LITTLE BOSTON — The developers at the Port Gamble Development Authority have been busy the past several months, keeping one eye on current economic developments and the other on future ventures.

The latest earth-moving development has been the renovation of the new Gliding Eagle Market on Little Boston and Hansville roads.

The store within the two-story building, which has twice as much space and more grocery selection than before, now offers more than just gasoline and snacks.

Tucked away in the corner of the first floor is a new delicatessen, next to a fireplace surrounded by overstuffed easy chairs, dining tables and a barstool area that overlooks Hansville Road.

“We found it so popular, we’re already planning to add a few booths,” said PGDA Operations Director Lynn Good. The PGDA is the economic arm of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe.

The expanded store has also brought new jobs to the area. Seven new employees have been hired, bringing the store staff to 21.

“And we are going to need more,” Good added.

Mike Fulton is one of those employees taking advantage of the new economic opportunity with the market.

A former nighttime Point-No-Point casino employee who is thrilled with his new daytime job, Fulton said he is happy to serve up hot food, cold food and the daily breakfast specials.

“It’s really nice,” he said, noting the hot food is the biggest seller. “It’s a great store.”

Fulton said the manager of the deli hopes to expand the menu to include pizza and more dinner-type items.

While business took a slight hit during construction, Good said the shop never closed in the old or new building, and reactions from the community have been positive.

“I can’t believe it.” “This is marvelous.” “Sure beats the old place,” have been comments Good has heard from patrons.

To celebrate the new store, a grand opening will be Sept. 8-20, which will include drawings for prizes to be held periodically at the store.

The former building was nearly 30 years old and had three expansions. It was finally torn down Aug. 8.

“People thought we should save it,” Good said, shaking his head in disbelief.

The rest of the market complex includes new gasoline pumps that are now in service, with eight pumps for regular gasoline. Diesel is now available as well as propane. There will also be an RV dump station so travel trailers will have one stop for everything, Good said.

Another service is an espresso stand that will be located near the store. Baristas will serve up espresso and the usual token items such soft drinks and pastries, Good said. The corner of Hansville and Little Boston Roads no longer has the Shell gas station sign, but it will be landscaped as a welcome entrance to the Port Gamble Indian Reservation and Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe. A nearly 30-year-old refurbished totem pole was recently erected on the corner as part of the landscaping.

Officials of the PGDA are very pleased with the “county’s infinite wisdom” to install a blinking light at the intersection, Good said, noting a fatality that took place there last year.

The second floor of the market place will be the home of the PGDA offices. It will also be the hub of the agency’s fiber optic telecommunications system for the Port Gamble S’Klallam community. From there, high speed services will be expanded to the rest of the community on the reservation. The offices will also have a state-of-the-art conference room with a plasma screen video display.

Good said the agency has plans to possibly rent out the room to other groups in the North End. The next step for the agency will be developing a maintenance shop and warehouse where the PGDA office trailers used to be.