Calling it a “very solemn day,” Sparks - pastor at Flat Rock Pentecostal Holiness Church - said thousands upon thousands of people were gathering publicly across America for the Day of Prayer. David Sparks told those who were gathered on the lawn of the city municipal building in Mount Airy. “A sweeter day in the whole year cannot be found,” Dr. This year, the organization was able to once again hold public gatherings, with more than 40 people on hand for the noontime observance in Mount Airy, and more than 60 turning out in Dobson for the prayer service. The annual observance, held the first Thursday in May across the nation, was cancelled locally in both 20 because of the coronavirus pandemic, leaving the Mount Airy Ministerial Association to commemorate the day with local radio broadcasts. Instead, plans were revealed for the development and leasing of a corporate office facility on the Rockford Street property for a carport company, to also house sales and marketing functions.Īs for Harbor Freight Tools, city Planning Director Andy Goodall has said that given the strong interest the company demonstrated in becoming part of the local business community, there was a chance it would wind up here under a different scenario.įor the first time in three years, area residents were able to gather publicly to mark the National Day of Prayer in both Mount Airy and Dobson. “There were some things that couldn’t be worked out,” Willard disclosed. However, negotiations broke down in subsequent months, with Bray Properties spokesman Neal Willard saying in February that attempts to reach a final agreement had failed. This was accompanied by the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners voting in July of that year to rezone that site from M-1 (Industrial), which doesn’t permit retail uses, to the B-2 (General Business) classification to accommodate Harbor Freight Tools. The company’s interest in locating in Mount Airy dates to June 2018, surrounding the former Prime Sirloin and also Creek Bottom Brewing Company location on Rockford Street owned by Bray Properties. Harbor Freight Tools opened its 1,000th store in Louisville, Kentucky, last August. The company employs more 20,000 people in the U.S. Harbor Freight Tools operates a chain of retail stores, as well as a mail-order and e-commerce business. No timetable was suggested on when negotiations might be completed or an official announcement made if these prove successful. But Harbor Freight is interested only in the old grocery store portion, Nalley said. There is other empty space in the shopping center adjoining that vacated by Sav-A-Lot which also is available for lease - including the former location of a tobacco shop. There was no such activity at that site on Wednesday, when a for-lease sign was still posted at the front of the building. In the meantime, reports have circulated in the community that Harbor Freight Tools had bought, rather than leased, the former Sav-A-Lot location and begun renovations there. “However, they have not applied for a zoning permit yet.” “I have spoken with Harbor Freight and their sign company,” Ben Barcroft, a city planner, advised on Tuesday. The Mount Airy Planning Department also has been in touch with the retail chain about its anticipated location here.
Nalley attributed that to the nationwide disruption in business operations caused by the coronavirus outbreak. He explained that it had been about 30 days since his last contact with any representatives of Harbor Freight Tools, a privately held discount tool and equipment retailer headquartered in Calabasas, California. “As a matter of fact, I was sitting here going through some emails trying to get in touch with them,” Nalley added while indicating no final decision had been reached. “We are negotiating with them,” Wes Nalley of Nalley Commercial Properties said Wednesday. It has sat empty since the store closed last September, but could become home to Harbor Freight Tools, according to an official of an Easley, South Carolina, firm which has been trying to lease the property. in the Big Lots shopping center adjacent to U.S. This involves the building once housing a Sav-A-Lot grocery store at 1328 Carter St. After an unsuccessful attempt to launch a Harbor Freight Tools store just below the hospital on Rockford Street, the major retailer is now eyeballing another location a little farther down the road.