FALMOUTH — The new owners of the former Nina’s Variety hope it will continue to be a neighborhood spot where people come for good food and good company.

Nina’s, at 125 Bucknam Road, is now owned by Nicholas and Jodie Sotiropoulos, a husband-and-wife team who plan a total renovation of the longtime convenience store. They hope to reopen sometime in January.

Their ELA Market & Grill “will be a neighborhood variety store that will pay homage to both the new owners’ Greek roots and the store’s local heritage as Nina’s Variety and Page’s Country Store,” Jodie Sotiropoulos said in a press release.

“We hope to create a bright and inviting atmosphere that will bring people in for a variety of convenient items (such as) coffee and a quick bite to eat (or to) enjoy a smoothie or a frozen yogurt,” she said.

The Sotiropouloses are longtime Falmouth residents, with connections to the Falmouth House of Pizza and Antonia’s Pizzeria.

With ELA’s they said they plan to “revitalize the (local) culinary landscape” by serving “a plethora of specialty Greek, Italian and American dishes with both individual and family-size portions.”

“The market will be supplied with good coffee, fresh produce, local meats, breads and pastries. Coolers will stock beer from local breweries,  soft drinks and dairy products,” the release added.

The grill will prepare both grab-and-go menu items and a la carte orders and include breakfast and lunch sandwiches and wraps, along with freshly made salads.

New bar seating, landscaping and large glass windows are among the improvements the Sotiropouloses plan to make to the property.

“We saw a lot of potential in this location and want to bring new life to it,” Jodie Sotiropoulos said this week. “We love the idea of revitalizing a landmark store that has played a big part in serving the town of Falmouth for decades.”

She said the site earned an excellent reputation first as Page’s Country Store and then as Nina’s Variety.

“We are very thankful to Nancy Mannette, who had a great run at Nina’s as the owner for 17 years, for trusting us to take over ownership and allowing us the opportunity to create a place of our own, from one family to another,” Sotiropoulos said.

In addition, she said, “the location is ideal for the type of food service we plan to (offer), fast and casual. The close proximity to Interstate 295, Route 1 in Falmouth and residential neighborhoods in both Falmouth and Portland makes us easily accessible.”

Sotiropoulos said all the food will be cooked on site in a new commercial kitchen “that will allow us to expand on the menu at Nina’s. Our customers will find comfort, variety and creativity in what we offer.”

The Sotiropouloses’ announcement comes less than a month after the owners of Rosemont Market announced they will open their seventh store this winter at the corner of Route 1 and Depot Road. Conversion of that property, a former dry cleaners, is in progress.

Kate Irish Collins can be reached at 710-2336 or kcollins@theforecaster.net. Follow Kate on Twitter: @KIrishCollins.

Jodie, left, and Nicholas Sotiropoulos, shown with their kids at the Falmouth House of Pizza, are the new owners of the former Nina’s Variety on Bucknam Road in Falmouth. They plan a complete reboot of the business and its menu, which will feature traditional Greek and Italian foods.