The new, larger Burke’s Outlet store is expected to open Oct. 3, store manager May Thornton said Wednesday.

Corporate officials announced in July the retail store would move from its current location beside Winn-Dixie to the old Food World building on U.S. Hwy. 84.

The move will allow the store to occupy 27,000 square feet of floor space and give customers “better names and better prices,” Thornton said.

“We can’t tell you how excited we are about the move,” she said. “Progress at the new location is really coming along. Those guys are working hard.”

The company is also nowhere near filling the more than 15 positions that will be created by the move, she said.

“We’re in the process of hiring those new employees and are taking applications everyday,” she said. “We said 15, but we’re going to need a few more than that to begin with, so I encourage anyone who has retail experience or is looking for a job to come and apply.”

Applications are being accepted at the store’s current location, she said.

The new store is expected to feature an expanded line of shoes, juniors, young men, plus-sizes and children’s apparel, linens, home items and more.

Burke’s Outlet currently operates in 11 states, with 30 stores in Alabama alone.