When Pete Loyd was handed an award last week for earning Mancos Citizen of the year, along with co-owner Rob Kirks, Loyd thanked someone unusual.

He thanked the Family Dollar Store.

Just a year ago, Mancos residents crowded into the Mancos Town Board meeting room carrying protest signs after word spread that the store was planning a location in Mancos. Some said the store would harm the local economy.

"I want to send Family Dollar a thank-you note for kicking us in the butt and getting us to do some changes," Loyd said shortly after receiving the award.

Loyd and Kirks have been busy making changes inside the 39-year-old P&D store, most of which, Loyd said, were inspired by the incoming Family Dollar store.

Kirks said the biggest change they made was changing out the lights from compact florescent lights to LED lights.

"It's a huge energy savings," Kirks said.

The lights will likely save the store owners $1,000 a month on their electricity bill.

In addition, the produce section of the store has been remodeled, which has helped produce sales.

"My produce sales have tripled," Kirks said.

The market has also been painted, and the front has been remodeled, as well as the bathrooms.

The store has also added a baker. Niles Blegen has been busy preparing cakes, cinnamon rolls and breads. He also makes pastries.

Blegen has been baking for nearly 40 years. He said his specialty is homemade cakes and Danishes.

"I have a background in pastry work," he said.

Blegen's been on the job just about two weeks, so he is still trying to get a feel for what will sell in Mancos.

He's been baking pies, biscuits and oat bars too.

"I am just trying things out right now," he said.

Blegan was influenced by his German training in baking and his Norwegian parents, and he makes a mean Rye bread, he said.

With the produce case more prominent and the addition of a baker, Loyd hopes it will make the perishable goods in the store more prominent. They added a flower case, and the produce appears brighter under new LED lights.

"Family Dollar doesn't offer produce or perishable goods," Loyd said.

As far as an update on Family Dollar's upcoming arrival in Mancos, Town Administrator Andrea Phillips said the company still has quite a few hurdles to jump before they break ground on a new store. Family Dollar must still get a development plan approved by the Town Board and has to get an access permit with the Colorado Department of Transportation.