The Palace Market is undergoing a major remodel that will replace the building’s antiquated plumbing, refrigeration and electrical systems, upgrade the meat, seafood and deli counters, and provide more workspace for the staff.

“I hope our customers will have patience as we move things around,” said Mia Rocca, whose family has owned the store since 1973. “I really appreciate our customers and I like taking care of them.”

The renovations will disrupt parking while the infrastructure work takes place. For the past week or so, a large refrigeration truck has been stationed in the parking lot to store perishable products while new refrigerators and walk-in freezers are installed at the back of the store. Some parking spaces will open back up next week, but the number will fluctuate as the renovations continue.

Most of the work is expected to be completed by August. Some individual sections might close briefly, but the store plans to operate according to its regular hours.

When the work is finished, most of the changes will be invisible to customers, with just a few significant exceptions. The meat and deli counters will be separated and expanded, with the meat counter installed diagonally at the left rear corner of the store.

The deli counter will remain in its current location but will be several feet wider and extend forward an extra foot or two.  

“We will have much more space,” said Gloria Padilla, the market’s head cook, who has been working at the store for nearly 23 years. “I can’t tell you how excited I am about this. We’ll expand our menu, and we’ll have enough room for hot dishes. Customers won’t have to take their food home and heat it up if they don’t want to.”

Ms. Padilla, who is 74 but has no intention of retiring, has been looking forward to the kitchen changes for a long time. “They’ve been talking about this for 20 years. Now it’s finally happened!”

The market opened in 1898 and has undergone several name changes over the years. It was originally known as the Point Reyes Emporium and later as the Palace Food Market. Carl and Dorothy Rocca shortened the name when they took over. They had been living in Santa Rosa but moved to Point Reyes Station when Mia Rocca, a Tomales High School graduate, was about 16. 

Dorothy Rocca had the grocery business in her blood. Her parents owned a grocery store in a small Minnesota town when she was growing up, and she liked the idea of owning one herself, preferably in a beautiful town. “Finding a business in a lovely area not too far from Santa Rosa was perfect,” Mia Rocca said. 

The store was originally located across the street from its current location but was moved in 1961. It has undergone several renovations since the Roccas bought it, but this will be one of the biggest.

“Part of me wonders why I’m doing this,” said Ms. Rocca, who took over ownership of the store in 2000. “I could just continue as things are and get by. But I want to have a place where it’s easier for my employees to do really good work and where it feels better to work.”

The extra space will allow the market to expand its meat and seafood offerings in addition to expanding the deli menu. Much of the space at the rear of the store is taken up by walk-in coolers that are larger than necessary. Replacing them with smaller units will create more storage for non-perishable items and expand space for the cooking and meat departments, which now share the current cramped kitchen, working in shifts.

Upstairs, the office space and break room will be expanded and a new staff kitchen will be installed.

The decorative white balcony above the deli counter—just in front of the upstairs offices—will have to be relocated to the corner where the new butcher counter will be installed. When Dorothy Rocca took over the store, she had the balcony shipped all the way from Minnesota. It’s from her hometown church.