WAVERLY - Friends Ardis Gaylor and Margaret Barnes meet for coffee every day at 3 p.m. at the Hy-Vee in Waverly. Even as the store undergoes a 23,000-square-foot expansion.

"I am looking forward to a more modern grocery store," Gaylor said, then offered this piece of advice for Hy-Vee's Kitchen Manager Larry Mason: "But don't change too much about the restaurant."

Signs of change are everywhere at the Hy-Vee at 1311 Fourth St. S.W. The crane outside is one indicator of change. So were the signs inside telling customers, "It's Official. Watch Our Progress." Most of the expansion will be on the store's south end.

Hy-Vee has 225 employee-owned stores in seven states and 15 in Northeast Iowa. The Waverly store was built in 1988.

"We didn't have the variety our customers wanted," said Joel Flug, store director. "When we're done, we will have a brand-new 21st century store."

After the remodeling is complete, the Waverly store will be one of the most modern in the Hy-Vee chain.

Shopper Dolores Winning of Parkersburg wanted to know if the new Chinese deli will "be as good as the Hy-Vee in Waterloo and Cedar Falls."

"Yes," was Flug's immediate reply. He expects to hire two cooks to stir-fry the fresh entrees.

Regarding Gaylor's concern for Hy-Vee's Kitchen, Mason has a few ideas, such as adding to the deli department and expanding the salad offerings.

"A large portion of our kitchen business is family style dinners," Mason said. "We won't change our home-style cooking. After the kitchen is remodeled, we will no longer serve on paper plates. I have been wanting to do that for years."

The restaurant seating area also will be expanded with new tables and booths. Breakfast off the grill starts at 5 a.m., seven days a week.

Catering continues to be a big part of the store's business. A traveling grill recently was added for outdoor events.

Among other changes:

- The pharmacy is being expanded and will include a drive-up window and a private consultation room.

"Not enough people ask enough questions about their medicine," said Sabrina Hayes, pharmacy manager.

Natural and organic health supplements also will be offered over the counter.

- Hy-Vee-owned Regal Liquors in northwest Waverly will close and open as the Wine & Spirits department. Mark Iverson, store manager, will continue to host monthly wine tasting parties throughout construction, which is expected to last 10 months.

- The store will carry more organic produce. It also will continue to buy locally grown vegetables.

- The customer service counter will move to the front entrance. As construction phases continue, Hy-Vee will be offering one-hour photo processing, a Kodak picture maker and start selling hunting and fishing licenses.

All other customer services, including dry cleaning, local shoe repair and can and bottle redemption will not be interrupted during remodeling.

- The floral department will be twice as big. Floral display cases with arrangements, designed by Dan Spoelstra, Carol Kaiserlik and Denis Green will be moved up front.

- "We will have three times as much in our dairy selection," Flug said. Plans also include adding another frozen food aisle.

- The meat counter also will be expanded. Fresh meat is cut daily. The seafood selection will include more varieties.

- The shelf area for pet foods will be expanded.

- The store will have new computerized registers.

Flug has worked through two other major store renovations in his 18 years with Hy-Vee.

"When we're done, it will be like a new store," he said.

Contact Gloria Aleff at sblgram@msn.com.

Hy-Vee, open 24-hours, seven days a week, located at 1311 Fourth St., SW, Waverly 352-1365