FARMINGTON -- Aubuchon's Hardware at the Mount Blue Shopping Center in Farmington since 1978 is moving down the road and doubling its size.

The new space will be at the former Ford dealership at 361 Wilton Road now owned by Jimmy Meader. The other tenant is Curves.

The new store will have over 150 linear feet of new products, with an eye on the growing number of hobby farmers raising chickens, goats, cows and sheep and planting and expanding gardens and crops, said Greg Moran of W.E. Aubuchon Co. Inc.

New items will include Purina feeds for dogs and farm animals; farm equipment; an outdoor gardening and landscaping center; welding and flooring supplies; expanded electrical, plumbing and hardware displays; 24-linear feet for housewares and appliances; and office supplies. There will also be a propane filling station.

"This will help us compete with the big-box stores," said manager Brenda Fronk. "With the way the economy has been going, we are seeing a lot of customers getting into hobby farming and growing their own food."

The store's storage and retail space will expand from 5,200 to 9,400 square feet.