By LISA SIMPSON STRANGE
Glasgow Daily Times
GLASGOW —
City leaders announced the addition of a new business to the community Tuesday morning during a press conference at Barren River Plaza on L. Rogers Wells Boulevard.
Burke’s Outlet, a department store chain headquartered in Florida with 500 locations in 14 states, will be opening soon in the previous Goody’s location in the shopping center, according to Glasgow Mayor Darrell Pickett.
“I feel this will be the beginning of many good things here at Barren River Plaza,” the mayor told the crowd gathered for the announcement. “All of us have watched for the past few years as tenants have left this once very busy shopping center. This will not only mean a new business for our community, but new jobs and most of all a new beginning for Barren River Plaza.”
The mayor introduced two local businessmen, Pat Vann and Larry D. Glass, as the new owners of the center “who had stepped up to the plate.”
Vann became involved last year when he saw the center was deteriorating.
“I got interested in this about a year ago because I hate to see anything go to rack and ruin,” he said.
Burke’s Outlet will just be the first of many announcements they hope to have in the future, according to Vann.
“If the prospects and interest in this center come to fruition, expect to have several hundred new jobs for people in this area,” he said.
Glass said the two men have many interested prospects for the spaces.
“We have multiple entities looking at every box that we have out here in this center and I am confident that ... we will have this center full in 12 months,” he said.
He told the crowd the tenants would be a mixture of retail and business and would support high-paying jobs.
A soft opening for the store is planned on Oct. 15 with a grand opening to follow a month later on Nov. 15, according to information provided by the chain.
The store will feature name-brand merchandise in all departments, which will include apparel, shoes, home furnishing, gifts and toys. Discounts of up to 70 percent off compared to other stores will be available.
Burke’s Outlet is currently taking applications, which can be accessed online at www.beallsinc.com.
