Strong residential growth in the area has sparked a major renovation at Lawrence’s Sears store.

According to building permit data, Sears, Roebuck and Co. has started a $405,000 remodeling project at its 6-year-old store on South Iowa Street.

Manager Craig Kotowske said the Lawrence store was one of 113 of the company’s 874 stores undergoing a renovation.

In Lawrence, Kotowske said, the number of new homes being built in the area was leading the company to redesign the store to allow for a larger appliance department. He said the remodeling would add 700 square feet to the store’s appliance department, an increase of about 15 percent.

“The company looks at all the markets it is in and looks for the ones that have the most potential for growth,” Kotowske said. “They saw that we could grow our business here. They see Lawrence remaining an up-and-coming community for quite a while.”

Remodeling will allow the store to begin stocking a line of built-in appliances, such as countertop stoves and wall ovens.

“We’re going to have more displays than we’ve ever had before,” Kotowske said.

The remodeling project is expected to be finished in mid-August. The store will remain open during the process. Remodeling won’t increase the size of the building, but will convert storage space into showroom space, Kotowske said.

In addition to adding more appliances, the renovation will revamp the store’s shoe department and add new flooring, paint and shelving to most departments.

Sears has started a 05,000 remodeling project at its Lawrence store that will expand the appliance department. In the appliance department Monday were Craig Kotowske, the store's general manager, left, and Rusty Duncan, Brand Central manager.

“Everything will look a lot cleaner and crisper once we’re done,” Kotowske said.