The Tractor Supply folks presently located on East Dixon Boulevard just closed on a new location on Earl Road across from the new Ingalls Supermarket. The Tractor Supply folks, limited in space and a landlord who allegedly refused to fix things-especially the parking lot-at their present location, purchased between six and seven acres from Mr. Willie Green near the 74 and Earl Road intersection. Sources say construction will begin later this month.
I just happened to go shopping at the Tractor Supply yesterday in search of one of those auto-darkening welding helmets. I found one exactly like I wanted and paid $129, tax and all, for the top of the line model. I had shopped Amazon, but have come to the conclusion that I wanted to hold in my hand and inspect what I was buying instead of just looking at a picture and trusting that I won’t have to send it back for some reason. Or need repair parts.
I noticed the parking lot condition as I drove into and out of that location and wondered why the property owner won’t fix the parking lot. I saw one spot, a pothole about 18 inches in diameter that had recently been repaired amongst all the rest of the poorly maintained parking lot and wondered to myself, “that pothole must have been two foot deep” to get repaired amongst all the other areas that were in terrible shape. No wonder Tractor Supply, is leaving, just like Big Lots and Sears.
I hear Tractor Supply will be expanding their inventory at the new location now that they will have extra room. Especially in the outside areas where there will be a Greenhouse and other fenced in products.
This new location is on part of the property Mr. Green had originally purchased to build a Sports Complex and a Motel. Until the City of Shelby refused to cooperate and did things that caused Mr. Green to have to file several lawsuits against them. Mr. Green still owns 10 or 11 acres of that original parcel that adjoins Hickory Creek on one side and Holly Oak Park and Shelby High School on the back side. Very strategically located property to say the least.
Perhaps Mr. Green will reconsider building a sports complex on the remainder of his property. Such a project is exactly what is needed in the City of Shelby to teach kids team sports and physical competition instead of shooting at each other on the city’s streets. All of which ground to a halt because Shelby City officials and white businessmen don’t want to compete with a black businessman. Which is clearly short-sighted and most probably illegal? I predict the City of Shelby will eventually rue the day when they decided to do illegal acts to protect their cronyism and corrupt practices.
