Island Grown Initiative held a ribbon-cutting Tuesday at what will soon become the permanent home of the Island Food Pantry at 114 Dukes County avenue in Oak Bluffs.

A former automotive shop that later evolved into a local-music gathering place called the Pit Stop, the building has been renovated by Island firm Patagonia Restorations and now shows no trace of its industrial past.

White-painted walls and dappled vinyl flooring run throughout the front part of the new pantry, which includes a windowed office where clients can talk confidentially with pantry staff.

James Anthony, Noli Taylor, Merrick Carreiro, Vicki and Armen Hanjian — Ray Ewing

An indoor ramp at the rear leads up to a spacious warehouse with room for weeks’ worth of food, allowing the pantry to be prepared for bad weather or other emergencies keeping groceries from reaching the Island.

Guests at Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting included Armen and Vicki Hanjian, the husband and wife pastors who founded the Island Food Pantry 43 years ago as a winter stopgap for seasonal workers’ families.

Martha’s Vineyard Bank president James Anthony also attended, along with other bank executives and trustees of the Martha’s Vineyard Bank Charitable Foundation, which donated $1 million to the building project.

The new food pantry is nearly ready for occupancy, said director Merrick Carreiro, who told the Gazette the target opening date is Nov. 18.