With shiny new appliances, lawn mowers, televisions and tools lining the aisles, Sears officially opened for business Monday. With 5,500 square feet of sales floor space, the retail store carries the top six appliance brands carried by Sears and Roebuck along with a full line of Craftsman lawn and garden equipment and tools.

The Sears brand has been around since 1893 and local residents are excited about the new retailer and what they have to offer.

&#8220For years we've shopped at Sears. The products have been great and the service is always good,” said Margaret Snellgrove, who was one of the store's first customer's Monday. &#8220We're just really looking forward to shopping at Sears in the future.”

The store, which is located next to Goody's in the Butler Square shopping center on the bypass, is a Sears Authorized Retail Dealer Store meaning it is a locally owned and operated reseller of Sears merchandise.

Owners Larry and Wes Hines both said the reception they've gotten from the Greenville community has far exceeded their expectations.

&#8220In the planning stages the reception from everyone was very positive,” said Larry Hines, who served in the National Guard for 28 years before venturing into the Sears business with his son. &#8220I really don't think it could have gone any better. It's been really great.”

Wes Hines, who recently relocated from Monroeville to Greenville, said it's taken about 11 months to get to the point of opening the store, but that he's starting to see the results.

&#8220It's gone off without a hitch,” he said. &#8220We've not had any glitches and everybody we've dealt with in Greenville has been most helpful. The time and effort we put in is starting to pay off.”

Larry Hines said the store will also be a point where people can shop for larger items on the Sears' web site and pick them up and they will provide service on what they sell.

Greenville Mayor Dexter McLendon, who, along with a dozen or so Greenville Chamber of Commerce board members, cut the ribbon on Greenville's newest retailer Monday night, said the addition of the store is just another signal that the retail environment in Greenville is headed in the right direction.

&#8220This is just another indication that other businesses are starting to discover what we've known all along; Greenville is a great place to do business,” he said. &#8220This also gives people another reason to shop at home and not take their money up the road (to Montgomery) and spend it.”

The store will be open Monday - Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.