grocery.

When construction on the South Shore, Smith's Parish, grocery is complete, it will look more like a "converted country mansion'' and than a small cottage, co-owner Mr. Anthony Aguiar said yesterday.

Mr. Aguiar has been trying for nearly five years to expand the little grocery into a larger and more upscale specialty food store, but only had the plans okayed by the Development Applications Board in January.

He said the plans, which quadruple the size of the grocery, created some concern because of the store's location, in a quiet residential area directly opposite the Spittle Pond nature reserve.

Construction started just two weeks ago, but Mr. Aguiar expects the new larger store, which may even have a new name, will be in business by Easter next year.

"When it's finished it'll be dynamite,'' said Mr. Aguiar, whose family bought the business in 1984. "We want to create our own niche -- to have an aspect of exclusivity. I don't want to say we'll be a gourmet food store, because we'll be selling laundry detergents and gourmet food stores don't do that.'' His plan is to do both. "People will be able to do the regular shopping with us, and they'll also be able to buy a decent cut of meat and the best fruits and vegetables.'' While Mr. Aguiar will not give away all his plans, he said he is sure his customers will not be disappointed.

The new grocery will be approximately four times the size of the existing store to approximately 6,000 square feet from 1,500 square feet, but Mr.

Aguiar says he is trying to maintain the cozy atmosphere of the present store.

Plans are to build around three sides of the present building, to the west, north and east. He said the new store will be fully accessible to wheelchair-bound customers, adding that he is hoping "to be the first store in Bermuda to offer specially constructed shopping baskets, which can be strapped on to wheelchairs''.

The new store will have a state-of-the-art refrigeration system. And there will be four levels of roof, with the final product resembling a "converted country mansion'', Mr. Aguiar said.

Mr. Aguiar, who has worked in the grocery business for more than 20 years, is hoping to avoid closing the grocery down completely during construction.

Harrington Hundreds has been operated as a grocery since 1948.