Portland-based Fred Meyer Stores is planning a $5 million interior remodel of its store at 400 S. Thor, with construction expected to start around the first of the year, says Bellevue, Wash.-based company spokeswoman Amanda Ip.

Although still in the preliminary planning stages, work on the two-story building will include renovating the jewelry and pharmacy departments and a minor remodel of the store's floral department, she says.

In addition to specific department renovations, Ip says the entire 143,000-square-foot store will receive new paint and interior design.

The remodel also will involve energy efficiency upgrades to the store's lighting system, including some light-emitting diode and motion-sensor lighting, she says.

Ip says construction is likely to be completed by next summer. She says the store will remain open during the remodel, and she expects a contractor will be selected soon.

The 12-year-old superstore on Thor, which sits on an eight-acre parcel, is one of four Fred Meyer locations in the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area.

A fifth Fred Meyer store previously located at 525 E. Francis closed earlier this year after the company reported it was unable to come to terms on a lease with the landlord.

Ip says the company likes to remodel its stores about every 10 years to freshen the look and feel inside. She says it doesn't have any plans to remodel other stores here at this time.

Fred Meyer completed a $10 million remodel of its 162,000-square-foot Wandermere store at 12120 N. Division in 2009. Also that year, a roughly $1 million Fred Meyer fuel center was constructed across the street from the Thor store.

The other Inland Northwest Fred Meyer stores are located at 15609 E. Sprague, in Spokane Valley, and at 560 W. Kathleen, in Coeur d'Alene.

The Fred Meyer chain is a division of The Kroger Co., based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has more than 130 stores in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Alaska.

Companywide, Fred Meyer employs more than 30,000 people, according to its website.