It's been about 50 years since downtown Youngstown has had a grocery store.

Now a popular convenience store and deli is working to expand into the downtown's only full-service grocery store and serve the growing number of people choosing to live downtown and the more than 7,000 who work in the central business district.

Al Adi, the owner of the "Downtown Circle Convenience Store and Deli" has received approval from the city of Youngstown's Design Review Committee to alter his store front.

That means that Adi will move the front door of the store to center it at the storefront and he will add a walk-up window on the east side of the building.

"The face of the store is going to be changed. And we're going to knock down the wall on the other side, and move the hot food section by the wall over there. When you're walking by the sidewalk you will see the food inside the store and you will see the sandwiches being made and the Gyro rotisserie going and all of that, and that will be an attraction for the people outside to come in," Adi said.

By next month a store designed for conveniece will be converted into a full-service downtown grocery store with fresh meats, produce, and an international section catering to a large number of students from other countries who are studying at Youngstown State.

Craig Ballmer has lived downtown for four years and says he enjoys walking to where he's going to shop, "I think it's great because I shop down here and expanding will give me all the stuff I need. Pet supplies, all kinds of good stuff so it's going to be great."

Even the Music Director of the Youngstown Symphony, Randall Craig Fleischer who likes to grab lunch here sometimes thinks the idea of a full-service grocery store downtown is a great idea, "I think it's fantastic. I mean I pop in here pretty regularly. I'd love to see downtown businesses grow. I think it's great."

At some point the owner of the Downtown Circle plans to expand the full-service grocery store 2,000 feet back into the Circle Hookah Bar and Restaurant, and move the Hookah Bar and Restaurant into the Pig Iron Press building that he recently purchased on N. Phelps Street.

Adi has no worries that the store will be successful saying he has steadily grown along with the downtown, and now that an amphitheater will also be built, and a downtown hotel is slated to open soon he thinks there's something for everyone.

"I think this is going to give a push to other businesses and people to come here and stay and live here downtown," Adi said.