Lowe’s draws a crowd for its grand opening

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
A grand opening that featured a board-cutting ceremony, valuable door prizes and purchase discounts attracted a large crowd of shoppers to the new Lowe’s on Highway 31, North, in Hartselle last Thursday.
A 1×6 10-ft. board bearing the signatures of employees replaced the traditional ribbon and a handsaw replaced the scissors for the opening ceremony. Hartselle Mayor Dwight Tankersley was given the honor of cutting the board while a crowd of about 150 local elected officials store employees and shoppers looked on.
“This is an exciting time for us,” said store manager Alan Bryant. “I want to thank city and county officials for their support and assistance and everyone else who had a hand in helping us bring a wonderful new Lowe’s to this community. We look forward to serving you.”
He also pointed out that Lowe’s is celebrating its 60th anniversary and currently has over 1,600 stores and thousands of employees throughout the country.
Bryant presented a $1,000 check to Hartselle Historical Society as a gift from the company. The money will be used to further the restoration of the old F.E. Burleson Elementary School (Fine Arts Center). Accepting the gift were Faye Walker, Jennifer Sittason and Bettye English.
District manager Jon Alford of Guntersville added, “I appreciate the fact that I am able to be here and have a part in the opening of a new Lowe’s store. We have a great group of employees and everyone has done a great job to get the store open.
Shoppers quickly filled the new store following the 10 a.m. board cutting. They were invited to register for several valuable door prizes and take advantage of storewide savings on purchase made during the grand opening.
Hundreds of shoppers also visited the store on the previous evening in response to an invitation only family appreciation event.
Alford said the new store has 94,000 sq. ft of floor space and is staffed with about 125 employees.