By by Janet Little Cooper – for the standard
Hibbets Sports is among the latest in a recent influx of retail stores that are setting up shop in Atmore.
The sports store is tentatively scheduled to open on Jan. 27 in the shopping center that houses one of Atmore's most recent businesses, Peebles Department Store located on Nashville Avenue.
Bonner said that the move to Atmore is something new for Hibbets.
The store, which caters to themed sports merchandise, will occupy a 5,000 square foot building situated between Peebles and Rent-A-Center.
The new store will employ six to eight people, according to Bonner, and will be open seven days a week. Store hours will be based on other businesses in the area.
Factory Connection, based in Albertville, is planning to open its 200th store in Atmore Feb. 1, according to the stores president, Terry Scott.
Factory Connection is celebrating its 30th anniversary with stores located in 11 southeastern states.
The retail store, which first opened its doors in 1976 in Guntersville,
specializes in providing junior, misses, plus and men's fashions at
affordable prices. Factory Connection stores offer brand name fashions and
department store labels at 25 to 60 percent off regular price.
Atmore mayor Howard Shell is excited to see more businesses take interest in
Atmore and investing in the town.
potential in our city,” Shell said. &#8220The recent influx of growth that we
have experienced over the last year is a sort of renewing of our city after
suffering the devastating effects of both Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis. It is
heartwarming to see these companies taking an interest in our city and
investing in Atmore.”
The placement of a new Walgreen's store on South Main that is scheduled to
open in the early part of 2007 contributed to the relocation and new
building of David's Catfish House giving it a big city flair, while
construction of the new McDonald's is progressing swiftly.
potential in Atmore by choosing to tear down the original structure to build
a more modern facility,” Shell said. &#8220And then of course, we have Walgreen's
coming in at the old David's location and we have stores such as Peebles
that just recently came to town. It is a tremendous growth spurt for the
city.”
The old David's Catfish building, which originated as The Ponderosa in the
1960's, was torn down Thursday afternoon making way for the construction of
Walgreen's.
The demolition was bitter sweet for Atmore residents as The Ponderosa was
viewed as a landmark for many, holding many memories of first dates and
party burgers.
memories of The Ponderosa which was the original name for the Faircloths
restaurant,” Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce Emilie Mims said. &#8220Robert
Faircloth's party burgers were a staple that many of us grew up on through
the seventies into the early nineties. Not only do we have fond memories of
the food, but also of its lure as a drive around place to be seen.”