Weeks Plant Purchased; County Reveals 7 Potential Library Sites; Isner Wins Winston-Salem Open

Merinos Home Furnishings Warehouse purchased Hanesbrands' Weeks textile plant in northwest Winston-Salem off Highway 52 near SciWorks with plans to turn it into a giant (850,000 sq.ft.) furniture showroom. The company operates three other showrooms in converted warehouse spaces in Mooresville, N.C., Fort Lawn, S.C., and Jefferson, Ga. 

In other news, John Isner won the Winston-Salem Open (it is so cool to see Winston-Salem on major news and media outlets - I got to go the final!) and list of potential sites for a new or renovated downtown library were submitted to Forsyth County. Click here to see the Winston-Salem Journal article.

Gander Mountain to Open Winston-Salem Store

Gander Mountain will be opening a store in Winston-Salem at 910 Hanes Mall Blvd, near the intersection of Stratford Road and I-40. Construction has already begun and is expected be complete by the end of 2012.

Mid-Sized Company, Murray Supply Co., Moves Headquarters Downtown

 

Murray Supply Company, a wholesale distributor of residential and commercial plumbing products, industrial and commercial piping products, HVAC and multi-family housing maintenance supplies, has moved its headquarters into the Liberty Plaza Building at 102 West Third Street. The company has warehouses, in addition to Winston, in Charlotte, Raleigh, Hickory, and Apex and employs approximately 100 people, 14 of whom will be in their new downtown headquarters. They are also currently hiring.

Inmar Moving Downtown!

 

Since Inmar announced in April that it would stay in Winston-Salem, there has been speculation:  would they renovate and add on to their existing headquarters or would they move downtown to the Piedmont Triad Research Park or the GMAC building? On July 31st, the company announced that their new corporate headquarters would be in two former Reynolds buildings, 90-3 and 90-1A, in the North District of the PTRP. The buildings, located at the southeastern corner of Seventh and Vine Streets are owned and will be renovated by Wexford Science and Technology LLC, the company which did that did such a fabulous job on Wake Forest Biotech Place. According to the press release, the buildings are 51 years old and contain 240,000 sq.ft.  The project will be LEED certified and will preserve the historic character of the buildings; it is scheduled to be completed in 17 months - December 2013. Click here for a Google Maps Street view perspective of the buildings as they currently stand. 

Pepsi Bottling Ventures Expanding in Winston!

 

Pepsi Bottling Ventures announced today that it would expand its operations in Winston-Salem rather than a different Triad location. Pursuant to $1.7 million dollars in city and county incentives, the company will invest $82 million in a new plant at 390 Business Park Drive.  500 total employees will work there with 200 new jobs created after it moves 300 employees from its current location on Myer Lee Drive. Read the official press release here.  

Winston-Salem Open Update

The Winston-Salem Open which will be held August 18-25, released their player field yesterday.  Twenty-two of the thirty-nine players confirmed so far (there will be a total of 48) are ranked in the top fifty in the world; last year only eleven players were ranked in the top fifty.   

2 New Stores on Fourth Street, Brushy Fork Greenway Opens

Unique Home Expressions, a gift shop for home and garden accessories, will be opening in Suite 101A at 500 W. Fourth Street next to the Eyecarecenter in the space previously occupied by Nu Shoes.  Downtown Brody's Bar opened last week near King's Crab Shack and Oyster Bar at 249 W. Fourth Street and was described by its owner as having a "Cheers" feel.

In other news, Mayor Allen Joines cut the ribbon officially opening the Brushy Fork Greenway today, July 10th.  Although only .4 miles in length, the trail connects with the 1.2 mile Newell-Massey Greenway and per Forsyth County's recently updated Greenway Plan, will eventually be connected to the much longer Salem Lake Trail and Salem Creek Greenway.  Click here for a brochure of existing greenway trails in Winston-Salem.