We're fighting mad.......

Well, as most of you know, our Kroger's on S. Lowry is closing on May 19th. There are several of us so upset about this store that has been there for 18 yrs, that we have started a facebook group called keep Kroger's on Lowry open. We have well over 100 members so far and it seems to be growing daily. I have also joined up with Karen's Kustards and we are getting people to sign a petition when they come in for a bite to eat. April 17th from 1pm til 5pm we will be having a big petition drive at Karen's Kustards. There will be free ice cream cones for everyone that signs the petition plus we will be having a few things in the field beside her business. Someone has donated a few inflatables so the kiddies can bounce around and have fun while the adults talk about Kroger's.

I have been told by several business people at the strip mall there that Sears did look into the few parcels that where on the left side of Kroger's to put in an outdoor living center. When Sears found out Kroger's was leaving they decided not to come to town. This would have been jobs created plus tax revenue for the city. This is something the city needed but Kroger's says it's loosing to much money. Why not do a small remodel and put in gas pumps as well to build that side of town up? You have to spend a little money to make money. Please try to come by on April 17th to sign our petition or at least stop by soon to show your support.

"Raise the Roof"

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After 8 months of hard work following the roof collaspe at the Smyrna Bowling Center we are about ready to re-open "This End". The center has been open all this time while we have been working hard to get things back to normal. We have brand new 40 inch flat screen monitors now, new carpet being installed, and a much larger meeting room. October 30th is when we plan to have our grand re-opening of "This End". The event will be a huge event with many vendors outside in the parking lot, while those that come inside will get "One free game and shoes"! I am currently looking for a few more vendors that have something for the young people to do. We are asking that the children come in costume so they can trick or treat outside with our vendors. This is going to be as family event for all!!

Vendors that are attending:

Smyrna Fire Dept.

D.A.R.E

National Guard (rock wall)

P.A.L.

Pony rides

inflatable

Divilla's chocalote

Ron Knight Art

Chris' Gifts

and

much much more

Make plans now to attend this event starting at 11am and running until 6pm on Oct. 30th

The Market in the news.

The Market is a well established business idea in town where you rent space to sell items. A great idea to utilize space and give a place for people to sell. The DNJ did a nice write up on the business and it came out looking good.

"We're both Smyrna natives, and we knew that whatever we were going to do with the building, we wanted it to be a positive effect on Smyrna," Rhonda Allen said.

She added that craft fairs and flea markets had always appealed to her, and Smyrna lacked both.

"The Market was really born out of necessity," she began.

I personally do not like flea market as they simply are too big and are often a hint overwhelming. This is a perfect size for Smyrna and has really gained a foothold.

Interesting to say the least

The non-broadcast meeting that our town had on the new proposed ordinances on liquor sales have been reported by the Tennessean and it raised several questions.

"People are going to line up just like they would for (tickets to a big) concert," she said.

Portions of the ordinance that garnered heavy discussion included how to issue certificates of compliance, which allow applicants to obtain a liquor license from the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Most council members expressed their preference as being dated and stamped upon submission to the town clerk's office — complete with a $750 application fee to cover zoning and background checks — rather than a lottery.

At least they are honest on the fact that their is a demand from business people to start these businesses. How they will pick the three that will be privileged to start a business might be a lottery.

Councilman H.G. Cole said the lottery system appealed more to him than applicants coming before the council, recalling a time when the council served as the town's beer board.

"I didn't like it. I felt uncomfortable. If they meet the regulations, they have an opportunity to apply," he said.

The article is short of the juicy details that people like me desire, but they did bring up a new requirement that amused me to no end.

A net worth of $100,000 was also put in place to ensure the business owners would have the ability to keep up the store's appearance.

"Liquor is a cash business. Do you want a store that only sells Mad Dog 20/20, Thunderbird and Boone's Farm or a nice, upscale store," Councilman Tim Morrell asked.

Sorry Tim, but I want a store that sells what the people want. So the answer from me to your question is "yes". I do want the people to be able to buy what they desire. By putting an income limit on the store you might be limiting people who have a good business plan, but are just short of the amount the town desires. Sadly they did not broadcast why this 'add-on' was added or the reasoning behind it.

Helping others.

Well the season is about caring and a local company has an offer that I'll let them telll you about.

My husband John and I own Lotus Blossom Photography, an on-location photography company based here in Smyrna and we have joined the cause Giving is Awesome . Through this cause we are giving away a portrait session to one needy family in the middle Tennessee area to include all edited digital negatives. We would love to be able to provide this gift to a Smyrna family and we were hoping you would consider posting about it on the Smyrna blog. Thank you in advance for your help!! Here are the details which are also listed on our blog:

You know someone. You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. We guarantee it.

We want to know who they are, and we want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography – $300 worth, to be exact. That covers a complete portrait session with Lotus Blossom Photography to include the digital images of all edited photos, it's in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $150 gift certificate to apply towards their own photography session - that's a full 50% towards a portrait session of their own. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:
* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)
* The nominee must reside in the Middle Tennessee Area. Tell us who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve our artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.
* You must e-mail me the full story : amber@lotusblossomphotography.com.
The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve — get nominating! We can't wait to read all of your entries!
Open your heart to someone this holiday season — and thanks for giving us the opportunity to open ours.
With love,
Amber and John
Owners, Lotus Blossom Photography

Help someone out this holiday.

Another small business gone

While Smyrna is about to lose another business, I'm happy to say that they are not going out of business, just moving.

One of Smyrna's popular dining destinations is closing its doors.

The Chicken Shack at 37 S. Lowry St. will remain open until April 26 before heading to Murfreesboro. It first opened in May 2006

I hope they have luck in M'boro.

Target is hiring

The town Centre is in the middle of a hiring storm as the new SuperTarget needs to hire 300. Today, Friday and Saturday they will be interviewing and hiring people on the spot.

Representatives from SuperTarget will be interviewing and testing applicants from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday at Smyrna Town Centre, 100 Sam Ridley Pkwy. Store team leader Phillip Niedergeses said he expects to hire about 300 people and he needs them to start quickly to prepare the store for its grand opening on March 9.

“When they get to (the Town Centre), they can leave with a job,” he said.

Good luck people.

New stores coming soon

A new cell phone company and a pet store is coming soon

[Verison] [t]he nation's largest wireless service provider opens its new store on Sam Ridley Parkway West Wednesday.

Located at 480 Sam Ridley Parkway W. (near the Wolverine Trail intersection), the Verizon Wireless store replaces the one in the Hickory Hollow area of Davidson County.

An official ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand-opening celebration is tentatively scheduled for January.

and

Animal lovers will be happy to know PetSmart opens its doors in the Colonial TownPark shopping center Feb. 18. The 20,000 square-foot store will have a grand opening five days later, said company spokesman Jennifer Ericsson.

The Smyrna store will have, as do all stores, pet grooming, pet training classes and adoptions. Banfield Pet Hospitals will also operate within the store.

Sadly still no bookstore...kind of

On Lowry street in the Historical Downtown district is a store that advertises books for sale on its sign, and "other stuff". I have not been by while it has been open, and it looks like a second hand thrift shop, but there is hope for some used books of some sort. Anyone been by it?

Here one day, gone the next.

I have no real issues with the growth of Smyrna outside of one. There seems to be no real plans to assist a bookstore to move here. a store that I feel is vital to a community.

My sister picked me up a local phone book called "Your Local Directory". It looks like it is put out by comcast of all things. I automatically looked inside for bookstores, and to my shock one was listed. Here in Smyrna bookstore exists, and I did not know about it.

"Carmen Lily's Books and Stuff" is located at 179 N. Lowry St.. Or I should say 'WAS' located there. You might know of the location for the older residents of Smyrna. The building that looks like an old motel converted to stores, that used to have an older firetruck parked in it near the road. I drove there Sunday and cruised slowly looking into each window and reading the store signs. No bookstore. I tried to call the number listed in the phone book, and it has been disconnected.

Dangit all. One was here and I did not even see it.

I'll drive by again today to see if I might have missed it, but I'm not holding out hope. The sad thing is that I could have been their best customer.

Does anyone know who Carmen Lily is? I've done a whitepages.com search for the last name, but no residents in Smyrna have that last name according to them.

Depot Day in the DNJ

DNJ(Daily News Journal) has a nice article on Saturday's Depot Day.

Saturday's inaugural Depot Days festival to celebrate the revitalized historic area on Front Street brought back pleasant memories for Mary Lou Thomas.

"It's like what Smyrna used to be like years ago," Thomas said while working at a booth for her congregation, Trinity Christian Church. "You see families walking up with babies in the strollers. It's just got that hometown feeling. It's great."
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He estimated from 1,000 to 2,000 people attended Saturday's event.

This and more at the DNJ.

What they will not bring to Smyrna

News of an IHOP coming to town made a lot of people happy, and news of what they will not bring to town will make more happy. Trans-fats.

IHOP today announced that it will eliminate the use of frying oil with trans fats in all of its restaurants by December 31, 2007. IHOP, one of America's favorite restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner, has worked closely with its suppliers since 2006 to test fryer oil that is free of artificial trans fat, and to ensure that changes will not affect the taste or quality of its menu items.
...........
IHOP is continuing work with its suppliers to eliminate artificial trans fats from the balance of its menu.

With people going out of their way to eat better, the choises for eating a low trans-fat diet increases daily due to market demands.

Growing bigger everyday II

While the new Kohl's is going to be a new style layout, there are a whole slew of stores coming to the new Colonial Town Park Project.

Rue 21
Sally Beauty Supply
Dress Barn
Shoe Department
Maurice's
Bath and Body Works
Lane Bryant
New York and Company
Kay Jewelers
Claire's Boutique
Justice
Christopher and Banks
CJ Banks
Dollar Tree

Lane Bryant! My wife could live there. Poor house here I come.

In just a few weeks Kohl's will be the first to open for business. Other stores in Colonial Town Park will open their doors early next year.

Smyrna Mayor Bobby Spivey said the shopping center is part of 1 million square feet of retail space slated to open over the next eight months.

The town also approved another shopping center, a 14-screen theater and several restaurants along Sam Ridley Parkway.

Again I have to note the total lack of a bookstore on this list.

Growing bigger everyday

Turns out the Kohl's that is coming to town is of a new layout that they have found works well.

The new store is one of nearly 200 nationwide featuring Kohl’s newly enhanced look.

An inviting exterior welcomes customers with outdoor seating and music. Glass storefront entrances with showcase windows display the latest Kohl’s fashions and automatic doors allow for hands-free entry into each store.

Interior amenities include an expanded juniors’ department, spacious fitting rooms with lounge areas, updated restrooms and redesigned customer service and checkout stations.

Kohl’s began introducing new store designs with fall 2006 grand openings — the transformations were made to integrate increased comfort and convenience for today’s shopper

Also the news of two new establishments coming to town has hit the gossip mill.

At least two more dining options will be available by year's end as the Smyrna Planning Commission approved plans for Applebee's and IHOP restaurants at last week's meeting.

Applebee's will be located on 1.25 acres at the corner of Team and Industrial boulevards, near the Colonial Town Park development that will house SuperTarget and Kohl's. A company spokesman attending the meeting said the casual dining restaurant and bar is expected to open by the end of the year.

Known for its breakfast fare, IHOP will be located just down the road on a 1.3-acre parcel at the corner of Grammer Drive and Team Boulevard.

Bigger and bigger Smyrna grows.

Sullivan's Sports Bar

The UT game was only available on pay-per-view this weekend and while I love the Vols, the thought of paying for the cable box plus an additional thirty plus bucks to watch the game at home, alone didn't sound that exciting to me. (Though I'm sure had I purchased the game, I'd have become immediately very popular among my UT friends). And even though I had several opportunities to purchase tickets at a good price to go, I wasn't able to go due to other commitments this weekend and not wanting to call my best friend the day of the game and impose upon he and his family's hospitality.

So, instead of purchase the game at home or going to God's House (Neyland Stadium), I decided to catch the game at a sports bar.

And wouldn't you know it? One has just opened up in Smyrna!

The new sports bar is called Sullivan's and it's off Sam Ridley. I don't know the exact road name, but it's the same shopping center as the new steak-house and the Sir Pizza. (It's right behind the Bob Parks building on Sam Ridley).

I stopped in Saturday afternoon and was informed yes, the game would be on. When I first walked in, I was impressed by Sullivan's. They have a good number of HD flat-panel TVs evenly distributed throught the bar. From where I sat Saturday evening, I could have at least two in my line of sight at all times, which in a sports-bar is a good thing. They also had a couple of pool tables and some dart boards. But I wasn't there to play games, I was there to watch the UT game.

Now, when I arrived, the game was supposed to start in about two minutes, but there were some issues with the feed. At one point, the manager told me that the game wouldn't be seen due to a paperwork snaffu on DirectTV's part and gave us the opportunity to go elsewhere. At this point, a few of the UT fans left, though I stayed. Why you ask? Well, I'd already ordered by burger and had a frosty adult beverage. I stayed, figuring I'd eat my food, watch the other games and then either go home and listen to the game on the radio or find somewhere else to hang out after half-time.

But I will give the management credit--they didn't let stop them. They were able to get the game about the start of the second quarter--or as I call it, when UT stopped playing around and got serious about playing some football. As a UT fan, I appreciate the extra mile the staff and management went to to get the game as promised. Definite points in the favor of Sullivans.

That said, getting my food took forever. Which at the time it seemed like a bad thing, but in the end was good. It kept me there long enough so that I could see the game. So, a negative turned into a positive.

The bar got progressively more crowded as the night went along. It's 21 and up only, so smoking is permited. My food was good, the service was nice and the prices were very reasonable. I noticed they have a ladies' night on Tuesday, karoke at various times during the week and the NFL Sunday Ticket package on Sundays.

So, if you're looking for a place to hang out and see your favorite team out of market, this might be somewhere to consider. I know if I don't get tickets to the game in two weeks, I'll be there again to watch the Vols.

In the end we only get one

I was really excited with the idea of two movie theatres in Smyrna. The competition between them and the chance for a wide varieties of movies had me waiting with a certain level of excitement.

I wondered why neither seemed to have started construction. Now we know.

The two companies planning to open 14-screen movie theaters about a mile away from each other have decided to partner on one theater.

Eric Thornton, co-owner of the Roxy Theater in Dickson, said his company and Memphis-based Malco Theater will build on the 16 acres Roxy purchased behind the Starbucks on Industrial Boulevard off of Sam Ridley Boulevard.

"We decided it was in the city's best interest and our best interest if we were able to make that a destination area for families. We're able to put in several nice restaurants and have them close to the SuperTarget and all that that's going in over there," Thornton said, adding the structure's frame should be visible in 30 to 60 days.

While it probably is in their best interest, I really don't feel this is in the best interest of the city. With two competing against each other, they would have to go beyond the regular array of movies and garner our attention with movies normally played at the Belcourt theatre.

At least we will have one. Maybe enough requests for a wider selection, or maybe an independent film night would get some "fringe" movies in. Here is a fine example of what a theatre could do to draw in viewers.

I can at least hope. Anybody want to write a few letters with me to the Malco company requesting special film nights?

Smyrna goes green

With the assistance of a state grant, Smyrna is getting help in establishing an alternate fuel site.

Gov. Phil Bredesen announced today that the state will provide a Green Island Corridor Grant of $35,200 to Daily’s fuel station on Tridon Drive at Almaville Road in Smyrna in Rutherford County. The funds will be used to install new underground storage tanks and dispensers for both biodiesel (B20) and ethanol (E85) fuel. This grant is one of 10 awarded to retail fuel stations across the state totaling more than $130,000.

“Awarding these grants today places us one step closer to making biofuels more commercially available to all Tennesseans,” said Bredesen. “By establishing this network of retail biofuel stations along our interstates and major highways, we are giving Tennesseans more choices at the pump. By increasing the availability of biofuels, we’re also able to reduce vehicle emissions, help protect public health and reduce our dependence on petroleum.”

I'm not sure is this is the first site in Smyrna to sell "green" fuel, but the demands from the marketplace demand a supply be established.

Ahaaaa!

I do believe I have found out what that building will be used for. In the last few months several people have asked me about the large building/warehouse being constructed on Sam Ridley blvd near the airport.

It looks like this company may be the one that will move there.

Wearwell, also known as the Tennessee Mat Company, is relocating its manufacturing operations from Nashville to Smyrna.

The manufacturer of anti-fatigue mats for a variety of industrial and commercial uses is bringing 110 jobs with it in the move that will take place over the next several months, said Lisa O’Dell, vice president of marketing for the company, which prefers to go by the name Wearwell for it connotations to quality and durability. The company’s legal name is Tennessee Mat Company.

“We have been in Nashville for 57 years, but what we have found is that we need a larger facility and we need to consolidate our facilities,” she said. The company was operating out of three buildings in Nashville and needed to relocate to allow for future growth and better efficiency.

The Wearwell facility will be located at 199 Threet Industrial Road off Sam Ridley Parkway near the Smyrna Airport.

Welcome to Smyrna.

update.
Talked to the town attorney at the last recodification meeting and she said that the new building visible from Sam Ridley is part of a another company that is expanding. The Wearwell facility is near it, but not that one.

What does Smyrna need?

People are happy with all of the new restaurants, and retail stores that are coming to town. These will compete with the ones already here, and hopefully to our advantage.

What do you think Smyrna needs? What business do you think the chamber of commerce, or city government, should approach, or entice, to come to Smyrna?

My list is short and simple.

We need a bookstore. It doesn't matter if it is a new, or used bookstore. Smyrna needs more then the limited selection at WalMart and the grocery stores in town.

What do you feel Smyrna needs?

A "questionable" business in Smyrna.

Google news updates brought to my attention that a business based in Smyrna, may be involved in questionable activities.

Dawn Domain signed up as a member of MedLife Plus to receive its card that promised discounts on medical services of up to 80 percent from local providers in Burlington.

But all of the doctors MedLife said would take the card rejected it.

She said she eventually found a dentist who stated he would accept it, but the fee he would charge for taking the discount card would actually be higher than what he normally charges.

Domain and two other Wisconsin residents with similar stories are named in a lawsuit filed Thursday by the state attorney general's office alleging that MedLife Plus and Full Access Medical, both based in Tennessee, violated state consumer laws.
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The companies' Web sites list offices in Atlanta and Marietta, Ga., but both are registered in Smyrna, Tenn.

I've seen late night commercials detailing wonderful discount cards. They always seemed be "to good to be true", and they may have been.