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Atmore Retail: No Word If Burke’s, Freds Will Re-open, But Walmart Will Open Soon
March 23, 2014
The face of retail — and a large part of the city’s sales tax base — is rapidly changing in Atmore, but their exact future remains to be seen.
Last Sunday morning, powerful straight-line winds flattened retailer Burke’s Outlet and heavily damaged a neighboring Fred’s store on the south side of town. Both stores remain closed, and their futures remain uncertain.
“We don’t know anything at this point as to whether or not we will be re-opening that store,” Bill Webster, a spokesman for Burkes Outlet said. “There are discussions now, but it’s too soon to know anything at this point.”
And the story was the same at the Fred’s corporate office this past week — no word yet on if the damaged store will re-open or or not.
Neither company would discuss if their re-opening decision would be impacted by the planned June opening of a Walmart on the north side of town. The 71,150 square foot store — small by Super Walmart standards — is currently under construction on North Main Street. It will be a full service Walmart, minus the tire and auto repair departments.
Pictured top: The under-construction Walmart on North Main Street in Atmore. Pictured below: The Burke’s Outlet in Atmore was flattened by powerful winds last Sunday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
20 Responses to “Atmore Retail: No Word If Burke’s, Freds Will Re-open, But Walmart Will Open Soon”
The new Walmart is providing jobs to a lot of local people. Better paying jobs than Freds or Burkes can afford to support. Those who are running their mouth about the “evil Walmart invasion” tend to forget that.
I think people are going to be surprised with walmart, in the same stores in other locations they only have one rack of clothes.
sure hope that Fred’s re opens. I live in Atmore and shop locally. When Wal mart gets here, I wll not have to leave the area for my check day.
Sure need Burkes and definitely Freds to open back up. I dont buy much from Walmart in Pensacola, but I drive to Atmore just to shop your stores. Freds is my favorite.
Why would they reopen. Wal mart kills all small buisness. Atmore is dead anyway. I never spend my hard earned money there. Gas alone is 20 cent less in brewton so worth my time to shop there or bay minette, no tears here when they shut the lights off in that town finally
I really hope they re open Freds and Burkes. I just cant get used to them not being there. Freds especially really throws me. Im so used to dashing up there jnstead of driving all the way to Pensacola if I need something. Walmart is great, but its so far north of town that I might just as well continue going to the super center in Pensacola.
If they rebuild Fred’s maybe it’ll be like the new store in Summerdale, that is the nicest one I’ve seen.
I love to shop Burke’s & Fred’s. I would hate for them not to reopen. It is so disappointing to think the corporate offices would hestitate in rebuilding. We need those stores.
Glad to hear this will be an all purpose Walmart. I had heard earlier that it would just be groceries. We already have grocery stores! Good news! Hope too that the other two stores will be able to reopen.
SHURE AM GLAD TO SEE WALMART COMING IN. I HOPE FREDS AND BURKS WILL RE-BUILD. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING MORE BUSINESS IN ATMORE, LIKE I USED TO DO WITH SWIFT LUMBER AND BONDURANTS. THANKS
I already drive to Bay Minette or Brewton to do my shopping at Wal-Mart. I’m sorry, but I cannot find the things I need at a dollar store.
Honestly I would rather see one of the Dollar Generals go instead of Fred’s, but it is what it is.
Why would these businesses WANT to reopen there? The political and economic climate there is not favorable to many businesses IMHO.
All this belly achin and complaining about Walmart. It doesn’t say anywhere in this article that you have to shop at Walmart. But you will be the first ones in the door when they open.
Oh please, reopen Fred’s! If not at that location, there are plenty of other empty buildings throughout Atmore. Fred’s is my FAVORITE store in Atmore and I already miss it!
i REALY HOPE BURKES AND FREDS REOPEN, I LIKE THERE PRICES AND THIER MERCHANDISE BETTER THAN THE ”NEW STORE”
Looks like the WM Giant stepped on Burke’s and Fred’s leaving them as a crushed footprint as with many other Mom & Pop businesses.
Who’s brilliant idea was it to block the tire and auto department from being included in the new Walmart? All of those awesome tire dealers and fast service oil change businesses in Atmore will be SAVED!
I hope the stores reopen…you can purchase items at both that you won´t find in Walmart…I think Atmore needs both the stores to reopen….
They HAVE to rebuild Burke’s! That’s were you go to get discount name brand clothes :/
Sad. One minute you have a job.The next you don’t.Did Sam Walmart decree this from the grave just so his family could make another billion.Just kidding…..a freak of nature and lives are changed and jobs are lost.I hate to read that these 2 stores may not reopen.