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October 24, 2009

2 shopping centers on the launchpad

By Charles Oliver

Two new retail projects in Dalton are bucking the grim economic tide.

Drivers may have noticed the Dalton Village Shopping Center at 2410 Cleveland Highway or the Walnut Crossing Antique Mall on east Walnut Avenue near the United Karate Studio. The former is mostly empty now and the latter is still under construction. But owners say both should be open soon.

The Dalton Village Shopping Center is comprised of three retail buildings with a total of 123,000 square feet of commercial space, managed by the Alexander Reynolds Group of Atlanta. A company spokesman, who asked not to be identified, says stores in the shopping center will include restaurants, nail and hair salons, medical services and sporting goods stores. The sizes of the suites range from 1,500 to 35,000 square feet.

The spokesman said Value Fresh supermarket, a 35,000-square-foot independent grocery, will anchor the shopping center. The store should be open by the end of November. The spokesman said the store will place an emphasis on providing a large selection of fresh vegetables and fruit, a full-service bakery and deli, as well as customer service counters in the meat and seafood area. He said the store expects to hire approximately 30 people and is currently taking applications, with information at the store.

“We currently have over 50 percent of the center leased; however, most of the signed tenants are waiting for the grocery store to open,” the spokesman said.

Businesses that are interested in leasing space can contact the Alexander Reynolds Group at (404) 514-5076.

Bill Resides, co-owner of the Walnut Crossing Antique Mall, said he expects that 30,000-square-foot building will be open within about 60 days.

“We’ve got some construction left,” he said. “It will be laid out where people can come and sell their antiques and collectibles. It will support up to 105 different vendors.”

Vendor spaces start at 10 feet by 10 feet and can go as large as the vendor needs, he said. The spaces can be rented daily, for a weekend or monthly.

“Dalton doesn’t have a venue like this. It gives people a chance to find bargains and find things they can find only at small mom-and-pop shops,” he said.

For more information, call Resides at (423) 580-7722.

Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce president Brian Anderson says this is one of the toughest times for retailers in recent memory.

“But in any economic conditions, there are jewels to be found. The right retail or business that can find a need not being met can find success,” he said.

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