Old Navy, Havertys headed to The Avenue Murfreesboro
Two new retail stores have decided to pack up and move to The Avenue Murfreesboro on Medical Center Parkway.
A more accessible location and higher shopper volumes are the obvious motivators for Old Navyand Havertys Furniture to move out to the massive shopping center.
It will likely be late 2008 before either of the large retailers makes their move.
Demetrius Nelson, Havertys assistant manager, said the store is often overlooked because of its off-the-beaten path location at 135 River Rock Blvd.
“It will be a good move for us,” he said.
Old Navy likely suffers from similar problems with many shoppers in its age bracket skipping its location off Old Fort Parkway — wedged between Wal-Mart and the Stones River Mall — for the mall or now for The Avenue.
Things will only get worse for Old Navy with other large tenants at Marketplace Center — Lane Bryant and Linens ‘n Things — also relocating to The Avenue.
But at least these stories aren’t leaving
Local residents have an even bigger incentive to do their holiday shopping in Rutherford County instead of driving to Nashville or Cool Springs this year with the addition of more than 40 stores at The Avenue and others downtown and at The Oaks Shopping Center on Thompson Lane.
As usual, the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce is encouraging residents to “Shop Local.”
Shopping at local businesses helps drive local sales tax collections, which a portion of are used to fund city and county schools, infrastructure and other services. Shopping local also is important to the continued health of mom and pop shops that offer unique merchandise and first class customer service.
“There is no question that buying locally pays huge dividends for every single one of us who live in Rutherford County,” said Steve Benefield, Chamber president. “Not only are local businesses supported and strengthened, which retains and adds jobs and builds our community, but sales tax totals are pushed up, which helps our public schools and provides our children with a good education.”
The Chamber is hosting a contest this year to promote its “Shop Local” campaign. Shoppers can visit www.rutherfordchamber.org to enter to win a $200 shopping spree. Simply click on the “Shop Local & Win” button at the bottom of the Web site and fill out the form. The promotion ends Dec. 19.
Getting into the spirit of the season, Elrod & Co. on the Public Square at 107 S. Church St. will accept letters to Santa Claus this month. Children are invited to come mail their letters to Saint Nick Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the U.S. Post Office in the rear of the ladies apparel store.
One of Santa’s elves will be on hand during the event to greet the children, said LaQuita Scaife, special events coordinator at Elrod & Co. Hot chocolate and candy canes will be served.
