spaces where Shopko is going in, have relocated to other spaces in the mall. 

Shopko will employ 25 to 30 people and would be the first large general merchandise store in Whitefish. 

Shopko was founded in 1962 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and by 1971 Shopko became one of the first mass retailers to feature a pharmacy in its stores. Four years ago Shopko introduced a new retail concept for a smaller store footprint — Shopko Hometown — to augment its larger store format such as the Evergreen store. 

Reporter Brianna Loper may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at bloper@dailyinterlake.com.