Pell City Commerce
A Special Supplement to The Daily Home
2013
PELL CITY COMMERCE
2 — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013
Chamber membership continues to grow By DAVID ATCHISON Home staff writer
Erica Grieve, executive director of the Greater Pell City Chamber of Commerce, said membership in the non-profit organization continues to grow as efforts continue to promote the city and local businesses. “The chamber has gained over 80 new members in the past year and already have a great start in 2013,” Grieve said. “It is exciting to see the new members taking advantage of what the chamber has to offer.” She said the chamber is publishing its new Chamber Magazine this year, and this year’s edition will include a directory of chamber members. “These are distributed all over our county and are currently done every two years,” Grieve said. “We will also be doing a new tourism brochure that will be distributed in rest stops across the state.” Grieve took over the
reins of the chamber in April of last year. “The chamber’s main goals are to improve the civic, economic and social welfare of our community,” she said. “We have made some great strides this year and have even more to come in 2014.” Grieve said the chamber plans to host its first Professional Business Expo in March 2014. She said the event is still in the planning stages. “It’s going to be a really nice one,” she said. “We hope it will be an annual
event.” Grieve said the chamber and local businesses also plan to participate in the 2014 Birmingham Boat Show in an effort to promote Logan Martin Lake and Pell City. She said the show plays host to 15,000 people. “We are going to try and get more tourism in our area,” Grieve said. “Our office has also started mailing out new resident brochures to new businesses and individuals moving to our area.” She said the chamber
continues to have quarterly luncheons with informative guest speakers, monthly after hours events, ribbon cuttings and other events such as Business of the Year. “We provide a great networking system for our members and everyone knows that people like to do business with people they know,” Grieve said. “… I know this system works because since becoming the director, I now do business with mostly people I have met through the chamber.” She said the chamber is focused on improving commerce in the area. “The E-blast, newsletter and website help to promote our businesses and connect our community,” Grieve said. “Anyone can sign up for it on our website, but only chamber members are allowed to advertise in it.” She said the chamber has received positive feedback on the E-blast and newsletters. “We started the Member-
Bob Crisp/The Daily Home
Erica Grieve has served as executive director for the Greater Pell City Chamber of Commerce for almost a year.
to-Member Program this year, which allows chamber members and their employees to receive discounts at participating chamber member locations,” Grieve said. “Of course, we will continue to have events like the Block Party that promote commerce and tourism.” The chamber also hosts
the annual Christmas Parade each year. Membership costs are as little at $50 for individuals and up to $420 for financial institutions. Retail businesses, depending on their size, range from $105-$210 and is based on the number of employees.
Wright Hearing Center family owned, operated By DAVID ATCHISON Home staff writer
He could talk your ears off about his occupation, but that’s because Todd Wright grew up in the business of fitting and selling hearing instruments. “We’re now in our third generation,” the owner of Wright Hearing Center in Pell City said. It all started with his father, the late Clarence Wright, who opened the first hearing center in 1970. Wright would leave school and head to the office where he worked side-byside with his father, who died in 2000. Now Wright’s two sons, Matthew and Joshua, work side-by-side with their father. The Wright family has been serving Northeast Alabama for the past 41 years, helping improve people’s hearing. Wright said he has seen many changes in the hearing aid industry, dramatic changes. Not only the styles have changed but, most importantly, the technology inside each hearing aid, and customers are now personally fitted with the latest in hearing aid technology. “We stay up to date with all the technologies,” he said. “We’re familiar with all (hearing aid) companies, so we can be competitive.” Wright remembers a time when hearing aid centers had to send their products back to the manufacturer for adjustments. “Sometimes someone would own a hearing aid for six months and had only worn it six times,” he
said. “Now we do all the adjustments on the spot. There is so much we can do.” Wright has hearing centers scattered throughout Northeast Alabama, including offices in Pell City, Gadsden, Oxford, Centre, Fort Payne and Albertville. The office in Pell City is located across the street from the former St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital in the Martin Professional Building, 2806 Dr. John Haynes Drive, Suite 102. Wright said they have been in the Pell City location for about two years. Wright Hearing Center sells Starkey hearing products, which Wright said builds a variety of hearing aids, and his company has audiologists on staff to administer hearing tests. Wright said it’s not uncommon for Wright Hearing Centers to refer customers to an ear, nose and throat specialist, if associates suspect a health issue or problem that needs to be looked at by a doctor. “We don’t just fit people with hearing aids,” he said. Wright said their hearing centers’ specialize in customer satisfaction. “I own the company and make all the decisions. When someone has a problem, I can make a decision — the buck stops here,” he said. “We’re going to do everything we can to make our customers happy.” He said customers can spend anywhere from $500-$3,000 for a hearing aid. The cost difference is determined by the technology inside each hearing
Bob Crisp/The Daily Home
Wright Hearing Center in Pell City carries Starkey hearing products.
aid. Some hearing aids allow people hands-free capability for cell phone conversations, and Starkey hearing aids help pinpoint sounds people wish to hear and minimize sounds they don’t want to hear. “We can adjust the hearing aid to each person’s needs,” Wright said. “Everybody lives in different environments, have different lifestyles.” Today’s hearing aids, once programmed, can adjust automatically to music and television listening settings that are the most comfortable for the individual customer. Wright said Wright Hearing Center can beat many prices dramatically, because it is one of the largest hearing aid businesses in the Southeast. “Last month we sold about 300 hearing aids,” he said. “Normally we sale 150-200.”
He said Wright Hearing Center accepts most federal insurance, so in many cases there are no out-of-pocket costs for customers. Wright said even though he is more of a manager of the hearing centers, which employ about 16 employees, he occasionally sees some of his old customers who request him. “I’m going to give you the best service and price,” Wright said. “We’re going to work harder than anyone else to achieve customer satisfaction.” For more information about the center or their products, call 205-3381754. Bob Crisp/The Daily Home
At right: Wright Hearing Center is a family owned and operated business. Pictured are Matthew Wright and his father, Todd Wright, owner of six centers.
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pell city commerce
THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013 — 3
Community Credit in Pell City for 20 years By GARY HANNER Home staff writer
Community Credit Inc. has been in business in Pell City since 1991. They are located at 1912 Cogswell Ave. Sherry Beene has been president of the company for the past 20 years. Community Credit is there for the customer who needs financing for anything up to $10,000. “Our goal is to help people who have been in trouble with credit in the past,” Beene said. “If they have had a little trouble and are kind of straightened out now, we can help straighten their credit out by doing a loan.” Currently, they do loans on real estate, automobiles, personal, mobile homes, etc. Beene said some of that could change in June due to some laws changing. They service customers from St. Clair and Talladega counties, along with some customers in Vincent, which is Shelby County. “We do not go down into Harpersville,” Beene said. “We try to stay within a 30 to 35 mile radius. We do not like to get into Birmingham. There are a total of three employees. Also employed there are Terry Lee, who is collections manager, and Stacy Sanderson, who is CSR.
Gary Hanner/The Daily Home
Community Credit Inc. has been in business in Pell City for the past 22 years. It is located at 1912 Cogswell Ave,
Beene said they love being in business in Pell City, and enjoy seeing customers come in on a daily basis. “We want to be there
for the people who may be down on their luck some,” Beene said. “There are a lot of places who will not approve credit for some-
one who has had credit problems in the past. Sanderson has been employed by Community Credit Inc. for the past
five and a half years. “I love my job,” Sanderson said. “I absolutely love working with the public on a daily
basis.” To get in touch with Community Credit Inc. call 205-338-4433. Their fax number is 205-338-
7658. Contact Gary Hanner at ghanner@thestclairtimes. com
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pell city commerce
4 — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2017
Brian Schoenhals/The Daily Home
Christina Fingar, manager of the Fox’s Pizza Den in Pell City, places a pizza in the restaurant buffet counter.
Fox’s Pizza owner enjoys being involved in community By DAVID ATCHISON Home staff writer
First he was a customer, then he was an owner, now David Moore, 49, owns two Fox’s Pizza Den locations, one in Pell City and the other in Argo. “I was their best customer,” Moore said, and recalled his visits to Fox’s Pizza Den in Argo with his family. “I thought they had the best pizza, still do.” When he had the opportunity to buy the Fox’s Pizza store in Argo, he jumped at the chance. “I always wanted my own business,” said Moore, who was in the aviation business in Birmingham before he went into the restaurant business. “I saved with a goal in mind.” And in 2007 that goal was achieved. He took the reins of the Fox’s Pizza Den in Argo. Three years later, he was eyeing the restaurant in Pell City. “I got to know the previous owners, and visited their store,” he said. “We helped each other out, loaned each other products.” He said the owners of the Pell City restaurant decided to sale. “That’s what I wanted to do is add more stores,” Moore said. And in the middle of 2010, Moore became the owner of the Fox’s Pizza Den in Pell City. “I focus on running the back office, payroll, bills and bookkeeping,” Moore said. “I also do the promotion and advertising. I try to grow the business.” He is also involved in community work, helping with the local school fundraisers. “We do a lot with the school here,” Moore said. Fox’s Pizza Den donates 20 percent of the gross sales when a school fundraiser is held. Last year, the local restaurant helped schools raised more than $10,000. He said the fundraisers encourage young families to come by his restaurant, and the effort helps the schools raise money. “I really enjoy being involved in the community,” Moore added. Fox’s Pizza Den par-
ticipated in the Greater Pell City Chamber of Commerce Block Party and the restaurant entered a float in the Annual Christmas Parade in Pell City. He said his restaurant caters to families with children, pre-teens, “so everybody can come here and enjoy it.” His wife, Carmen, who is a nurse, helps some with the business. She helps with advertising, promotion and with parties. The couple have a 9-year-old daughter, Ivy, so Moore can relate to young families and what they want to experience when the family goes out to eat. “I love being in the restaurant getting to know customers. We try to provide a good dining experience,” he said. “We want to create a family memory. I enjoy that aspect of the business.” Moore said he doesn’t get to spend much time in the front of the restaurants. “I spend probably 3040 percent of my time in the office, 30-40 percent of my time promoting and marketing,” he said. “The time left I spend in the stores. … We want to offer good food products at reasonable prices.” Moore said Kathy Albania, who ran the Argo store for 17 years, stayed on as general manager for the two restaurants. The two stores employ about 35 employees. Moore expanded his restaurant in Pell City, and it now mirrors the store in Argo. The Pell City restaurant has a large game room and a party room that will seat more than 30 people. The party room hosts a variety of events, including birthday parties, business luncheons, church gatherings and a place sports teams can celebrate a victory. Fox’s Pizza Den has a large menu that not only has all types of pizzas, but pasta dinners, salads, wedgies, strombolis and hoagies. The restaurant even has burgers and fries, wings and deserts. Fox’s Pizza Den also offers take-out and delivery services. The restaurant also has an “all you can eat lunch buffet,” which includes
Brian Schoenhals/The Daily Home
David Moore, owner of Fox’s Pizza Den in Pell City and Argo, shows off a freshly baked pizza and desert from his Pell City restaurant.
a salad bar, homemade spaghetti, pizza, cinnastix and a drink. The buffet is served Monday through Friday from 11
a.m.-2 p.m., and children younger than 12 can eat for $4.99. “We focus real hard on
customer service,” Moore said. “We want to create a good, warm and inviting atmosphere for the family.”
For more information about Fox’s Pizza Den, call the Pell City store at 205338-5400 or the Argo store at 205-467-3444.
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THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013 — 5
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Wright Hearing Center
Wright Hearing Center • 2806 Dr. John Haynes Dr • Pell City • (205) 578-7868
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• Todd Wright, NBC-HIS • Dr. Valerie Miller, Au. D., CCC-A • Tristan Argo, Consultant • Katrina McSpadden, ABC-HIS • Josh Wright, NBC-HIS • Julie Humphrey, ABC-HIS • Matt Wright, ABC-HIS • Mary Ann Gieger, ABC-HIS
pell city commerce
6 — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013
Northside dedicated to ‘Continuity of Care’ By ELSIE HODNETT
square feet. This included 30 exam rooms, two ultrasound suites, an Xray suite and several business offices. As business continued to flourish, the owners/partners decided to build an adjacent building to support the continued growth, and added 60 additional parking spaces.
Home staff writer
Northside Medical Associates has expanded to accommodate its dedication to “Continuity of Care.” “Continuity of care is a hallmark and primary objective of family medicine and is consistent with quality patient care,” said Laura Gossett, administrator for Northside Medical Associates in Pell City. Gossett said the continuity of care inherent in family medicine helps family physicians gain their patients’ confidence and enables family physicians to be more effective patient advocates. “It also facilitates the family physician’s role as a cost-effective coordinator of the patient’s health services by making early recognition of problems possible,” she said. “By building a practice that allows our physicians to manage their patients’ care via direct and immediate access to imaging, lab results and medication compliance, we are building the true model of the Patient Centered Home, a total care facility.” Gossett said continuity of care is rooted in a long-term patient-physician partnership in which the physician knows the patient’s history from experience and can integrate new information and decisions from a whole-patient perspective efficiently without extensive investigation or record review. “We are especially proud of our new pharmacy, Northside Apothecary, directed by Dr. Kathy Henry,” she said. “The addition of our pharmacy is in direct response to the Northside physician’s dedication to continuity of care.”
“Our new building designed by Williams and Blackstock Architectural Firm and built by Goodgame Construction was built to allow easy expansion,” she said. “The new building is approximately 15,000 square feet and adds an additional 20 exam rooms, a fully digital X-ray suite, an audiology suite with sound booth and a pharmacy. The partners of Northside own several additional acres adjacent to our current two buildings and have already begun to discuss the next building addition. We are also actively recruiting two new full-time physicians and working on lease agreements with several other sub-specialty physicians.”
Bob Crisp/The Daily Home
Northside Medical Associates, which was founded in 2001, has expanded and was built to allow easy expansion.
Gossett said Northside was founded in 2001 by Dr. Rock Helms, Dr. Carl Frosina and Dr. William McClanahan. Dr. Michael Dupre joined the practice in 2004 and became a partner in 2005. Three new family practice physicians were added during the next two years.
“In 2004, we began to lease or timeshare space to Birmingham sub-specialty physicians who wanted to have a presence in Pell City or St. Clair County,” she said. “We had an OB/GYN, dermatologist, added two ENT physicians, two cardiologists, a general surgeon, a pulmonologist, three orthopedists and two pain management physicians by 2011. With the new building addition,
Gossett said the new space has also allowed Northside to expand its Walk-in Clinic to 8 hours, from 1-9 p.m. MondayFriday and from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday.
Bob Crisp/The Daily Home
Candi Peoples is a radiology technician at Northside Medical Center.
we have added a urologist and hematologist/oncologist and audiologist, and hope to be adding several
more in the near future.” Gossett said in 2010, Northside underwent a major remodel, add-
ing approximately 5,000 square feet to the original building for a total of approximately 14,000
“We are proud to be a part of this community,” she said. “We appreciate the residents supporting health care with the beautiful new hospital, the nursing home and our facility’s growth. We want to continue to expand so that the residents of St. Clair County and the surrounding areas have the best health care available to them with direct access to state-of-the-art equipment, specialty physicians and top-notch family physicians.”
Northside Apothecary fills more than prescriptions By ELSIE HODNETT Home staff writer
Northside Apothecary LLC works to fulfill all of a patient’s needs, not just their prescriptions. “Our goal is to work with patients and physicians to improve patient care,” said Dr. Kathy Henry, director of pharmacy for Northside Apothecary LLC, which opened in December 2012. Henry said the more communication between doctors, pharmacists and patients, the better the patients are able to comply with doctor recommendations or medication regimens. Henry began her career as a clinical physician, then more than a decade
later switched to a retail setting. “One of the glaring differences that quickly became obvious was the lack of constant communication between physicians and pharmacists and a corresponding lack of continuity of care,” she said. Henry said the majority of chain pharmacies are so intent on cutting labor while increasing volume that the patient’s health care may not always be the focus. The pharmacists then worry about trying to meet fiscal demands from corporate executives, and patient care can suffer. “I became tired of not being able to practice my profession due to those corporate restrictions, such as too many goals
and not enough staff to meet them,” she said. Henry and Dr. Rock Helms, one of the partners of Northside Medical Associates along with Dr. Michael Dupre and Dr. Carl Frosina, discussed building a pharmacy, and when Northside Medical expanded it included space for Northside Apothecary. “The new pharmacy design itself is both pharmacist and technician friendly,” she said. “It’s a state-of-the-art facility. In addition to computers and equipment, we have a robotic dispenser that Josh Armstrong with counts, bottles and labels pills for the top 300 drugs and ken Stilly. we serve. It saves at least a pharmacist and possibly a time.” Henry said she handpharmacist and pharmacy technician’s worth of picked a staff whose sole
Bob Crisp/The Daily Home
Northside Apothecary helps customers Barbara
responsibility is working together to ensure the highest level of patient
care. See Northside, Page 7
PELL CITY
Your dollars go farther - so you don’t have to. Supporting local businesses helps create jobs and keep our community on the grow!
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pell city commerce
THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013 — 7
Food Outlet a hometown grocery store By WILL HEATH Home staff writer
Ask Tina Ailor what makes Food Outlet so popular in Pell City, and she has a number of answers. “Our meat quality,” she said. “Our produce quality. And our prices. “We’re still a hometown store. Pell City is growing, and it’s good to see, but it still has that hometown feel to it.” Ask her what makes her job special, though, and the answer is much simpler. “It’s the customers,” she said. “My customers are the best.” Ailor has served as store manager at Food Outlet since 2002, as part of a
Northside From Page 6
“Our goal is to recapture our profession,” she said. “Instead of having our practice dictated by numbers and forecasts and corporate demands, our practice will be dictated by our patients’ needs. The robotic dispenser frees up time for our pharmacists to be available to you, the patient. Just as importantly, we will communicate with your doctors on a regular basis. We will call and discuss any problem or concern with your doctor, no matter where they are — here in Pell City, Birmingham, Anniston, Sylacauga, wherever.” Henry said Northside Apothecary is there to make sure patients and their health care come first by maintaining a stock of over-the-counter products, diabetic supplies, and durable medical equipment such as nebulizers, daily living aids, walkers, canes, supports and other products. “There was only one durable medical supplier in Pell City, and they closed,” she said. “You often lose money from low insurance reimbursement for durable medical supplies, but those are items essential to a person’s daily life.” Henry said Northside Apothecary currently contracts with all insurances, can bill Medicare, has an automatic refill program that sends reminders when it’s time to get a prescription refilled, offers free medication information consultation, Internet refill requests, easy prescription transfers from other phar-
lifetime of working in grocery stores both near and far. She said she took “a summer job” in Anniston at age 16. “I had no intention of staying so long,” she said. That job took her to a professional relationship with Lee Fite and Mike Sanders, who founded Food Outlet in 1985.
CenturyLink received the Greater Pell City Chamber of Commerce’s Large Business of the Year Award in 2011. Pictured, front row, from the left, are Jerry Chambers, Randy Mason, Kathy Hunter, “When they formed Gary Smith; and, back row, Darran Billingsley, Ted Hunter and Donald Keith.
the company, Lee called and asked if I would come back to work,” she said. “I was working for Winn Dixie at the time.” Ailor eventually worked for other companies in Tennessee, as well as Delaware. When she came back to Alabama in 1999, she said she called By WILL HEATH
CenturyLink connects to the needs of its customers
See Groceries, Page 8
Home staff writer
‘At CenturyLink, our vision is to improve lives, strengthen businesses and connect communities by delivering advanced technologies and solutions with honest and personal service. The solutions we deliver bring families together, help educate our nation and connect people at work and at play. Our products and services also help to protect people and businesses.’ — Carmen Butler, CenturyLink marketing development manager
The day-to-day business of a phone company has changed quite a bit since macies, Flex Spending CenturyLink first began as Cards are accepted, free fla- the Oak Ridge Telephone voring of liquid medicines Company in 1930. and more. The website is “We have evolved from www.northsideapothecary. a pure telephone company com. “We try to work with all with a manual switchboard, activity within the local doctors so they know there operators and party lines community. CenturyLink is somewhere their patient to a global telecommuni- remains involved with can go to get what they cations company capable a number of organizaneed, whether prescrip- of connecting Pell City tions and events in the tion or over-the-counter,” businesses and residents area, including the annushe said. “And if we don’t to customers, family and al Hometown Block have it in stock, we can friends around the globe,” Party, Christmas Parade, order it and usually get it said Carmen Butler, the Lakeside Park holiday marketing lights, and the Pell City the next business day. The company’s basic thing is to provide development manager for Baseball Association, services, whether it is one- the past nine years. just to name a few. It on-one interaction with has not gone unnoticed the staff or if it’s a product Butler said, however, — in 2011, the Greater or medication.” that the key to adapting to Pell City Chamber of Henry said there are two an ever-changing world is Commerce rewarded the pharmacists onsite every connecting to the needs of company’s efforts with its day. Northside Apothecary its customer base. Large Business of the Year has three full-time pharaward. “At CenturyLink, our macists, one part-time pharmacist and six phar- vision is to improve lives, “It was truly an honor strengthen businesses and to receive that award in macy technicians. “And we will add staff connect communities by recognition of our comdelivering advanced tech- mitment and contribuas needed,” she said. Henry said Northside nologies and solutions with tions to the local area,” Apothecary has a drive honest and personal ser- Butler said. thru and will add a home vice,” she said. “The soludelivery service early this tions we deliver bring famThe customer base ilies together, help educate spring. “We have put all these our nation and connect has changing technothings in place so that we people at work and at play. logical needs. Butler can do a better job at prac- Our products and services said CenturyLink has ticing the profession of also help to protect people deployed fiber “extensively” throughout the pharmacy and putting our and businesses.” patients first,” she said. Part of that involves Pell City area, connected “You are not our ‘guest,’ you are not our customer or a visitor — you are our patient and we are here for you. So come on in, get to know us, let us get to know you and let us help improve your health care.” Networking our community through our Northside Apothecary is Eblasts, Facebook, Website, & Newsletters. located at 72 Plaza Drive, Pell City. It is open 9 a.m.Promoting Tourism with publications & 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. events like our Annual Block Party held the Saturday and is closed on first Friday in June. Sunday and holidays.
Pell City Chamber of Commerce
Encouraging Local Trade & Commerce with our Member-to-Member program, Ribbon Cuttings, & Networking Opportunities. Promoting Civic interest and community involvement with our annual Christmas Parade held the 2nd Tuesday in December. Providing support for our members and community with our Chamber Ambassador
Program.
to a 220,000 route mile national fiber optic network with more than 50 global data centers. “Any business that is looking to grow and expand in Pell City, or relocate to Pell City, has access to the full spectrum of connectivity options, from basic voice to full-scale cloud solutions,” Butler said. “From a residential perspective, we have fully deployed broadband in Pell City. One hundred percent of our customers in the city have Internet access available to them through CenturyLink.” Butler also said the company is “well equipped” to handle the challenges of an ever-changing world. “Managed hosting and cloud-based services are becoming increasingly important for businesses and organizations of all sizes,” she said. “Through
HRH METALS, INC.
CenturyLink’s cloud solutions — savvisdirect and Savvis Symphony — we are able to help those businesses meet their cloud and data hosting needs.” It is a long way from a business that, Butler said, had 75 subscribers and one manual switchboard when it began. CenturyLink is now the third largest telecommunications company in the United States. “We are still in operation today due to, most importantly, a very loyal and dedicated team of employees along with the fact that as technology has changed, we have changed along with it,” she said. “We are continually working to do our part to keep Pell City in step with the latest telecommunications technologies.” Contact Will Heath at wheath@thestclairtimes. com.
SCRAP METAL RECYCLING Since 1942
905 Markeeta Spur Rd. Moody, AL 35004
205-640-5500
website - www.hrhmetalsinc.com
INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL RECYCLING We purchase all types of Ferrous, Non-Ferrous and Alloys from industrial, commercial, and dealer sources. The material is sorted, processed, and packaged to meet the customer’s specifications.
ROLL OFF CONTAINERS Pell City has an active Chamber of Commerce which will be glad to assist you. For information call 205-338-3377 or visit our office at 1618 Cogswell Avenue.
DEMOLITION – CLEAN UP
Erica Grieve - Executive Director
Bob Crisp/The Daily Home
Ingrid Staton is pharmacist at Northside Apothecary.
We provide various sizes of roll off containers as well as steel sided and flat bedtrailers. We can also provide dump hoppers for moving materials from point of generation to our containers or trailers.
1618 Cogswell Ave. Pell City, AL (205) 338-3377 www.pellcitychamber.com 309991
We have mobile knuckle boom loaders, portable balers, and bobcat services available for complete site clean up. 318528
8 — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013
pell city commerce
Groceries From Page 7
her old bosses and asked about a job. “They said yes,” she said. “It’s a very family organized company — I moved back during the summer, and they let me take the summer to be with my boys, then start back to work when they started back to school.” More than 30 years later, Ailor said the best part of her job is being a part of her customers’ routines. “We had a lady who was here shopping on a Thursday,” she said. “She normally shops on Friday. And you just say, ‘Is everything OK? Have you been out of town? Is someone sick?’ “It’s really special watching everybody grow up — you get to watch their kids get bigger, and you see bits and pieces of their lives.” Pell City continues to
change around the store with each passing hour. In addition to the continuing population changes, the city has also seen an influx of retail options, many of which are “big box” stores that are wellknown brands. “It is hard to compete with the big box stores,” Ailor said. “Their buying power is phenomenal.” Ailor said Food Outlet’s appeal remains the same: fair prices, and a “hometown” feel. “We do have the best meat in Pell City,” Ailor said. “Being small, we’re able to turn it faster, and we don’t sacrifice quality to be better on our bottom line.” The appeal of the store is also valuable to those who do a lot of cooking. “We do cater to people who cook day-in and dayout,” Ailor said. “A lot of our customers cook in their homes, and that’s how they’re able to save
money. I’m not sure so many people are taught that anymore. “Everything goes through changes — our schools have to serve whole wheat bread now. We’re going to see even more changes over the next five years, as well.” Part of that change includes the pace of life. Ailor said it is a priority for the store, even with its “hometown” feel, to be efficient. “We do want people to be able to get out of here quickly,” she said. “We want to give them friendly service, and make sure each customer is taken care of.” Food Outlet is located in downtown Pell City, at 2210 Cogswell Ave. To reach the store, call 205814-0056. Contact Will Heath at wheath@thestclairtimes. com.
Will Heath/The Daily Home
Employees at Food Outlet in Pell City say their meat is “the best in town.”
Food Outlet opened in downtown Pell City in 2001. It is located on Cogswell Avenue.
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Will Heath/The Daily Home
pell city commerce
THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013 — 9
Get your appliances at Alabama Power By GARY HANNER Home staff writer
Alabama Power provides electricity to 1.4 million customers in the southern two-thirds of Alabama. It is one of four U.S. utilities operated by the Southern Company, one of the nation’s largest generators of electricity. Alabama Power is an investor-owned, taxpaying utility, and the second largest subsidiary of Southern Company. More than 78,000 miles of power lines carry electricity to customers throughout 44,500 square miles. However, Alabama Power is the oldest appliance dealer in the state. It takes pride in its appliances and its customer service. This year, Alabama Power celebrates its 90th year in business. Nationwide, Alabama Power is in the top 75 of independent appliance retailers. Paul Arnold has been division sales manager at Alabama Power for the past three years. He works out of the Anniston office, which is the Eastern Division. “We have six divisions, and 17 offices, with Pell City being one of the offices,” Arnold said. Tommy Bowers has been with Alabama Power for 42 years. He is manager of the Pell City and Ashville branches. “I think it is great that customers can come in and purchase appliances they need,” Bowers said. “Financing is available, and it can be added on to their current power bill. Payments can be spread out over time and the prices are reasonable. Customers
Alabama Power is a Southern Company.
Photos by Gary Hanner
At right: Alabama Power manager Tommy Bowers and appliance salesperson Kathy Taylor stand among the many appliances customers can purchase, and add to their monthly bill.
are able to get an extended service agreement with it to protect their appliances when they buy them. That ensures that they can get their appliances serviced. We have a repairman available. He is one of the better repairmen in the state as far as I’m concerned.” Kathy Taylor is appli-
ance salesperson for the Pell City location. It’s a position she has held for the past 14 years. “We have a very basic credit application we do right here in the office,” she said. “It’s online, simple and takes about 10 minutes to get you approved.
We bill customers on their power bill. Financing starts at 90 days and goes up to 60 months.” Taylor said they attempt to do next day delivery and set up. They have HD bigscreen televisions up to 70-inches, refrigerators, microwaves, washing
machines, dryers, dishwashers, grills, and a full line of electronics, including laptop and desktop computers, and stereos. They also have DVD players, cookware, freezers and vacuum cleaners. Taylor said one does not have to be an Alabama Power customer to pur-
chase appliances. Anyone wishing to purchase appliances from Alabama Power can call Taylor at 205-814-2021 or 205-814-2022. Contact Gary Hanner at ghanner@thestclairtimes. com.
St. Clair Farmers
Cooperative 210 Hardwick Rd. Pell City, AL
205-338-2821
Come check out our selection of •Fruit Trees •Vegetable Plants •Potting Soil •Top Soil Livestock and Pet Food & Supplies
Authorized Hoyt Bow Dealer
Chicks Arriving on February 25
and
We at St. Clair Farmers Coop appreciate your loyal patronage. We look forward to providing you with excellent customer service and support.
309876
pell city commerce
10 — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013
Bob Crisp/The Daily Home
Dr. Tom Bender, owner of Bender’s Gym Inc., has opened Bender’s Fitness & Tanning in Pell City featuring a full-scale fitness center with 24-hour access.
Bender’s Fitness and Training fills need in community By ELSIE HODNETT Home staff writer
Bender’s Fitness & Tanning in Pell City offers a full-scale fitness center with 24-hour access. “We opened last week,” said Dr. Tom Bender, owner of Bender’s Gym Inc., which has locations in Decatur, Hartselle, Madison, Guntersville, Huntsville, and now Pell City. Bender’s Fitness & Tanning is in the K-Mart shopping complex where Cato’s and Nick & Tory’s Pet Shop used to be. “I saw a need for this in Pell City, so I purchased the two adjacent stores at the beginning of last November and began renovations,” he said. “The community has been welcoming and there has been a lot of interest in the fitness center so far.” Bender said he opened up walls between the two stores to create a 6,600square-foot area. “Everything is included in one price — the fitness area, tanning and children’s supervision,” he said. “Members will have 24-hour access.” Bender said children’s supervision is available most of the day in the Children’s Playroom, which has a TV and various toys and games. “We have four tanning bed rooms with top-of-theline tanning beds,” he said. “We have one 8-minute stand-up tanning bed, one 12-minute lie-down bed, and two 15-minute liedown beds. The variety will
give our members a quality tanning experience.” Bender said members can purchase membership and just use the tanning equipment or the fitness equipment, or they can use both. “We have a variety of cardio equipment, including eight treadmills, four ellipticals, two recumbent and two upright bicycles and one climbmill, which is similar to going up an escalator the wrong way,” he said. “All of the cardio equipment comes with a 15-inch flat screen TV so you can watch cable or movies off your smartphone or device.” Bender said members must bring their own headphones, and Bender’s
Fitness & Tanning will offer headphones for sale. “We have a full line of selectorized equipment, where you select the weight for the machine and can change weights with the push of a pin,” he said. “And we have a full line of free weights.” Bender said there is a turf area in the middle of the main room for functional equipment, such as kettlebells, medicine balls, plyo boxes, slam balls and more. “We have two flat screen TV’s on the walls for members not using the equipment with TV’s built in,” he said. “There is something for everyone here.” Bender said fitness coaches will conduct
Bob Crisp/The Daily Home
Bender’s Fitness & Tanning recently opened in the K-Mart shopping complex. It offers everything for one price — the fitness area, tanning and children’s supervision.
group workouts, which are included in the membership price. “You can also hire them as a personal trainer for an additional fee,” he said. Bender said there are locker rooms with showers, perfect for early morning workouts or late night workouts. “We pride ourselves on cleanliness, good conditioned equipment and friendly staff,” he said.
St. Clair
County
REALTORS
Turning Your Dreams into Reality
MOODY REALTY www.moodyrealtyal.com
“Serving all your real estate needs for buyers and sellers throughout St. Clair County and surrounding areas.”
Cell
205-365-9612
Paula Krafft, Realtor Paula Krafft Lifetime Member Club of Excellence
paula@moodyrealtyal.com
Homes - Land - New Construction
For listings view our website @ www.kellrealty.com ASHVILLE (205) 594-5391 or 1-800-542-9376
SPRINGVILLE (205) 467-3394 OR 1-888-734-3394
KATHY DILL (205) 966-1874
Buying or Selling? Give me call for all your real estate needs.
Bob Crisp/The Daily Home
Benders Fitness & Tanning features a variety of cardio equipment, including eight treadmills, four ellipticals, two recumbent and two upright bicycles and one climbmill, which is similar to going up an escalator the wrong way. All of the cardio equipment comes with a 15-inch flat screen TV.
Million Dollar Producer
PARKWAY REALTY parkway10@hotmail.com
HDA
BONNIE VOSS Broker
TITLE LOANS
CRS, ABR, CSP, Club of Excellence
205-613-2229 southernbellrealty.com
1605 Martin Street So. Suite 4 Pell City, AL 35128
J.H. “Jim” Huggins Broker
HomeTown
Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Saturday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Bob Crisp/The Daily Home
GRI, ABR Broker
3440 Martin Street S. Suite 17
www.SharonThomas.net sharon@sharonthomas.net
Phone (205)338-SELL (7355) 1-866-377-9415 • (Cell) 205-365-8875
Fax (205) 699-3933
for S A L E
J HUGGINS REALTY INC
699-5050
•Residential •Commercial
•Property Management
205-699-5050 7824 Parkway Dr., Leeds, AL 35094
300987
205-338-6741
Sharon Thomas
309983
Bender’s Fitness & Tanning has four tanning bed rooms with top-of-the-line tanning beds.
P R O P E R T I E S
1-800-362-6981
REAL ESTATE
THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013 — 11A
PELL CITY COMMERCE
A
PET ANIMAL SHELTER OF PELL CITY, AL 1071 Airport Rd., Pell City, AL
(205) 814-1567
ADOPTION FEE $125 for adult dogs, puppies, cats & kittens. This covers: Spay/Neuter for all animals, fully vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped, HW test for dogs over 6 months of age, FELUK/FIV test for all cats/kittens
Open: Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; CLOSED Sunday & Monday
PLEASE COME ON BY OUR SHELTER AND PICK OUT YOUR PET!
Annie
Sam
Latte
Pork Chop
Renny
Nate
Beau
Jack
Kita
Sparks
Keith
Lacy
Molly
Nemo
Precious
Our sincere thanks to the following sponsors for making this page possible. Colonial Galleries
BUSINESS SPONSORS Express Pharmacy
Horticultural Managment, Winser Hayes Karen Bain - Fields & Gosset
INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS Stan Batemon
Attorney Joseph R. Kemp
Erskine Funderberg
Judge Jim Hill
Sarah Brazzalotto
Terrell Vick
Carol Pappas
Mayor Joe Funderburg
Kandi & Bruce Griffin
Matthew Pope
James & Elsie McGowan
Caran Wilbanks
Charles & Beth Moore
Bill & Jane Hayes Barbara Jacobs
Walmart, Sylacauga
Kathy Dill - Parkway Realty
Image Plus
Killin Time
Logan Martin Vet Clinic
Lincoln Pharmacy
Landis Antique Mall
Terry Hogge Electric
21st Century Signs
Pity Pat’s
Snappy’s Gourmet Dog Snacks, LLC
Aardwolf
Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure
Fat Man’s BBQ
Adyson, Peyton, & Kayla Luster
Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure
Wood Appraisal Services
In Honor of Aaron Hayes
Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure
Remax Hometown Properties -Sharon Thomas
Kilgroe Funeral Home
Reliable Transmission
Jo Mitchell & Marty Kollmorgen
Mattress & More
Bullard Mechanical
Griffin’s Jewelers
Cornelius Gutters
Beverly Barber, Attorney at Law
ACE Hardware
Pete & Karen Barwick Judge Phil Seay Laura Massey
Larry Barton, Mayor Joe Ballow, Councilman Steve Hurst, State Representative Donnie Miller, Councilman
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12A— THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013
TOWN & COUNTRY PELL CITY LOCATION
Pell city commerce
DRIVE ONE FOR YOUR SCHOOL EVENT
Town and Country Ford is proud to be an automotive leader in our area. Since opening our doors, we have made it our mission to take care of our customer’s transportation needs at a level that exceeds their expectations through convenience and reliability and at a price that is fair to both, coupled with the highest level of honesty and integrity. We offer a wide selection of vehicles, and hope to make the car buying process as quick and hassle free as possible. lf you are looking to purchase a new Ford, we have one of the largest selections to choose from. We also have quality certified pre-owned cars and trucks for sale. Town and Country Ford can also get you financing options that fits your needs! You can trust that Town and Country Ford will get you into the car or truck you choose with professionalism and attention to your needs. Town and Country Ford has an experienced and reliable Service and Parts Department, open extra hours to help fit your hectic schedule. As always, Town and Country Ford offers competitive pricing for your automotive maintenance needs. Customer satisfaction is our highest priority, and our staff is committed to achieving this goal in every aspect of our business.
309958
Town and Country Ford offers a full selection of service areas including: • New Vehicle Sales • Pre-Owned Vehicle Sales • Car Loans and Financing • Certified Service Department • Full Selection of Ford Parts and Accessories
Pell City, AL
205-338-9463 1-20 • Exit 158 • Hwy 231
Pell City, AL
205-338-9463 1-20 • Exit 158 • Hwy 231