An empty storefront in downtown Austin will soon house a local business.

Med City Mobility, formerly Adler Medical, is moving into the former J & K Office Supply store this weekend from its location at Oak Park Mall.

Med City Mobility owners Bob and Steve Elwood purchased the building at 111 Third Ave. NE Thursday from Barry Duellman, former owner of J & K. J & K closed in October 2002 after 30 years in business.

"It's a great location," said Steve Elwood, co-owner of the Austin store and Med City Mobility in Rochester. "It's right in the heart of downtown Austin."

The building is "at least twice the size" of its spot in the mall.

"Our showroom capability will increase by so much and we'll have more office space," Steve Elwood said.

Med City Mobility sells home medical supplies, such as scooters, bathroom safety equipment and walkers. The Elwoods purchased Adler Medical in September 2002 and have owned Med City Mobility in Rochester for two years.

With the Austin store, residents can stay in town to buy their medical supplies, Steve Elwood said.

"There is nothing within a 45-mile radius that sells these products," Steve Elwood said.

And now the store will be even easier to get to, according to medical supply technicians Lisa Shones and Jeremy Heskett.

Because they will be centrally located, their patrons won't have to travel as far, they said. Also, the trip from the parking lot to the store is much shorter than it is at the mall, the added.

"There's been a good response that we're moving downtown," Shones said.

The store has been busy since it opened and Shones and Heskett think that will continue.

"Some people are not able to purchase supplies anywhere else," Shones said.

And if Med City Mobility doesn't have it, the technicians will order it, Heskeet said. They also deliver supplies and make stops at some houses to measure rooms for certain equipment.

Med City Mobility will close its store at the mall Thursday. It will open it's new location at 8 a.m. Monday. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. and Mayor Bonnie Rietz and members of the Austin Chamber of Commerce are scheduled to attend. Regular hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Steve and Bob Elwood want to become more involved in the community and plan to join the Chamber of Commerce.

"We will become a member to support Austin, support the business community," Steve Elwood said.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at cari.quam@austindailyherald.com