BINFORD (AP) - This city's biggest retailer will reopen next month, a year after it was destroyed by fire.

The store, known in this town of about 200 as "Little Wal-Mart," sold everything from chain saws and crystal to french fries and fishing gear. It burned last July and the store's former owners retired, said Lori Gilbertson, who runs a cafe in town. Her husband, Ken, is Binford's city coordinator.

"It's been sad not having that store," she said. "People are anxious for it to open - it'll mean a lot to this city."

The community raised more than $100,000 in a campaign to rebuild the city-owned Binford Grocery and Hardware.

The state Commerce Department and the Jamestown-based South Central Regional Council, issued a $55,000 grant to the city last week to purchase equipment, including large coolers for the store for meat, dairy and frozen food.

"The grocery store is a core business and a valuable asset for the community," said Eric Hoberg, of the South Central Regional Council. "It is something the community realized they needed to rebuild after the other one burned down."

The grocery and hardware store will be operated by Wangler's Foods and Hardware, which also has stores in Casselton, Northwood and Tolna.

The new 7,300-square-foot building will go on the site of the old one.

Gilbertson said there have been fewer people coming through Binford since the store closed.

"We just don't see out-of-town people that often," she said. "They've been going somewhere else to get groceries."

Workers were polishing the new store's floors on Sunday. Shelving was slated to be installed on Tuesday, Gilbertson said.

The store is slated to open in mid-July.

"Everything is built and just about ready," Gilbertson said. "We really can't wait for it to open."