Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Dollar General plans opening

Dollar General of Gurdon, which was closed due to fire several months ago, is almost reconstructed and should be open for business again before the end of summer.

The Gurdon business, located on Main Street/Highway 53, will have a second grand opening, according to Dollar General Media Relations Manager Emily Snyder.

Snyder, from the Dollar Generals corporate offices in Goodlettsville, Tenn., said Thursday, June 8, "I cannot confirm an exact date for the reopening at this time, but I can say it should be open this summer. I can also say we are excited about the reopening."

Snyder said a grand opening date and press release will be released as soon as the date is selected.

Randy Frank, of Franks Construction, Texarkana, said June 8 that he has been working to rebuild the store with a crew of nine men since the last week of May. He expressed high hopes of making a June 12 deadline.

"We got to a point yesterday where we really needed the air conditioning on to finish the ceiling. They got that on at 10 a.m. today so now we can get back on schedule.

"If everything goes as planned, we will still make our June 12 deadline and be ready to turn the building over to Dollar General on time."

Frank and his crew have been working through the general contractor, Tom Baker of All Clean Inc., in Hot Springs.

Baker said, "Once we turn the project over to Dollar General, they will put in shelving and get the store ready for the public. They say they can do all of their part in nine days and open.

"I am guessing the place will open for business sometime around the end of June."

Baker said All Clean is based in Jonesboro and works statewide.

Frank said he did the overseeing for the entire job of giving Gurdon a new store.

"My crew and I did the sheet rock, hung up the metal walls, and we are doing the painting. We will paint the new lines on the parking lot as one of our final steps."

Frank said most of the wiring is done. He will stain the doors and put the flooring down.

"Our part is nearly completed and all has gone pretty well. When Dollar General takes over, the rest of the work will be done on their time schedule," Frank said.

Mayor Clayton Franklin said on June 8, "I have missed the store. Everybody I have talked to has missed our Dollar General and its bargains.

"We also miss the tax revenue. I believe the people of Gurdon will be glad when they are back."