Oak Ridge Today

Dick’s Sporting Goods now open in Oak Ridge

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Dick's Sporting Goods is now open at Main Street Oak Ridge, and the new store had a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, June 27, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Dick’s Sporting Goods is now open at Main Street Oak Ridge, and the new store had a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, June 27, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods is now open at Main Street Oak Ridge, and the new store had a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday. A grand opening featuring former University of Tennessee football player Derek Barnett is scheduled for this weekend.

The store, roughly in the area where Sears used to be between Walmart and the U.S. Post Office on South Tulane Avenue, is 35,000 square foot. It sells equipment for team sports, footwear, apparel, hunting and fishing gear, and bicycles and fitness equipment, said Brian Johnson, community marketing manager for Dick’s Sporting Goods.

The store offers top national brands and in-store services such as a glove steamer, a gate analysis for runners and walkers, an archery lane to test bows, and bow stringing, Johnson said.

There are about 62 employees, both full-time and part-time, Johnson said.

He said many Oak Ridge customers shopped at Dick’s Sporting Goods in West Knoxville.

“Now they’ve got it here,” Johnson said. “Oak Ridge is a thriving market. Oak Ridge is an outdoor community.” [Read more…]

rue21 now open in Oak Ridge

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The new rue21, a teen fashion retailer, opened at Main Street Oak Ridge on Thursday, June 15, 2017. (Photo by Parker Hardy)

The new rue21 store, a teen fashion retailer, opened at Main Street Oak Ridge on Thursday, June 15, 2017. (Photo by Parker Hardy)

 

The first new store is open at Main Street Oak Ridge.

rue21, a teen speciality apparel retailer, had its grand opening on Thursday. The grand opening of the store was scheduled to include free giveaways to the first 100 customers.

rue21 is near Belk at Main Street Oak Ridge. That’s the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

There are seven other new stores also expected to open soon. maurices has announced it will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its women’s clothing store at Main Street Oak Ridge on Friday, June 23. maurices is next to rue21. [Read more…]

Barnett, former Tennessee defensive end, to be at grand opening of Dick’s Sporting Goods

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The new Dick's Sporting Goods in Oak Ridge will have a three-day grand opening celebration with a variety of giveaways and special in-store appearances from June 30-July 2, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The new Dick’s Sporting Goods in Oak Ridge will have a three-day grand opening celebration with a variety of giveaways and special in-store appearances from June 30-July 2, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 10:15 a.m. June 14.

Derek Barnett, former defensive end for the University of Tennessee Volunteers, is scheduled to be part of the grand opening of the Dick’s Sporting Goods store in Oak Ridge.

Barnett was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL draft in April. He is scheduled to appear at the Dick’s Sporting Goods in Oak Ridge from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 1. Wristbands are required. They will be given on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the appearance.

“Customers are encouraged to arrive early as we do not know the exact number of wristbands that are given out,” the company said. “However, once a customer gets a wristband, they can leave the grand opening and return.”

The new Dick’s Sporting Goods store is at Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall, at 369 South Illinois Avenue. It’s next to the new T.J. Maxx and roughly in the area of the former Sears store at the mall, between Walmart and the post office on South Tulane Avenue. [Read more…]

rue21, teen fashion retailer, will open in Oak Ridge on June 15

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rue21 Inc., a leading teen specialty apparel retailer, will open its new store at Main Street Oak Ridge on June 15. The picture above was taken on Thursday, June 8, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

rue21 inc., a leading teen specialty apparel retailer, will open its new store at Main Street Oak Ridge on June 15. The storefront picture above was taken on Thursday, June 8, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:15 p.m. June 9.

rue21 inc., a leading teen specialty apparel retailer, will open its new store at Main Street Oak Ridge on June 15, the company said in a press release. The grand opening of the store will include free giveaways to the first 100 customers.

The new store will be around 6,500 square feet and employ about 10 associates, the press release said. It will include girls’ and guys’ fashion including rue+ plus sizes, as well as footwear, accessories, and décor, the release said.

“The retailer felt Oak Ridge has been in need of a destination for trendy, yet affordable fashion, and the location was a perfect fit for the brand,” the press release said. “By working directly with the market, rue21 can react instantly to produce new trends and must-have styles that don’t exist anywhere else, offering a broad assortment in apparel and accessories for girls and guys.”

The press release said rue21 believes in “changing things up while staying true to yourself, and is passionate about giving its customers a voice and the right to express themselves the way they want.” [Read more…]

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers could open in Oak Ridge early next year

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A Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers could open in Oak Ridge early next year at the intersection of South Illinois Avenue and South Tulane Avenue, the company said Thursday, May 25, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers could open in Oak Ridge early next year at the intersection of South Illinois Avenue and South Tulane Avenue, the company said Thursday, May 25, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers could open in Oak Ridge early next year, the company said Thursday.

“We are currently working on securing a space in a multi-tenant building on the northeast corner of Tulane and Illinois, in front of Wal-Mart,” said Bob Rasberry, area franchise owner. “We hope to open early next year.”

It would be part of Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The Freddy’s restaurant would be on a redeveloped parcel at the busy intersection of South Illinois Avenue and South Tulane Avenue, near Taco Bell, which is being rebuilt, and the Golden Oak restaurant.

It would be within walking distance of eight new stores expected to open soon at Main Street Oak Ridge: Dick’s Sporting Goods, Electronic Express, Maurice’s, PetSmart, Rack Room Shoes, Rue 21, T.J. Maxx, and Ulta. It would be down the street from another new restaurant on South Illinois Avenue, Panda Express. [Read more…]

Reminder: First-ever Nine Lakes Wine Festival is today

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Nine Lakes Wine Festival Logo

Reminder: The first-ever Nine Lakes Wine Festival is today (Saturday, May 20) at the Melton Lake Park peninsula in Oak Ridge.

The festival focuses on the wine trails of the eastern half of Tennessee and their award-winning wines, a press release said. It bears the name “Nine Lakes” from the nine lakes made by the Tennessee Valley Authority in the Knoxville area.

“The beauty of our waterfront Melton Lake Park is perfect for a wine festival,” said Marc DeRose, president of Explore Oak Ridge, the city’s convention and visitor’s bureau, which is one of the sponsoring partners for the event.

Nine Lakes Wine Festival is featuring 20 wineries that participate in five different wine trails. They will be grouped by trail, for a seamless tasting experience, the press release said.

“We are highlighting wine trails because they set quality and professional standards for their members,” explained James R. Riddle, president of the Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association, one of the sponsors of the festival. [Read more…]

RadioShack store in Oak Ridge closing

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The Radio Shack store in Oak Ridge has posted a sign that it is closing. This photo was taken on Saturday, May 13, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The RadioShack store in Oak Ridge has posted a sign that it is closing. This photo was taken on Saturday, May 13, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The RadioShack store in Oak Ridge is reported to be closing. There is a “Store Closing” sign posted at the front of the store, and many items have been on sale.

The most current information we have is that the store could close later this month, although we have not been able to confirm that. RadioShack has not returned requests for comment this week.

RadioShack, an electronics convenience store, announced March 8 that it had filed for bankruptcy. At that time, the company said it was closing about 200 stores and evaluating options on the other 1,300.

“The company and its advisors are currently exploring all available strategic alternatives to maximize value for creditors, including the possibility of keeping stores open on an ongoing basis,” a March press release said. [Read more…]

Photo: Cell phone tower work

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Work on a cell phone tower near Willow Brook Elementary School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

Work on a cell phone tower near Willow Brook Elementary School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

Eight new Main Street stores could be turned over to retailers by end of June

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TJ-Maxx-Dicks-Sporting-Goods-Main-Street-Oak-Ridge-3-May-2-2017-Web

Eight new stores at Main Street Oak Ridge could be turned over to retailers by the end of June, a city consultant said Tuesday, May 2, 2017. Under construction above are the new Dick’s Sporting Goods and T.J. Maxx stores. These are the entrances closest to South Illinois Avenue. The U.S. Post Office is to the left, and Walmart is to the right. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12 p.m.

Eight new stores at Main Street Oak Ridge could be turned over to retailers by the end of June, a city consultant said Tuesday, but the opening dates for the eight new stores haven’t been announced yet.

Ray Evans, retail consultant for the City of Oak Ridge, gave an update on the Main Street Oak Ridge project during a Tuesday morning Rise and Shine event sponsored by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce at Countryside Tire and Auto Service.

Two buildings with six retailers are scheduled to be delivered to retailers between mid-May and the end of May, Evans said. One building will include the new Dick’s Sporting Goods and T.J. Maxx stores, and another will include Maurice’s, Rack Room Shoes, Rue 21, and Ulta. Workers are preparing to pave the parking lot at Dick’s Sporting Goods and T.J. Maxx, Evans said. [Read more…]

Council to receive housing study from Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday

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The Oak Ridge City Council will receive a housing study from the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

The Council is scheduled to receive the study during a non-voting work session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, in the Central Services Complex Multipurpose Room. The Central Services Complex is on Woodbury Lane, off Wilberforce Avenue behind the Kmart shopping center.

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Housing Study will be presented by Melinda Hillman, chair of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Housing Study Committee. [Read more…]

Sears’ future won’t affect Sears Hometown Store in Oak Ridge

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Sears Hometown Store on Fairbanks Road in Oak Ridge had a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kay Brookshire)

Sears Hometown Store on Fairbanks Road in Oak Ridge had a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kay Brookshire)

 

With the recent news surrounding Sears Holdings Corporation, the Sears Hometown Store in Oak Ridge said Wednesday that it wants to assure local residents “they are going strong and will continue providing the community access to the brands they love and need.”

Sears Hometown locations operate under Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc., which separated from Sears Holdings Corporation in October 2012 and is a completely separate, publicly-traded company, a press release said.

“With this, news reports from Sears Holdings Corporation about its performance or store closings are in no way a reflection of the health of Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores or the Oak Ridge Sears Hometown Store,” the press release said. “Plus, unlike most retail concepts, Sears Hometown Stores combine the value, selection, and services associated with larger retail stores but are owned and operated by a member of the local community.”

The Oak Ridge store is locally owned and operated. [Read more…]

Some JCPenney stores closing, but not Oak Ridge

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The JCPenney in Oak Ridge is not among the 138 stores closing across the country, the company said Friday, March 17, 2017. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4:30 p.m.

The JCPenney in Oak Ridge is not among the 138 stores closing across the country, the company said.

Three Tennessee stores are closing. One is at Knoxville Center, another is at Greeneville Commons, and the third is at County Market Place in Union City.

JCPenney said the closures are “part of a continuing effort to advance sustainable growth and long-term profitability.”

Parker Hardy, president of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, said JCPenney is a “linchpin” store for the new Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

“JCPenney has been a very important part of our retail mix—particularly for apparel—ever since Mr. Penney participated in the original grand opening,” Hardy said Friday. “Penney always has been a draw for Oak Ridgers and for customers who live outside the city but inside our broader retail trade area…The fact that Penney is staying with Oak Ridge while closing stores in nearby cities says something strong about their confidence in Main Street, their confidence in our market, and their confidence in our business climate.” [Read more…]