By GINA KINSLOW
CAVE CITY — Two discount stores are set to open soon in southcentral Kentucky.
The new stores are part of the Fred’s discount store chain. One will be located along Ky. 90 in Cave City and the other along US 31W in Munfordville.
Construction of the store in Cave City is further along than in Munfordville and will probably open sooner, said Marc Holley, district manager for Fred’s. The Cave City store is expected to open on Jan. 28, with a grand opening set for the following day.
Both stores will be in 16,000 square-foot buildings and will feature pharmacies, as well as other merchandise typical for discount stores.
“We carry similar items to Walmart,” Holley said.
Items include clothing, hardware, houseware, giftware, seasonal and automotive. The stores will also offer an expanded grocery line, he said.
The discount store chain chose Cave City and Munfordville as locations for new stores because they are in a rural area and are close in proximity to the interstate, Holley said.
The stores will hire approximately 40 people initially to assist in setting the stores’ fixtures and stocking shelves. Once that is complete the employment will be scaled back to 15 to 18 positions, he said.
Local officials are excited about the opening of the new stores.
“We welcome Fred’s to the community and are excited that they have made such a major commitment to the Cave City community,” said Carol DeGroft, executive secretary of the Cave City Chamber of Commerce.
Cave City Mayor Bob Hunt said, “We’re glad they’re coming. I hope it helps the community. There will be some employment here and I think the people will be able to use their products.”
Fred's stores are located in 15 states throughout the Southeast, many of which have pharmacies.
The first Fred’s store opened in 1947 in Coldwater, Miss. A cigar box served as the first cash register. In 1971 the company owned 53 stores and its headquarters was moved to Memphis. The discount store chain began adding pharmacies to its stores in 1978. As of 2008, the chain has over 600 stores and 300 pharmacies, according to the company’s Web site.
