Over the last several weeks, there have been two questions that Highway 161 travelers have asked Enos Girod.

“Are you open?” and “When will you be open?”

For those who have been asking, there is good news: Girod’s Hilltop Variety Store is now open for business. Its first day of operations was on Dec. 10. The store had a grand opening on Dec. 10 and Dec. 11 and served free snacks and coffee to the customers.

The business of Enos and Vera Girod and family, Hilltop has officially moved to its new home just outside of Middletown.

Hilltop was previously located in rural Curryville, near Bowling Green, in Pike County. There, the store offered a wide selection of goods and earned a reputation for its holiday open houses which drew shoppers from a wide area.

Now located just a stone’s throw from Middletown off Highway 161, those same crowds should have no trouble finding the new store.

“There were multiple reasons to move to the Middletown area,” said Girod. “We wanted a better location for a store on a highway and in an area where we felt there was a need for this type of store.”

Highway 161 definitely receives more than its share of traffic as it links Pike to Montgomery counties and is a route frequently taken by I-70 travelers. And Middletown is a kind of a crossroads for those travelers, offering one of only a couple of convenience stores between Bowling Green and Montgomery City.

After having purchased a tract of land, recent months have been busy for Hilltop. Very busy. Ground was cleared and buildings erected. The Girods’ home is next door to the store and it seems that every day, something new is being added to the landscape. Inside the store is no different, with it promising much-expanded inventory compared to its predecessor.

“We had a general variety store in Curryville,” Girod said. “Here, we are adding groceries — with cooler and freezer items.”

Food will be a big extra to the new and improved Hilltop. There will be deli and Amish baked goods as well.

“We also want to have lunch specials as soon as possible, like a plate lunch,” Girod said.

Beyond food, there’s poly lawn furniture; Hilltop has it in stock and takes special orders. And the size of the store is formidable: 6,000 square feet.

“We will sell bulk foods and a wide variety of general merchandise,” Girod said. “We also plan to sell a full line of hardware items and footwear.”

Those products will be offered at a later date, as will lumber and fencing supplies.

“Our goal is to be a service to this community and surrounding area,” Girod said, adding he wants to hear if there are items customers would like added.

Hilltop Variety Store is located at 420 Highway 161, Middletown. They can be reached by calling 573-470-2449. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, with their opening Friday.

Girod is happy to be a part of Middletown and Montgomery County.

“We want to take this opportunity to thank this community for the welcome we got when we moved in — this is a great community,” he said.