ALPENA – In about two weeks the Alpena General Store will be on the move.

Store owner Scott McQuarrie said an exact date hasn’t been nailed down yet as he finishes up renovations at the new property. The store will move from its current location at the corner of Third and Washington avenues to the corner of Ripley Boulevard and Washington Avenue.

“I’m leasing the location we’re in right now and (with the move) we will be changing things around,” McQuarrie said.

Store Manager Jeremy Hamann said they currently are laying down tile at the new location and have been working hard to get it ready.

McQuarrie said they will continue to carry their farm fresh meats and produce.

He also has plans for more. He would like to do a barbecue deli along with the farm fresh meats and food.

“We’re putting two smokehouses in and right now we carry 26 different sausages and I’d like to do more,” he said. “I would like to get up to 10 jerkies, bring smoked fish back to Alpena. We’re considering even doing pulled pork sandwiches, brisket that type of thing. It will be a take out lunch, that is our goal.”

He said the reason for the move was to make the store easier to access for customers.

“We’ve been open for over two years and some people haven’t visited us. This location isn’t great,” he said.

He also has purchased the residence behind the new store so he has room to expand, and to plant a customer favorite.

“I purchased the house behind the double lot. We’ll be moving the pumpkins there. That’s all people keep asking about,” he said with a laugh.

Jordan Spence can be reached via email at jspence@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.