To vary a phrase from Leonard Cohen, Change is coming to Ben’s Five and Dime.
And it isn’t nickel-and-dime change or even two-bit change but top-to-bottom, front-to-back and side-to-side change.
Jim Haas, 95, of Perry was pleasantly surprised Saturday morning to find new arrangements at the front of Ben’s, with the checkout counter having moved northward and now facing the front doors a little bit aslant.
“It gives a very nice effect,” Haas said as he made his way to the greeting card aisle.
The rear of Ben’s is also altered, with the toy section giving way to a spacious area for fabrics and other fine stuffs.
“This section will all be carpeted,” Jan Pattee said as she sorted the bolts. Her husband, Jay Pattee, said the built-ins holding the cloths can bear a lot of weight, but children will still be discouraged from climbing them in search of former toys.
The remodel involves moving much of the basement stock upstairs and vice versa and will take several months to complete, Jay Pattee said.
“We also have some work to do on the flooring in front and the layout,” he said. “I think people will really like it once it’s finished.”