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Marvin’s coming to Andalusia
Store will locate in old Wal-Mart
Published Thursday, February 5, 2009
City officials announced Wednesday that Marvin’s Building Materials and Home Center will locate in part of Andalusia’s old Wal-Mart building.
Mayor Earl Johnson said building renovations will begin immediately, and the store expects to open this summer.
The new business will employ an estimated 25 people, occupy 36,000 square feet of the southern portion of the building and will have an attached lawn and garden center and drive-through lumber yard, Johnson said.
“This is a great economic boost to our community,” Johnson said. “It sends the message that Andalusia is in good shape and our economy is strong.”
Johnson said the contract with the Leeds-based company was accomplished in a two-week time frame and was signed Tuesday in Birmingham.
“While we were there, we had the opportunity to visit the company’s newest store in Calera,” he said. “It’s an attractive facility and our facility, like that one, will have a great impact in our area.
“It’s going to make a great addition to our community,” he said. “Its customer base will fit well, I think, with Tractor Supply. I think it’s going to move traffic to that side of town.”
Tractor Supply, which was announced shortly before the end of 2008, occupies the northern end of the old Wal-Mart building. Johnson said plans are under way to fill the middle section of the building.
“We’re working with a developer now, and we’ve got prospects,” he said. “I expect it to be filled before too long.”
Currently, there are 25 Marvin’s stores — Andalusia will be its 26th — in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. Those stores employ a total of more than 600 employees.
“We are very excited to be opening our 26th store in Andalusia,” said Boyden Moore, Marvin’s president and CEO, in a prepared statement. “The store will feature a complete line of building materials, electrical, plumbing, paint, millwork, hardware, tools, as well as lawn and garden products.
“We plan to offer the communities of Covington and Conecuh counties a convenient alternative for their home improvement needs,” he said. “Additionally, Andalusia won us over versus other markets we were evaluating because of their great deal of cooperation and assistance in decision making.
Moore sad the mayor and city council worked swiftly to get Andalusia pushed ahead of several other communities in Alabama and surrounding states.
“We’ve been trying to come to Andalusia for several years, but the deal never seemed to come through,” he said. “The current developer and the city made our decision easy on our next store. We have a shared objective to keep sales inside the community that currently go to other counties, especially on the weekends.”
Employment positions from store management to part-time cashiers and sales associates are available and applications can be picked up at the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce beginning Mon., Feb. 16. Job descriptions are available online at www.marvins.com.
The store is expected to open in June or July.
Comments
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on February 5, 2009 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is great for Andalusia. The citizens of Andalusia should thank God, at least there are new business opening up . I got to say, I see Andalusia gradually leaving Opp behind.
Posted by Ineedtobeheard (anonymous) on February 5, 2009 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is great! So exciting...now at least we can shop locally versus going to Florida on the weekends to get building supplies, etc....can't wait for this store to open!
Posted by bigballer2008 (anonymous) on February 5, 2009 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe the prices will keep breedlove from continuing to price gouge everyone,
Posted by walnutwilly (anonymous) on February 5, 2009 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Even during this downturn in our economy, Andalusia continues to grow. Only thing is, with the growth of these giant chain stores, there's no hope for the locally owned Mom and Pop stores. A gain for some is a loss for others.
Posted by ItsAboutTime (anonymous) on February 5, 2009 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm glad to see Andalusia grow. More job opportunities for those that are unemployed.
"lookeyhere": Opp's been falling behind for years. I wonder if Opp wants to grow and offer more to the citizens (of which I am).
"walnutwilly": you've got that right.
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on February 5, 2009 at 6:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ItsAboutTime, You are right about Opp falling behind for years. I don't uderstand why Opp can't develop and grow like Andalusia. I like Opp,but to say its the City Of Oppurtunity is really stretching the truth.
Posted by Blondie (anonymous) on February 5, 2009 at 6:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am glad that these great things are happening for Andalusia....
So why cant they do something for the youth of this town now???
They talk about how much the teen crime rate has gone up around here, Gee I wonder why. Maybe,just maybe if they had "Something" to do around here but ride the roads, or go see a movie then it might be as bad as it is!!
As a "Recycled" teenager... I can remember the skating rink, or when you could actually sit on the square and not be run off by one of the business owners because " they didnt want there business name ruined by teenagers" I can remember sitting on that square till dawn, yes I said dawn, and most of the time there was always a police officer sitting right there with all of us, talking, laughing getting along with us, not arresting us.
There is nothing here to give them something to do except find trouble! So why doesnt our mayor try to do something about this and bring something else here for them?
Posted by BF2C1 (anonymous) on February 5, 2009 at 6:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was hoping that my good friends in Andalusia would have gotten a Lowes. You sure deserve one.
Posted by ccresident09 (anonymous) on February 6, 2009 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So glad to see Marvins come to town!
It's about time to see some new and upcoming business here!
Posted by cbrown05 (anonymous) on February 6, 2009 at 8:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First, Tractor Supply...now, Marvins. I think I've died and gone to Heaven.
Posted by atm (anonymous) on February 7, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When you call this progress, you don't understand business.
Bringing another outside company here is not good for ANDALUSIA.
These firms do deposit their sales money into a local bank, and at 12:01 a m these funds are transfered to some other city and only payroll returns here, JUST LIKE WALMART. Then the local venders loose all that money that is NOT re-spent here. That money is gone out of Covington county forever, and probably to China or Japan!
Also in the case of Walmart, you actually paid them to come to town. Were you afraid they would put it in Opp... or maybe sanford? They would have come if you had CHARGED them!
Our local venders do spend thier earnings HERE. Out side companys DO NOT. Are there any MBA'S in this town?
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on February 7, 2009 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
atm.. Hahah stop kidding around, Hahah oh that was funny.
Posted by cbrown05 (anonymous) on February 7, 2009 at 6:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
atm...get into the real world, will you? Vendors...large and small...local or national...are taxed on gross sales. Those taxes go into the County Treasury to help provide some of the services you, no doubt, partake of in one form or another. Who cares where the money goes after that.
A little research on your part regarding future issues might keep you from making a fool of yourself.
Posted by mbishop (anonymous) on February 8, 2009 at 1:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yea ATM but it adds more jobs.....and while walmart is cutting hours sitel is hiring 200 people and now 2 new buisnesses. That's 3 new buisnesses since the first of the year.. This is great news for Andalusia especially with Goodys' having to go out of buisness. And as far as I know walmart does buisness with the local banks because they go withdrawl money from them. I've seen it done.
Posted by lee (anonymous) on February 8, 2009 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now i say how about a best buy or office depot......
Posted by tankmaster (anonymous) on February 9, 2009 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Such disgruntled people! Walmart, Walmart, is that all you can talk about? For your information, Walmart started as a Mom and Pop store and has grown to what you see today. If there was no Walmart, most of what you have in your home would not be there. The mom and pops cant provide the merchandise they can. I agree the Marvins and Tractor Supply are great, I wish Marvins would be on the other side of town though, so Breedloves would not be hurt. I have a feeling that Breedloves will do just fine, for one reason, they dont care who you are or how much money you make, they will try to do business with you anyway, almost anyone can get an account there, and if you are late on a bill, they dont call your house and threaten you every night at 8 pm. They understand people have issues and they trust that you will pay as you promised. To me thats good ole fashion business, after all a man is only as good as his word! Stop bashing Walmart, I love the place and I bet your Momma does too!
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