BIDDEFORD — The Stone Soup Food Pantry will move to a new downtown location this week.

The pantry on Thursday will relocated to the lower level of 180 Main St. Pantry co-director Kathy Duke said the move out of the current location at 316 Main St. was necessary because the building was sold and the new owner raised rental rates.

Pantry volunteers started moving some items Monday, but will still distribute food from the old location on Wednesday. The rest of the move will take place Thursday and Friday and the pantry will reopen Monday in the new location.

Stone Soup is open from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Monday and Wednesday.

Duke said the new location will provide more room for the pantry’s clothes distribution program and plenty of space for people to drink coffee and socialize while they wait. The location is central for most of the pantry’s clients, who live primarily in the downtown area.

“It’s a great space. It’s big and it’s still within walking distance for people,” Duke said. “I think it’s a good move.”

Client of the food pantry will need to use the lower entrance of 180 Main St. to get into the pantry. From Main Street, they can walk down the stairs to the rear of the building. Parking also is available behind the building and can be reached by using the entrance near the Lincoln Mill on Lincoln Street.