Up & Coming Weekly

January 24, 2023

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1490791

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 8 of 24

8 UCW JANUARY 25 - 31, 2023 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Renovations are underway on the former Stein Mart department store to make way for new retailers, includ- ing the relocation of Fleishman's Tiny Town children's store and an Ace Hardware store scheduled to open in March. Stein Mart closed all 281 of its stores in August 2020, and the space at Highland Centre on Raeford Road has been vacant since then. Tiny Town, located at 3015 Fort Bragg Road, opened in 1951, accord- ing to its website. It will settle into space adjoining the new Ace Hard- ware, said Highland Centre co-owner Alex ompson. A third new tenant at the shop- ping center, School Tools, will move from its Robeson Street location near downtown to the east wing of High- land Centre, according to ompson, who shares ownership of the property with his sister, Lisa ompson. Harris Teeter is the anchor store at the shopping center, which also includes a Hallmark store, post office and Pet Supermarket. Lori's Ace Home & Hardware is scheduled to open March 14 in Suite 24A, part of the Stein Mart space. "is community really deserves and needs an Ace," said Lori Tracy Stobbe, who will own and operate the business with her husband, Nate Sto- bbe. "What Ace provides is that qual- ity product but really great customer service and the convenience. We hope to build a really great, helpful team of employees." e Stobbes plan to hire about 15 people for the store, including for the positions of store manager, sales asso- ciate and cashier. For more informa- tion on jobs, visit https://nowhiring. com/loris-ace/. A grand opening is planned for the first weekend in May, including grilling and power equip- ment demonstrations. e Stobbes relocated to Fayetteville from Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, in June. Before the move, Lori Stobbe worked roughly 25 years in marketing and public relations. Nate Stobbe has owned or run manufacturing compa- nies after starting out as a journeyman carpenter. She said he has extensive knowledge of construction and manu- facturing. "We started this venture together," she said. "We came down here spe- cially to open this Ace store here in Fayetteville." In September, they opened Ace Handyman Services, also in Highland Centre. It will merge with the hard- ware store when that opens. e former Stein Mart space will provide the couple with about 18,000 square feet, plus an additional 5,000 square feet for a garden center, Stobbe said. Alex and Lisa ompson's father, Joe ompson, was one of the original partners in Highland Centre. e landlord is ompson Properties. Renovations on the property are ongoing. Once the three new retailers are open, Alex ompson said, about 6,900 square feet will remain available to rent. Lori Stobbe said she and her hus- band are often asked why they picked Fayetteville for their new business. "e first decision was North Caro- lina," she said. "We wanted to move to a warmer climate and near the ocean. We felt like it was a comfortable place to land. People are all friendly. e climate is fantastic. Once we decided on North Carolina, then we had to fig- ure what was going to be the best site to open an Ace Hardware store. at takes a while to find that sweet spot. You want to make sure it's a good fit. And that it fits into your financial model as well, of course." She said they looked at areas around the state and found the old Stein Mart space in Fayetteville. "We walked through that and the space looked perfect. We were able to drive around Fayetteville a lot (and see) where the retail was and wasn't. It's a pretty large city," she said. "is Raeford Road is very busy all day long, all evening long. is just felt like the sweet spot." Because Lori's Ace Home & Hard- ware will be a large store, she said, it will include sections for grilling and patio furniture; home decor and gifts; and toys and games for kids and adults. "We are local," Stobbes said. "We live here; we are based here. We are not corporate-owned. We want … to have it be a good addition to the com- munity. We're going to be listening to what people want when they come in. 'Is there something that you need that we don't have?' We're going to be re- ally open to that type of feedback." Highland Centre renovated for new retailers by MICHAEL FUTCH, CityView Today NEWS 15% ALC YOUR LOCAL Beer-Seltzer-Ciders-Wine Distributor 355ml Bottle 10 pack 50ml Bottle 50ml Bottle Malt NOW AVAILABLE in most Convenience Stores MICHAEL FUTCH, CityView Today. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. 910-484-6200.

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Up & Coming Weekly - January 24, 2023