By By Arthur McLean
Marvin's Building Materials and Home Centers plans to open in Atmore at the former Kmart building on Lindberg Avenue. The store is expected to open by the end of the year and employ about 30 people.
It will include a 35,000 square foot store with an attached lawn and garden center and drive-through lumberyard. Renovation work on the building has already begun, according to the company.
"We're certainly glad to have other retail business come into a building that has been empty for several months," said Atmore Mayor Howard Shell. "I hope it will encourage other businesses to come to Atmore and rebuild the shopping centers and give the people of Atmore more shopping opportunities."
This is the second Marvin's store to be announced in Escambia County. Earlier this year,, Marvin's also announced it would be opening a store in the former Kmart building in Brewton later this month.
The Leeds-based chain started in Gadsden in 1945. It now has 22 stores in Alabama and Mississippi, and employs more than 500 people.
"We are very excited to be opening our 23rd store in Atmore," said Boyd Moore, President and CEO of Marvin's. "The store will offer a complete line of building materials, electrical, plumbing, paint, millwork, hardware, tools, as well as lawn and garden products. We plan to offer Atmore a convenient alternative for their home improvement needs."
"We offer a lot of products that Wal-Mart offers and at competitive prices, so we're excited about serving a need in the community in Atmore," Moore said.
"We like to hire friendly people from the community. All of our stores have a 'hometown' feel," Moore said. People interested can apply for a job at the new store in Atmore by filling out an application at the Alabama Career Center in Brewton, Alabama at 1023 Douglas Avenue, Suite 314 beginning November 8th. Positions available range from the Store Management to part-time cashiers and sales associates.
The Marvin's store will lease about one third of the Kmart building from a firm that is working to renovate the building and lease the remaining space to other retail tenants.