photos by austin Anthony/photo@bgdailynews.com Above: Co-owner/manager Harold Huntsman Jr. stands in the newly opened Richpond Market & Deli on Thursday. Below: The dining room. Bottom: The outside portico of the nearly half-million-dollar investment sports the famous pig logo.

Harold Huntsman Jr., co-owner and manager of Richpond Market & Deli in Bowling Green, invites patrons to check out the 8233 Nashville Road location, pull up a chair and cozy up to the new gas log fireplace while chatting with friends.

“We want this to have a homey feel and be a community gathering place,” Huntsman said Jan. 3 during an interview with the Daily News.

He was seated at a table in the new dining area that holds 48. Across the room was the large fireplace, once part of the now enlarged former residence across from the South Warren Middle and High schools complex and athletic fields. 

There are some ties to the old market at 8051 Nashville Road at the new digs.

The outside portico of the nearly half-million-dollar investment sports the famous pig logo – enlarged and emblazoned above the front entrance, rather than just painted on the front window as it was at the old store.

Inside, patrons will continue to find their mouth-watering “world famous” pork tenderloin and biscuit sandwiches, plus other smoked meat barbecue offerings. Huntsman has also introduced barbecue nachos that feature Monterey Jack cheese and pork barbecue with some BBQ sauce and beef brisket dishes.

The new open dining area replaces the cramped separate room at the old location.

The market has been a community presence for 27 years. Huntsman bought the old market from Rhodes Hester in 2005, who originally opened the store in 1990.

The  marketing plan moves away from the former Richpond Market convenience store past, Huntsman said.

For example, customers won’t find gasoline pumps outside; however, they will find newly stocked cooking items, like pots, pans and kitchen tongs, normally found in larger culinary stores, but at a lower price. Huntsman said he will also be providing items usually found in country stores found throughout Kentucky and Tennessee, such as jams and jellies.

“We’re carrying the things that you might need,” Huntsman said of his location next to the busy highway leading to the Simpson County line.

The new Richpond Market & Deli opened to customers Jan. 3. 

Huntsman said the new building is actually a tad smaller than the old location but feels bigger because of its more streamlined layout.

The 2,600-square-foot building will also soon include a 200-square-foot patio out back and some additional grassy areas. Parking is at the front and on the side.

Huntsman said he and his business partner, Mitch McDonald, used Doug Martens Construction to convert the old house with an apartment to the new facility by gutting it then putting the new wrap around it. Lee Ross Dinwiddie served as architect.

McDonald owns Mac’s Restaurant and Supply in Franklin. Huntsman said the construction process was pretty smooth. Work began in August and the market’s last day in the old facility at 8051 Nashville Road was Dec. 16. 

The co-owner said he wanted the new building to reflect a different customer experience.

“We designed the building for optimum flow,” Huntsman said. Sitting on the right side of the building, a patron can clearly see all the way to the other end, where coolers and customer check-out areas dominate. A gray barnwood panel pattern adds to the experience. Community bulletin boards are also planned for the front entrance.

“I would have loved to have been open before Christmas,” Huntsman said.

— The Richpond Market & Deli is open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday; 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and closed Sundays.

— Follow business reporter Charles A. Mason on Twitter @BGDNbusiness or visit bgdailynews.com.