Hundreds of people stood in line Thursday morning anticipating the grand opening of Hinesville’s newest department store, Peebles.
After a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Tom Ratcliff, Liberty Chamber of Commerce Director Kenny Smiley and Store Manager Twila Clark, the doors were opened and a mad shopping rush got under way.
On hand was Pebbles’ district manager, Paul Williams, who said the construction of the store took a few months. To set up the interior, Williams and his crew worked for seven days putting the store together.
“This is typically the kind of town we come into,” Williams said. “We look for a middle-sized community that doesn’t have this type of store. You would have to drive to Savannah to buy the brands of merchandise we provide. By building a store here, we keep the money in the community. It’s good for the economy and we bring in jobs. And with gas prices as high as they are, I would want to shop as close to home as possible,” he said.
Clark was the assistant manager at the Jesup location. She said she was nervous just before the opening but was sure Hinesville residents would enjoy the store just as they do in Jesup.
“Everybody loves shopping at Peebles,” she said. “The quality of fashion merchandise that we provide at a great price is something they all love. We also have a lot of upcoming holiday sales that folks will love as well.”
For many of the first-time customers, this was a dream come true.
“I really like it and we needed this,” resident Velva Dobbs said. “We can spend and keep our money in Hinesville now and I will not need to drive all the way to Savannah.
“I think the clothing is comparable to the stores they have in Savannah,” Debra Johnson said. “If they continue to provide this quality then I will buy here. This is great.”
“I’m very pleased I was tired of having to drive to Savannah for clothing, Maggie Roberts said. “I was hoping it would be this type of store, not really expecting it, but hoping it would be and I’m so pleased that it is.”
After a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Tom Ratcliff, Liberty Chamber of Commerce Director Kenny Smiley and Store Manager Twila Clark, the doors were opened and a mad shopping rush got under way.
On hand was Pebbles’ district manager, Paul Williams, who said the construction of the store took a few months. To set up the interior, Williams and his crew worked for seven days putting the store together.
“This is typically the kind of town we come into,” Williams said. “We look for a middle-sized community that doesn’t have this type of store. You would have to drive to Savannah to buy the brands of merchandise we provide. By building a store here, we keep the money in the community. It’s good for the economy and we bring in jobs. And with gas prices as high as they are, I would want to shop as close to home as possible,” he said.
Clark was the assistant manager at the Jesup location. She said she was nervous just before the opening but was sure Hinesville residents would enjoy the store just as they do in Jesup.
“Everybody loves shopping at Peebles,” she said. “The quality of fashion merchandise that we provide at a great price is something they all love. We also have a lot of upcoming holiday sales that folks will love as well.”
For many of the first-time customers, this was a dream come true.
“I really like it and we needed this,” resident Velva Dobbs said. “We can spend and keep our money in Hinesville now and I will not need to drive all the way to Savannah.
“I think the clothing is comparable to the stores they have in Savannah,” Debra Johnson said. “If they continue to provide this quality then I will buy here. This is great.”
“I’m very pleased I was tired of having to drive to Savannah for clothing, Maggie Roberts said. “I was hoping it would be this type of store, not really expecting it, but hoping it would be and I’m so pleased that it is.”