Photo by Jenny Kirk The dirt work has begun for a Menards expansion project that will give the Marshall store more space and in the process, give customers more options.

MARSHALL — A lot of earth is being moved as construction efforts get underway for a Menards expansion project in Marshall.

Tara Onken, Marshall Economic Development Administration (EDA) director, said the project addresses the need for more space.

“Menards is doing an expansion project,” Onken said. “So in order to do that, they have to move some of the utilities and move the road. I think they’ll be adding some warehouse space in the back. I don’t know the full scope of the project, but I know they need to have more space.”

Onken said any time businesses in the area look to be expanding, it’s a positive thing.

“It’s a good problem to have,” she said. “It’s pretty exciting.”

Menards spokesperson Jeff Abbott said the Marshall Menards store opened in 2011 and has been doing very well.

“We’ve been expanding most of our stores, including Marshall, to add more product selection and displays, plus create more space for customer order pick-up for our growing online business,” Abbott said. “Currently, we are adding another warehouse in the outside lumberyard. We also plan to expand the Garden Center, plus make a few changes to the store’s interior.”

The development is estimated to be completed fairly quickly.

“If all goes as planned in Marshall, the warehouse project will be complete later this year and the entire project finished by spring 2019,” Abbott said.