GRANDPA'S EXPANDS OUTSIDE OF ST. LOUIS TO STE. GENEVIEVE

STE. GENEVIEVE Gramex Corp. plans to expand beyond the St. Louis area for the first time by opening a GrandPa's store in Ste. Genevieve.

A 72,000-square-foot store to be built near the intersection of Highways 61 and M will be the 10th GrandPa's, said Rob Voss, president of GrandPa's.

The store will include some departments that are new to GrandPa's along with the usual assortment of sporting goods, hunting and fishing supplies, automotive supplies, hardware, housewares and health and beauty supplies.

New departments will include food and beverages, nursery plants, a patio shop and a larger selection of electronic appliances. The store also will have more clothing than other GrandPa's operations and will feature a snack bar and pharmacy.

Gerald Trautman and Associates will build the store and lease it to Gramex Corp.

Voss said construction is expected to be completed in October, with the store opening before Christmas.

GrandPa's was founded in 1953 by Thomas Pidgeon.