Safeway Inc., plans to spend $2 million to convert its store at the Town & Country Shopping Center to its "lifestyle" theme, and will add about 35 employees there, says District Manager Craig Johnson.

Also, Stejer Development LLC, of Spokane, is going ahead with a planned update of the faade of that 80,000-square-foot shopping center, at 808 W. Francis.

The 35,000-square-foot Safeway store is the final Safeway store here to be converted to the chain's lifestyle theme, Johnson says.

In the 10-week remodeling project, which is expected to be completed by the end of June, Associated Construction Inc., of Spokane, will replace the equipment and remodel the entire store. Also, a Starbucks espresso stand will be added in the front of the store, Johnson says.

The interior of the store will be updated with tiles in various color combinations and finishes, including a kind of tile that resembles wooden planking in the produce department, he says. The lighting also will be changed.

The expanded perimeter departments will result in the addition of 35 positions at the store, which currently employs 57 people, Johnson says.

Kilgore Construction Inc., of Colbert, will do the exterior work at the center for Stejer Development.