Chuck Marshall, project engineer for Stewart's Shops, gives a detailed presentation of Stewart's building expansion project to members of the New Berlin Village Board. (Photo by Shawn Magrath)

NEW BERLIN – Stewart’s Shops in New Berlin is moving ahead with an improvement project that the company says will reimage the property while providing a better flow inside one of their busiest stores in the region.

The company outlined the project in front of the New Berlin Village Board on Tuesday, giving insight and fielding questions from the community about the project.

The project includes a 480 square-foot expansion on the store’s west end, with an added 150 square-foot exterior freezer. The west side parking lot will also see a moderate expansion.

Most noticeable will be a facade makeover. The company proposes changing the current brick surface to a sleeker modern look by using stone and neutral-colored siding on the front and sides of the building.

Inside, customers can expect to see improvements to the flooring, counter space, and lighting. A second bathroom will also be added for customer use.

“It all starts with standards. We want to do a standard upgrade and this is what we can do,” said Stewart’s Shops project engineer Chuck Marshall, citing space restrictions on the company’s .62 acre lot.

“Unfortunately, we can’t build a completely new store; but this is what we can do within the guidelines of the village and what we own for property. It’s a pretty tight lot and there’s no expansion possible any other way,” he added. “This gives us some inside flow that’s lacking and it reimages the store.”

Stewart’s Shops has seen very little red tape for the project. Village zoning was a non-issue. No new gas pumps are being added. It doesn’t need state approval because work will be far enough away from State Route 8. And since new construction is under 4,000 square feet, it doesn’t require an environmental quality review.

The project did, however, need the stamp of approval from the county’s planning board which it received earlier this month. Stewart’s is also working closely with neighboring businesses and residents in the process. The company plans to start work by late August and remain open while work is underway.

A public hearing on the proposed expansion will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Chobani Community Center on S. Main Street on July 28. The board will then vote on acceptability of the building permit.

“I think that Stewart’s is a great partner,” said New Berlin Village Mayor Peter Lennon. “This project is going to spruce up the community. We want to create a business-friendly environment here, but also one that respects its neighbors and Stewart’s has done a great job doing that.”

Stewart’s Shops prides itself on offering fresh, local dairy and ice cream, beverages, food to go, snacks, and grocery items. Most locations, including the New Berlin site, also offer gas services.