Safeway began construction Monday on a $3 million renovation to the Williams Lake store on Oliver Street after officially being given the go-ahead by corporate headquarters over the weekend.

“It’s a complete remodeling of the interior and exterior,” store manager Frank Chirico says, adding all of the departments will be improved upon in some way.

The deli will be expanded to provide Safeway’s customers with a variety of ready-to-eat meals, and new lighting, tiling, flooring and painting will be incorporated into the interior and exterior design work.

“We’ll have an expanded deli, expanded bakery and the produce department will become a little larger,” he says.

“This remodel is classified a lifestyle concept in our company.”

Chirico says the lifestyle concept of the renovations gears toward working families and people on the go, hence the addition of ready-to-eat meals.

Furthermore, an expanded selection of natural and organic products will be offered in the store.

In addition to the renovation and expansion of all Safeway’s departments, a Starbucks kiosk is being incorporated into the design for the new store.

“We’re classified a licensee to Starbucks, but we’ll hire and maintain it,” Chirico says. “It will be no different than walking into a Starbucks in another facility.

“It will have everything — from pastries to drinks, hot and cold.”

There will also be a seating area next to the Starbucks kiosk for Safeway shoppers to enjoy.

And, the new renovations will create a total of about 30 new jobs at the Safeway store. Previously, around 75 people were employed by Safeway, but Chirico says the new store will boost those numbers to around 110.

Chirico says the construction will not be a disruption to current store hours, customers or products and services being offered during the renovations.

“We’re still going to offer our customers exceptional service and all the products that were available before constructions are going to be available during construction,” he says. “All the work is going to be done at night so there will be no disturbance to our customers during the day.”

Plans for the remodeling are scheduled to be completed by Dec. 20, when the store will host a grand opening.