Embellished by the LaGrange High School marching band, balloon framed doorways, free gift cards and a host of dignitaries, the Belk store at LaGrange Mall held their grand re-opening under clear skies and with swelling crowds.
Belk’s Store Manager Tony Palmer, along with Assistant Managers Lakeisha Dunlap and Keita Stephens, gave the store a final inspection and walk-through before he opened the doors to LaGrange’s city mayor, city councilmen, chamber of commerce members and the media. Before the official ribbon cutting ceremony, Palmer personally escorted the small group through the store, pointing out the changes in both the store’s design and the merchandise.
“As a result of this $2 million remodeling project this store is now a modern shopping environment. We have extended our selection of accessories and have drastically expanded our shoe department,” Palmer said. “The location of the shoe department has even been moved to the front of the store, to be more convenient to our shoppers,” he said.
LaGrange City Mayor Jeff Lukken was impressed with the store’s changes and gave credit to Palmer for bringing the store up to this level. “Tony has had 33 years of experience in the retail business and has run this store so well that Belk was willing to put all of this into LaGrange,” Lukken said. Both during the tour of the store and at the actual ribbon cutting ceremony Lukken urged Palmer to expand on what Belk and its LaGrange employees do for the community.
“We are very much involved in the community,” Palmer said. “We participate in the lake clean-up, Relay for Life, Paint the Town Pink, work with the Department of Education, help the Habitat for Humanity’s Restore, raise funds for the United Way and hold our own blood drive for the Red Cross. Belk is committed to making a difference in the community, ” he said.
Walking through he remodeled store it was impressive to see the many changes and upgrades that the project has brought about. As you enter through the main front doors of the store, the beautiful white tiled floors set the mood and raises expectations for what the rest of the store has to offer. The expanded cosmetic and fragrance department is in the front of the store with the inviting array of shoes and boots located directly to the left. The entire store boasts brightly lit, clean isles with eye-catching displays dramatically arranged to feature the store’s many new and increased line of merchandise.
The ribbon cutting ceremony was set up outside of the front doors of the store and was started off with Palmer welcoming everyone to Belk’s grand re-opening. He explained many of the changes and upgrades that this remodeling project afforded the store and pointed out that Belk in LaGrange is one of the only stores that now also carries the Ralph Lauren line of clothing for boys. He then introduced Mayor Lukken.
“Inside, Tony was describing all of the construction and renovation to us, and he was proud to tell us that all of these subcontractors, that he made sure that the people that were hired and worked here were as many from the local area as possible. He wanted to make sure that Troup County dollars stayed in Troup County,” Lukken said.
Lukken then invited Palmer back to the podium where he then again expressed how committed Belk and their employees are to the community. Palmer then presented a 5,000 dollar check to H.O.P.E. which HOPE Volunteer Pam Herndon gladly accepted.
Palmer invited Herndon, Lukken, LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce President Paige Estes and LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce Member Bill Stump to join him in cutting the ceremonial white ribbon. Accompanied by the band and cheers from Belk’s sales associates and customers, the ribbon was cut and the store was officially reopened for business.
Belk is continuing their celebration with weekend sales that feature bonus buy offers, and holiday and many unadvertised specials. Customers who open a new line of Belk’s credit will also be able to take 20 percent off all of their merchandise with no exclusions. Existing Belk card holders may also take 20 percent off of their purchases with the exception of a few exclusions.
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