Work on the Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op’s second store on the Roanoke farmer’s market is getting started and should be complete in time for an early April opening, a spokesman for the co-op said.

The 1,225-square-foot store will open in the former Thomas Market space. (Thomas Market closed for Center in the Square’s $27 million renovation and the owners decided not to renew the store’s lease.) Plans for the store were announced in December, and the co-op had initially planned a March opening.

Co-op spokesman John Bryant said that workers will be moving electrical outlets and installing a trap door to provide access to storage in the basement. They are also moving the main entrance closer to where the Little Dipper was located.

Furnishings, such as shelving and coolers, has already been ordered and should arrive mid-March, Bryant said. The checkout counter is being custom built to accommodate the small store.

The store will offer grab-and-go foods prepared daily at the co-op’s Grandin Road store. The downtown store will carry items similar to those offered at the Grandin store but with a smaller selection.