Sylacauga Oak Grove
&
Childersburg
Commerce
February 2014 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO
The Daily Home
SYLACAUGACOMMERCE
2A — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 23, 2014
‘Everything old is new again’
Chamber starts new year with new leadership
Sylacauga Chamber focusing on city’s long-standing assets By EMILY McLAIN Home staff writer
Arts, industry, and – of course – the marble. These are a few of Sylacauga’s best features that the Chamber of Commerce is bringing out of hiding to help the city shine as a point of interest throughout the state, according to chamber executive director Carol Bates. “We’re taking the assets that we have had here for years, and we’re finally starting to use those to make Sylacauga a destination point,” Bates said. “We’re looking at what we’ve got, and it’s like everything old is new again.” From the multitude of artistic opportunities, to the support of the city’s industry and businesses, to the world-famous white marble celebrated with a festival each year, Bates said the city has many attractive qualities that residents and guests alike can enjoy. “Sylacauga is very good at rising to the occasion and putting its best foot forward to make people feel welcome,” she said. “There are so many great things, but I think the best thing going on right now is that we are all trying very hard, working in collaboration with each other, to bring people to Sylacauga and make it a destination.” This year, the chamber is combining its traditional events with new promotions to support its 360 members. Its efforts are encapsulated in the chamber’s new motto, ‘Love Where You Live, Shop Where You Love.’ “That is going to be our ongoing, hammer-ithome theme from now on,” Bates said. The biggest promotion of the year, for which the chamber serves as partner along with many other city agencies and organizations, is coming up in just a few weeks. The sixth annual Magic of Marble Festival is April 8-19. “The Marble Festival has the potential to really put us on the map,” Bates said. “I have to explain to a lot of people that it is not a cotton candy, games
and booths kind of festival, and we don’t want it to become that. With the other events that go along with it, it becomes enough of a special event and it keeps the focus where it needs to be.” The chamber’s most significant contribution to the festival is the Taste of Sylacauga, where local restaurants gather at J. Craig Center to provide samples of their food. This year’s Taste is April 10. “Taste of Sylacauga has become one of our favorite events,” Bates said. “And this year, we are in a position where we aren’t charging the restaurants to rent a booth. Having been in the restaurant business for 20 years, I always kind of cringed when we charged them for that, so I’m excited about what that could mean for them.” The chamber also released a new Sylacauga magazine months ago that contains stories about what the city has to offer. Bates said the magazine, which is available at locations around the city, is a great promotional tool. “With the help of The Daily Home, this year’s magazine was the best we have had in a long, long time,” she said. “It looks beautiful, and there is some excellent content.” Also, the chamber and WYEA Radio has recently started selecting a Business of the Week. From those businesses, the radio station chooses a Business of the Month to feature on the air for that time period. “This is something that we really want to mean something to these merchants and it has so far, and we want that to continue,” Bates said. “We’re doing a lot of other partnerships with the local media, and I think what we’re seeing is people crossing the lines and everybody is working together.” Another new promotion happened during the holiday season. For every $20 spent at a participating local store, shoppers could enter a drawing for several big prizes, including a three-day vacation. The promotion garnered more than 23,000 entries, which accounted for $460,000
By BILL KIMBER Home staff writer
Emily McLain/The Daily Home
Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce executive director Carol Bates stands with a radio beacon that was lit atop the tower at Sylacauga’s WYEA radio station for 65 years.
spent at local businesses during the Christmas season. “That was totally successful, and the retail committee of the chamber wants to do it again,” Bates said. “The merchants loved it, the people loved it, and we’re going to tweak it a little, because you learn things after the first year, but we’re going to keep it a holiday promotion.” Bates said the overall retail climate in Sylacauga is improving, with several new businesses coming into town like Goody’s, opening April 10 in the U.S. 280 Piggly Wiggly shopping center, Hibachi Sushi Buffet in the former Budsy’s building and Little Caesar’s Pizza relocating to the former Krystal’s building. A new craft beer and cigar bar is under construction in town as well. “We are getting more and more calls from people wanting to arrange trips for their group to places like Blue Bell here, and while they are in town, they want to know what kind of shopping and restaurants there are,” Bates said. “Things are really picking up.” To further celebrate the city’s assets, the Chamber, in partnership with SAFE Family Services Center and Sylacauga’s Promise Committee, is planning the second annual Celebrate Sylacauga day to be held May 3. “For the first time, last year’s event came off wonderfully,” Bates said. “It put us in the position to really coin that ‘Love Where You
Live’ phrase. This year’s Celebrate Sylacauga will be the same, but on a larger scale.” Another huge celebration happening is that 75th anniversary of the Chamber of Commerce, and board members are planning a “blowout” for the annual banquet. “Our board president, Carla Taylor, really wants to make that a big deal,” Bates said. “We’re working on many plans for that to make it a fun night and also a night of reflection on where we’ve come from. We’re trying to get some of our really talented people to come and be with us, and that’s all I can tell you right now. We’ve got a lot of plans for out banquet this year. It’s going to be the kind of banquet that whether you’re a chamber member or not, you’re going to want to come just to find out what it’s all about.” As for the business operations of the chamber, Bates said she and other staff are “running a much tighter, much more efficient ship now than we have in a long time.” The board plans to tackle projects like creating a strategic plan, revising the bi-laws and membership structure and planning a remodel of the chamber building. “I am really happy with the direction the chamber is going right now,” she said. “There’s a lot of excitement in Sylacauga.”
The Childersburg Chamber of Commerce started the new year with new leadership, and is looking to the future with new enthusiasm. Robert “Bubba” Cleckler is the new executive director, and Tammy Freeman is the new chairman of the Board of Directors. Former executive director Pete Storey resigned in December to take another position. Cleckler was previously board chairman and Freeman was vice chairman, so the two simply moved a seat over. “I’m in the process of meeting all the members face to face,” said Cleckler. I’m working to find out what they need and want the chamber to do and asking for suggestions for how to do it.” Cleckler has praised the job Storey did before him, and said his predecessor left the chamber in good shape. “I believe our businesses, from the biggest to the smallest, are hanging in there,” Cleckler said. “I’ve been in Childersburg for a long time, and I’ve noticed that we have our
own little economy. It isn’t always reflected by what’s going on in the national or state economy. It’s our own thing.” “The Childersburg Chamber is an association of people, both individuals and businesses, forming a partnership and working together to make the Childersburg area a better place to live and make a living,” Freeman said. The chamber is constantly on the lookout for new businesses, and there are some long-vacant buildings that Cleckler would like to see occupied. But he’s encouraged by the growth some businesses are experiencing, including J&J Drugs and Coosa Pines Federal Credit Union. Both of those businesses are building new homes on U.S. 280 and will be moving in the coming weeks and months. ‘We’re blessed with small mom-and-pop businesses that hang in there year after year, and lucky for us they’re still going,” he said. Cleckler said he’s excited about this year’s Coosa Fest, and believes it’s a great way for businesses and individuals in
See Chamber, Page 3
Robert “Bubba” Cleckler
Contact Emily McLain at emclain@dailyhome.com.
We are an organization made up of business firms, public officials, professional people, and public-spirited citizens whose primary interest is in publicizing, promoting, and developing commercial and industrial opportunities in their local area, and also improving community schools, streets, housing, and public works. Childersburg Chamber of Commerce 805 3rd Street South West Childersburg, Alabama 35044
256-378-5482 Bob Crisp/The Daily Home
The sixth annual Magic of Marble Festival is April 8-19. The chamber serves as a partner along with other city agencies and organizations. Frank Murphy is shown working on a piece of marble.
www.childersburg.com 300681
SYLACAUAGA COMMERCE
THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 23, 2013 — 3A
Chamber From Page 2
Childersburg to put their best foot forward. “It brings everybody together – kids, townspeople, merchants, bands. I see more people who live in Childersburg at Coosa Fest than I do all year. It is so good to shake hands and say, ‘How are you doing?’” This year’s event will be Saturday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eighth Avenue will be blocked off and a stage will be set up in front of First Baptist Church where bands will play throughout the day. Vendors will be set up throughout the area, there will be games and activities for children, and the chamber executive is encouraging merchants from U.S. 280 to be represented among the vendors at the event. “It will be a great opportunity for them to show their wares and let people know what they have to offer.” He pointed out that the highway is busy, and drivers may not be able to see all the businesses along the thoroughfare, especially the smaller ones. “Anything we can do to bring people together to mingle and network, I think is good,” he said. Freeman said the chamber’s monthly coffees are a fun and effective networking opportunity. “Our chamber offers events, educational opportunities, marketing and many other ways to support business in the Childersburg area. For example, our average attendance at our monthly coffees is 50 to 60. We have a great time at these coffees. If you’re not attending these coffees, you don’t know what you
are missing!” The coffees are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m., each time at a different business or institution. The locations are announced in advance through the chamber’s weekly newsletter and on its website, Childersburg. com. “The more involved you are with the chamber, the more you can benefit from it,” Freeman said. “Participating in our events and task forces can lead you to some of your best contacts, and allows you to influence the business atmosphere. The chamber is now increasing the value of their membership by offering a variety of beneficial services.” Cleckler said he’d like to see more people get involved in community events, and he’s hoping Coosa Fest will provide the opportunity for new people to start volunteering. “It’s not just the merchants and the city officials. We need Joe Blow who lives down on the corner to get involved. I think people care, but they don’t know how to get involved or don’t realize what they have to contribute. Everybody has something to contribute.” He praised the involvement of members of the Chamber of Commerce board of directors. “I told them before I took this job, ‘If you expect me to do it all by myself, please resign right now.’ All the board members are still on the board and doing their part. We’ve got a great crew.” He encourages anyone who’s interested in participating in Coosa Fest or other community activities in any way to contact the chamber at 256-378-5482.
Bill Kimber/The Daily Home
Heritage South Federal Credit Union opened its headquarters on U.S. 280 in 2005.
Heritage South has grown significantly in recent years By BILL KIMBER Home staff writer
Heritage South Federal Credit Union grew up with Sylacauga, and is poised to be a cornerstone of the Marble City for decades to come. It grew out of the city’s textile history, chartered in 1937 as the Avondale Mills Credit Union and serving employees of Sylacauga’s main industry for decades. Each Avondale location had its own credit union, so this one served only the employees in Sylacauga. “That’s who we were still serving when I came,” said CEO Daphne Harrell, who took the helm of the credit union in 1995. “We started expanding our field of membership, but kept the name of Avondale Employees Credit Union for a while.“ Big changes came in 1995, when the credit union moved to Broadway Avenue across from Noble Park. Around that time the name was changed to Heritage South, indicat-
Daphne Harrell
ing the shift to a community credit union that’s now open for membership to people who live, work, worship or attend school in Talladega, Shelby, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Chilton, Calhoun, Clay, St. Clair and Lee counties. Harrell started her credit union career in 1977 in Daleville at an organization that served Army aviation employees from Fort Rucker. She moved in 1987 to the Birmingham Federal Employees Credit Union before coming to Sylacauga.
Her husband, Mike, works at ACIPCO Federal Credit Union in Birmingham. Their permanent home is at Lake Martin, but they have a garden home in Calera to split the distance between their jobs. Credit unions including Heritage South offer personal financial services similar to those of banks: savings, checking, loans, credit and debit cards and online services. Harrell said the difference is the profit motive and local decision-making. “I think that with the media, there has been a lot of understanding that the concept is different between a bank and a credit union, and it does make a difference.” She pointed out that credit union directors – who are elected by the members – do not receive any pay for their service. “The credit union exists solely for the membership and differs from banks because our members are the shareholders, so our
goal is to give back to the shareholders who are our members. Because of that, our interest rates are better and there are fewer fees for our services.” The board is made up of chairman Angie Hughes, vice chairman Jim Patton, treasurer/CEO Harrell, secretary Larry Blanchard and board members Mindy Grier and Randall Morris. “Our board is great, and has been very stable through the years,” she said. “They’re great at looking out for the growth of the credit union, and they’re not happy to sit on their laurels.” Heritage South has experienced significant growth in recent years. “Especially since all the bank mergers and failed banks, people are looking around,” Harrell said. “People get attached to their banks. When they’ve had that account their whole life, they want to hold onto it. But we say, when you get tired of pay-
See Heritage, Page 4
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SYLACAUGA COMMERCE
4A — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 23, 2014
Gift wrapping calling card for Magnolias By JUNE WINTERS
Special to The Daily Home
Brian Schoenhals/The Daily Home
The Piggly Wiggly on Alabama 21 in Sylacauga is managed by Jay Anderson.
Find what you need at city’s 2 Piggly Wigglys
By JUNE WINTERS
Special to The Daily Home
Whether you live on the north side of Sylacauga or on the south side, there’s a Piggly Wiggly to serve you! Vince Culatta is owner of the stores, and Jay Anderson is manager of the Alabama 21 location. The other Piggly Wiggly is located at 1301 West Ft. Williams, on U.S. 280, and Terry Nation manages this store. Both stores feature delicatessens where hot meals are available. The store on Alabama 21 serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hours for breakfast are 7 until 10:30 a.m., and lunch and dinner are available from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. On Ft. Williams, the deli serves hot lunches each day and hours there are 10:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. This deli closes at 4:30 p.m. Both delis feature cakes made to order and a telephone call will tell you just how far ahead your cake must be ordered. Shelves in the stores are well stocked with a variety of name brand food items, as well as the Piggly Wiggly store brand. There’s also a wide selection of paper products, cleaning supplies, personal care items, pet food and other household items. The frozen food shelves are loaded with vegetables, breakfast food items, pizzas, cakes, pies and fruits, just to name a few. Both stores have a complete line of meats and if you can’t find the cut of meat you want, it will be special cut for you. Perry Sims is manager of the meat department at the Ft. Williams store and Elmer Hughes manages the meat market at the Alabama 21 store. Produce shelves and bins are stocked with fine, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Brian Schoenhals/The Daily Home
Cedrick Riggins slices meat at Piggly Wiggly.
They are managed by Greg Hammonds at the store on Alabama 21 and by Justin Ford on Ft. Williams. At the store on Ft. Williams, you will find the popular “Dollar Zone,” where every item is one dollar. There’s a variety of crackers, cookies, candies, canned goods, jams and jellies, spices, and cooking oil. There’s even a fine quality olive oil. In fact, all the products that come from the Dollar Zone will surprise you when you see and taste the quality. There’s even a line of cosmetics, personal care items and a few first aid products. An assortment of greeting cards is available at both stores, and they both feature the popular “Five for
$19.99.” Included in this are fresh vegetables, fruits, frozen foods and meats. Customers can pick any five they like, as long as packages are marked. Both stores offer a variety of beers and wines. The store on Ft. Williams features a much larger variety of wines, including several fine wines to select from. Culatta says top priorities at both stores are “customer service, good prices, clean stores and friendly personnel.” The Piggly Wiggly on Alabama 21 opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. seven days a week. The Ft. Williams store opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday hours are 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.
“We wrap the best gifts in town” has always been a slogan at Magnolias since the day owner and manager Linda Hardy opened the doors in Sylacauga 22 years ago. “Gift wrapping is our calling card,” said Hardy, adding they get a lot of customers from outof-town who have seen or heard about their beautifully wrapped gifts. The store has been in its present location for the past three years, and has added so much to the downtown area. The store stands on the corner of Broadway and West 1st Street. The wall facing 1st Street, was just a boring blank brick wall when Magnolias decided to move in. “My husband, Don, and I talked about that wall. We were trying to come up with some idea to break the monotony of it,“ Hardy said. “I told Don it would be nice to put two or three windows in the wall, but after looking at the cost, Don suggested we put false windows in.” Hardy says after they decided to install the windows, she decided to put window boxes under each one. “Of course, this called for flowers and that’s what we have.” A fountain has also been added. Folks who live in Sylacauga are quick to tell you the wall that was once an eyesore is now one of downtown Sylacauga’s most attractive settings. Magnolias is also known for its seasonal window displays and shoppers eagerly wait to see every change. The front and back entrance to the store are beautifully landscaped. A garden with blooming flowers and a fountain are located at the back entrance, with plenty of parking. All of this adds to the pleasure of shopping even before the front door swings open. Inside shoppers will find some of the finest costume jewelry, including Sorrelli Jewelry and Priti Jewelry, which is made in Childersburg. A wide assortment of Vera Bradley purses and accessories are there for
Brian Schoenhals/The Daily Home
Terry Nation manages the Piggly Wiggly at 1301 Ft. Williams, on U.S. 280.
Brian Schoenhals/The Daily Home
There are many unique gift ideas at Magnolias in Sylacauga.
your choosing, as well as Spartina bags and jewelry. There is a selection of gifts by Cinda B, Arthur Court, Beatriz Ball, and Cotton Colors, as well as Skyros, Casafina and Lenox dinnerware. A section at the front area of the store is devoted to a complete line of Merle Norman beauty products, and every customer is registered with her favorite shades and preference of creams and skin care. Hardy is especially proud to offer soon-to-beweds the popular bridal registry at the store. The bride-elect can choose from
all merchandise and her list is available for friends and relatives to purchase. “It really takes the guess work out of buying wedding gifts and wondering if you’ve given something the couple will like and use,” she said. Hardy says she is very proud of her sales staff. “They’re all young and so enthusiastic.” Included are Jordan Hardy, Anna Bentley, Lauren Taunton, Catie Simpkins and Elizabeth Steers. The store is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and on Saturday, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Brian Schoenhals/The Daily Home
Magnolias offers a wide variety of beautiful and unusual items.
Heritage From Page 3
ing those fees, just give us a try.” Heritage South’s growth is reflected in the opening of new locations. A new headquarters was opened at the corner of U.S. 280 and Gene Stewart Boulevard in Sylacauga in 2005, and a branch opened in Childersburg in 2008. There are student branches at Sylacauga and Childersburg high schools, and ATMs are at each branch location, Sylacauga High School, Coosa Valley Medical Center and
Citizens Baptist Medical Center in Talladega. “We have a new branch opening in Moody, and we expect that to add to our growth because there’s not a credit union in Moody,” she said. She expects the next growth area to be Alexander City. “There isn’t a time table yet, but that’s our most logical next step. There’s a good presence of our members there.” Harrell said the credit union’s growth comes from making friends. “We try to get involved in the communities we serve. We
get out there and visit with folks, and we’ve found that word-of-mouth is the best way to grow our business.” And, she said, service keeps customers coming back. “One thing that’s unique to us is that we made a decision – though it’s much more expensive than the other route – to have people answer the phone rather than machines. In our call center, everyone is trained to handle whatever problem a customer may have, so they don’t have to transfer the calls around. We think
that’s a big deal.” She said the credit union has $90 million in assets and more than 10,000 members. “We’re happy to say that we have well exceeded our peers in growth in the last year, by nearly double,” she said. Harrell said credit unions work as a cooperative. When members make deposits, the money is invested in loans to other members. “Without that, the wheels don’t turn,” she said. “That cooperative nature is how we’re able
to have lower loan rates, lower fees and higher dividends. We explain this to people when we recruit members. There are very few truly community banks anymore. When you deposit with most banks, that money is not staying in your community. Those profits are headed out to whatever state they’re headquartered in, to wherever their officers and shareholders are. “Our board members live in this town. They’re your co-workers and your neighbors. It makes a big difference in how we make
decisions.”
Harrell believes Sylacauga is poised to prosper and grow. “I love Sylacauga. It’s one of those communities that truly is a community. I like that people know their neighbors. Their children go to school together and they’re friends. Kids go away to college and come back here to work and live. Sylacauga is growing and making progress. There’s a real sense of community, because new people have been welcomed into the community.”
SYLACAUGA COMMERCE
THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 23, 2014 — 5B
McDurmin knows both sides of the music business
By BILL KIMBER
I’ll get them. But I know guitars. I don’t know drums and keyboards. I love this business, and I love guitars. I always have. I would love to expand, but the economy is tough and guitars are a luxury, not a necessity. Very few people make a living making music.
Home staff writer
Before he moved his shop to Childersburg last year, Rick McDurmin would sometimes get bored waiting for customers to find his shop off the beaten path in Harpersville. Now he’s got a constant stream of people coming into Rick’s Guitars. He’s bantering non-stop with friends new and old and hoping that his line of guitars and accessories will sell themselves.
“I guess I’m old-school. The customer is always right, or at least you want to satisfy the customer. If a customer has a problem, I want to take care of it. I’m an honest believer and I live by this rule – what comes around goes around.” He believes more people are playing guitars now than maybe ever before.
“I’m not high-pressure,” he said. “I try to be friends with people and get to know them on a personal level. I don’t want to be just a businessman. I want to be the hometown guy they go to.” He knows both sides of the music business, having performing in bands for decades before starting a small business buying and selling the tools of the trade. The Chattanooga native moved to Shelby County in the mid-1990s to help raise his grandchildren. His ex-wife and three kids had moved to Alabama years earlier, and he felt drawn to be nearby as his daughter’s children were born. He wound up remarried to his first wife, and their grandchildren have been a constant part of their lives. McDurmin played in bands all over east Tennessee beginning when he was 14, specializing in Southern rock, old rock ’n’ roll and middle-of-the-road country. “People think of Nashville when they think about music in Tennessee, but if you’re a picker, you can find work anywhere in Tennessee,” he said.
Bill Kimber/The Daily Home
Rick McDurmin wants to be the go-to guy for guitars. His shop is located at 33611 U.S. 280 in Childersburg.
“I decided when I was 12 or 13 years old that I wanted to play guitar. Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles were a big influence, but I found out that that kind of music wouldn’t make you any money. I was selftaught, and I got lucky enough to get in a band that would work with me. I got on-the-job training and practiced with the guys. If you wanted to make money, bars were where to make it and country was the kind of music they wanted.” McDurmin had a day job in an appliance factory,
and years ago he hurt some of his fingers while working on a punch press, stamping out steel hinges for ovens. Losing some agility in his fingertips, he continued his musical career by learning to play bass. “I liked it and stayed with it. Thirty-five years down the road, I was still playing bass.” His last band had 115 gigs in one year – more than two per week. “I quit it about four years ago. I go to bed earlier now,” he laughed. He said there are pickers he’d like to hear play, but
“They’re starting to go to work at 9 o’clock, and at 10 I’m in my recliner, asleep.” McDurmin laughs a lot. “You’ve got to be positive in this world. If you dwell in the negatives, you’re in trouble,” he said. Guitar strings, picks and other accessories make up a big part of his sales, but from those smaller purchases come larger purchases as customers repeatedly visit the store, familiarize themselves with the merchandise and in many cases improve their guitar playing skills. “The store is stocked up right now anticipating
income tax season,” he said. “There are only two seasons – Christmas season and income tax season,” he said with a laugh. Rick’s Guitars specializes in used and refurbished guitars, offering customers lower prices for like-new equipment. His supplier in Nashville gets new blemished guitars and factory returns, and a crew of 25 techs work to refurbish them “so they’re like new,” he said. “Guitars and amps are my main focus. I occasionally have drums and keyboards. If I find a bargain
“When I was growing up, just a few people played. Most people didn’t want to devote the time it requires. But it has shifted from the bar scene to church. Youth ministries are emphasizing music – drums, bass and guitars. “I did the bar scene for 40 years. It got old and I got old. It’s such a turn-around. People are going to church and they want to play music with a Christian motif. I think that’s a good thing.” McDurmin said he’s enjoyed several opportunities to play recently, including one gig at a church on New Year’s Eve.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really miss it sometimes.” As for his decision to move his business to Childersburg, in the strip next to Natch’s Barbecue on U.S. 280, “I’m glad to be here. It’s such a dramatic change. It costs more to be here, but it’s worth it in the long run.”
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SYLACAUGA COMMERCE
6A — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 23, 2014
Celebrating 10 years of service Glynn Smith Automotive seeing big changes By EMILY McLAIN Home staff writer
Glynn Smith Automotive in Sylacauga is celebrating 10 years of business this year with some big changes, including a new manager, an updated building, a new brand and special sales events. “We are celebrating our 10th anniversary in Sylacauga, and we are working on some events right now to help everyone celebrate with us,” general manager John Capps said. A model year-end clearance sale is currently ongoing, and customers should keep an eye out for other specials throughout the year. Another change for its 10th year, the dealer, which already offers new and used Toyota, Buick and GMC vehicles, is now adding Scion to the mix. Glynn Smith Auto keeps an inventory of about 200 vehicles in stock at its U.S. 280 location, including 100-120 new cars and 100 used, Capps said, ensuring they have the right vehicle to meet any need. “We keep a good selection, and we offer the Glynn Smith Guarantee that sets us apart from other dealers,” Capps said. “We guarantee a 100 percent enjoyable car-buying experience. We’re not looking to pressure you into buying a car you don’t want. We want you to find the car you like and that you’re happy with, and we want to build a relationship, and that’s before and after the sale.” Glynn Smith Auto provides first-rate service in
the years after your vehicle purchase, Capps said. “We have factory-trained technicians certified in Toyota and GM products,” he said. “We have salesmen that are considered Toyota pros, and they’re certified on the GM and Toyota side.” Proof of its good work is the four Toyota President’s awards the business has received in recent years, and it is poised to receive a fifth award for 2013, Capps said. “That’s a big honor and a distinction we are proud to have,” he said. Capps, who worked at Glynn Smith’s Opelika location before joining the Sylacauga team in October, said the dealer is also preparing for a major renovation. “It’s going to be a complete re-do and expansion of the showroom, the customer waiting area and a complete new building front,” Capps said. “It’s a large project, and it’s going to make a big difference, so we are excited to have that done.” The remodel will begin this spring and should be done by the year’s end. The showroom isn’t the only thing the dealership plans to expand this year, though. Glynn Smith is looking to increase its presence in the community, Capps said, and has already taken steps to do so. “We try to support a lot of the local high school sports through sponsorships, and we are really proud to announce that we have partnered with the nonprofit organization Alabama Childhood Food
Emily McLain/The Daily Home
Top photo, from the left, are employees Charles Gray, John Capps, Jim Chance, Bruce Brown and Randy Holmes with the dealership’s Toyota President’s awards.
At left, Glynn Smith Auto on U.S. 280 in Sylacauga is celebrating 10 years of business.
Solutions,” he said. Glynn Smith recently donated more than $3,000 to the organization, which provides food for local schoolchildren in need, and Toyota provided an additional $2,500, Capps said. A family-owned company, Glynn Smith Auto employs 30 people, includ-
It’s not easy to stay in business for 15 years, but L’Acosta Mexican restaurant in Sylacauga has done exactly that thanks to the perfect formula of family, food and fun. “I know it’s hard for other businesses to stay open, so we just thank God that we have been able to stay in business and do well for many years now,” said owner Everardo Vazquez. The family-owned restaurant celebrates 15 years on Cinco de Mayo, or May 5, of this year, and with the anniversary comes plans to make some improvements. “I want to update the tables and booths before Cinco de Mayo,” Vazquez said. “And I want to expand and make a really nice party room sometime in the near future. It’s also my dream to get a new, bigger buffet line, because the buffet does really well for us, and it is one of the things that sets us apart.” The buffet, served from
that a vehicle is always a special gift, he said. “It’s an exciting moment in someone’s life when they purchase a vehicle, and we are happy to be able to provide that moment and know that we are giving them a quality product at a price that bigger dealers just can’t beat.”
Bob Crisp/The Daily Home
L’Acosta looking to make improvements Home staff writer
process of helping someone find the car they need,” Capps said. “I think any of our employees would tell you the same thing.” The busiest time of year for car sales, Capps said, is around Christmas, but they also see a lot of purchases for graduation, birthday or anniversary gifts – proof
Growing At The Speed Of Business... Pictured, from the left, is L’Acosta Mexican Restaurant owner Everardo Vazquez, his wife, Leonor Vazquez, and his brother Edgar Vazquez.
By EMILY McLAIN
ing eight salespeople. The business originated when Smith purchased a Chevrolet store in Opelika in 1992, followed by the purchase of the Sylacauga store in 2004. Capps said the dealership continues to see satisfied customers. “Personally, I enjoy the
11 a.m. until 2 p.m. daily, offers all the favorite fixings for a Mexican meal – beef, chicken, taco salad shells, vegetables and much more – and is popular with customers, Vazquez said, particularly the Sunday lunch crowd. “Not many Mexican restaurants have a buffet, and we want to make sure that what we offer is the best,” he said. In an area with multiple Mexican restaurants, L’Acosta works hard to consistently provide quality food and service to keep customers coming back. “All of our workers here are told to live for the customers,” Vazquez said. “Customers may come in with problems or worries, and we want to help them make life better. We try to treat customers with respect, dedication and provide the best, cleanest, friendliest service. That, I think, is our key to success.” L’Acosta, located in downtown Sylacauga, has many loyal customers who have turned into friends, Vazquez said, and that is
one reason the restaurant participates in community happenings, helping the schools, police, city and other agencies whenever possible. Another thing that keeps people coming back is the food, of course. L’Acosta churns out homemade, authentic Mexican food day after day using its own special seasonings and recipes. “Other places buy seasonings already made, but we mix our own special seasonings,” Vazquez said. “We cook the tomatoes and vegetables to make our own sauces, and we preserve the formula for our recipes.” One thing customers always appreciate is consistency, Vazquez said, and that is what L’Acosta aims to deliver. “Customers are familiar with our recipes,” he said. “They know what our salsa takes like, and even when I go somewhere else and I really love their salsa, I keep ours the same here, because that is what people See L’Acosta, Page 7
The mission of the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce is to provide leadership and promote the economic advancement, business climate and quality of life for the City of Sylacauga and surrounding areas.
The only way to accomplish our mission is with the help of our Membership! Membership investments and membership involvement maximize the efforts of each individual member and enhance what the Chamber of Commerce can do for our marketplace and community! A dynamic city government, quality school system, city agencies and countless community clubs and organizations are working together with the Chamber of Commerce to make Sylacauga a great place to live, work and play!
Won’t you join us? 17 West Fort Williams • Post Office Box 185 • Sylacauga, AL 35150
256-249-0308 300700
SYLACAUGA COMMERCE
L’Acosta From Page 6
know. I think about all the young people who have graduated from Sylacauga in the last 15 years, and they can go off to college and get jobs, and they’ll come back home and eat here, and it tastes the same. I think customers like that.” That doesn’t mean L’Acosta doesn’t try new things, however. The restaurant has a new, three taco menu item, and seven different types of burritos that have evolved over time. Classic customer favorites are chimichangas, pollo fundido, fajitas, burritos, steak and shrimp dishes and caserola. The restaurant workers have a lot to do with its success, Vazquez said. Four employees are Vazquez’s relatives, and the other three are “like family,” he said. “That makes a difference,” Vazquez said. “Other places, employees may not all be on the same page, but here, we make sure everybody knows the customer comes first.” L’Acosta listens to its customers’ suggestions and tries to give them what they want, Vazquez said. “If a customer asks for something or they have an idea for us to do something new or different, we try to listen and make that happen,” he said. “We like to do the best we can,” he said. L’Acosta is open Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.; Friday from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.; and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. Contact the restaurant at 256-249-3360. Contact Emily McLain at emclain@dailyhome.com.
THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 23, 2014 — 7A
Piggly Wiggly in Childersburg takes pride in customer service By JUNE WINTERS
Special to The Daily Home
The Piggly Wiggly Store, located at 1068 1st St. N.W., has been a landmark in Childersburg since 1991. Store owner Ronnie Baker purchased the store in 1992, and Sammy Kelley is the present manager. Dexter Thomas, the store’s meat manager, offers a full line of meats, and if you can’t find a special cut you are looking for, he will be happy to cut it for you. In the store’s produce section, shelves and bins are filled daily with fresh produce, including a wide selection of both fruits and vegetables. Packages of salad and cole slaw mixtures are also offered. This area is under the management of Frankie Mizzell. Milk and milk products in a variety of brands are available, as well as a large selection of refrigerated baking items. Shelves in the Piggly Wiggly are filled with name brand food items, cleaning products, personal care items, pet foods and other household items. The “five for $19.99” is very popular at the store, and features fruits, vegetables, frozen foods and meats. The packages can be your choice of any items bearing that sale symbol. The Childersburg Piggly Wiggly also offers the “Dollar Zone,” which has become a popular part of the store. In this area, everything featured is $1. It includes a variety of crackers, cookies, canned foods, condiments, nuts, candies, paper products, and many other items. There’s one
Brian Schoenhals/The Daily Home
Frankie Mizzell is manager of the produce department at Piggly Wiggly in Childersburg.
section devoted to cosmetics, personal care items, first aid products and some medical aids, such as aspirin. In the frozen food section, there are several popular brands of frozen foods, meals, casseroles, cakes, pies and breakfast
items, and, of course, “Fresh Frozen,” the Piggly Wiggly store brand. The bread section has white bread, wheat bread, rye bread, rolls and buns in all shapes and sizes. Accompanying the breads at the store are freshly baked cookies, cakes, pies and more specialty breads.
As soon as the weather gets warm, the ice cream and ice cream novelty section will become one of the most popular sections of the store and you can always quench your thirst with Milo’s Tea, unsweet, sweetened with sugar or sweetened with artificial sweetener.
Childersburg Piggly Wiggly mnanager Sammy Kelley says the store prides itself on customer service, a clean store, good prices and friendly personnel.
They are open Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. until 9 p.m., and on Sunday, 7 a.m. until 9 p.m.
HUBBARD PHARMACY “The We Care Pharmacy” Inside Piggly Wiggly on Hwy. 280 in Sylacauga Hours: Monday-Friday 8 am - 6 pm Saturday 8 am - 12 noon
We accept Express Script All Other Insurance & Medicare Part B
(256) 245-7708 Come by and see Leigh Ann and Rachael today! 319112
8A — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 23, 2014
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013 Each year, Toyota Motor Sales recognizes its stellar dealerships with the prestigious President’s Award. It’s the highest honor a dealership can receive from Toyota, and is only awarded to those dealerships who have demonstrated a commitment to maintaining Toyota’s high standards for customer satisfaction. The President’s Award has been given to Toyota of Sylacauga each year since 2009.
Glynn Smith Toyota of Sylacauga
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www.GlynnSmithAutomotive.com
www.ToyotaofSylacauga.com
THE GLYNN SMITH GUARANTEE AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE
At Glynn Smith Toyota of Sylacauga, we have created something truly remarkable: a 100% enjoyable car-buying experience. Nobody wants to be"sold" a car. At our dealership, a knowledgeable, friendly staff is at your service to help YOU decide which car to buy. Forget hidden fees, pushy salesmen, and poor service! We are committed to getting you behind the wheel of the vehicle you want, without any stress.
NO PRESSURE
When you walk through the doors of a Glynn Smith dealership, you know you will be treated with the respect you deserve. You do not want to be pressured or hassled, and we understand that. If you have questions, we will find the honest answers. If you need help, we will assist you in the best way possible. And most of all, we make sure you are smiling the whole time. Getting behind the wheel of a new car is fun and exciting - why shouldn't shopping for one be too?
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
Your car-buying experience continues well after you have selected the vehicle that is right for you. With our top-of-the-line service department, friendly support team, and open communication, you can rest assured that you will be well taken care of, long into the life of your car. We don't just sell cars, we build relationships. That's the Glynn Smith Guarantee.
Get ready to smile!
Highway 280 Sylacauga
800-866-5251 326823