Retailer eyeing city site

By Staff
Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
A major home-improvement store may have designs on Hartselle.
Mayor Dwight Tankersley said he could not confirm reports that Lowe's Home Improvement was considering opening a store in Hartselle. He could confirm that a "large retail developer" was looking at property on Highway 31. The property is the site of the empty Slate Security building west of Abercrombie Chevrolet.
Rumors of a possible Lowe's in Hartselle have been around for years, mostly centering around the old Pineview Hospital site.
Tankersley said the retailer has contacted the city and has been to the site, adding he felt "positive" about the plans there. The developer has visited the city during the last six months.
"I think our marketing efforts have paid off," he said. "Developers talk to developers and if one has a good experience, they pass it along. Developers have had positive experiences in our community and they share their experiences."
The retail development on Highway 31 isn't the only market activity in the city.
Tankersley said there is interest in another Highway 31 site, as well as an interstate location.
"More people are becoming aware of Hartselle," he said.
Representatives from Lowe's said they could not comment on any plans for new stores or locations. However, Lowe's spokesperson Karen Taylor said the company is in the middle of the largest expansion phase in its history.
In 2004, it opened 140 new stores. That number increased to 150 in 2005 and 155 in 2006. In 2007, it plans to open between 150-160 new stores and will soon open stores in Canada and Mexico. Lowe's currently operates stores in Athens and Decatur.
"It works out to an opening every three days," Taylor said.
While she could not comment on the Hartselle market, Taylor said there are "literally hundreds" of factors the company looks at before deciding to locate in a particular area. Among the factors are community growth, percentage of home ownership and access to major highways.
There are two types of Lowe's stores, Taylor said. The larger type is 116,000 square feet and is built in major markets. The smaller type is a 94,000 square foot version for smaller markets. Both types of stores have large lawn and garden centers.
Taylor said she could not comment on what Lowe's classifies as a large vs. small market.