A commercial building which has stood vacant for several years is getting a new tenant in 2019, and more could be on the way.
Vineland and Hickory, a local company specializing in home decor, will occupy half of the old Big Lots building next to the Fairview Dairy Bar beginning sometime in the spring. The company, which opened in May of this year and is currently located at 513 Wicker St., repurposes old furniture, sells antiques, and offers services including home decor and interior design, co-owner Ivy Childers told the Rant.
“We looked at (the Big Lots building) back when we first wanted to open, but the owner at the time just wanted to sell it,” Childers explained.
The building has been empty since 2010 or 2011, when Big Lots vacated for a larger space in the old Walmart on South Horner Boulevard. Steve and Kathy Brewer, who also own the adjacent Dairy Bar and Flame Steakhouse restaurants, purchased the 16,000 square foot property in June. Construction to renovate the building for Vineland and Hickory’s purposes – as well as to parcel out three additional retail spaces between 1,500 and 3,000 square feet each – is expected to begin in early January.
For Childers, the move to a bigger location will also allow Vineland and Hickory to expand its offerings to include gift items, fabric, upholstery services, and more.
“Our business is going to be a little different than what it is right now,” she said.
Childers didn’t offer a concrete timeline for an opening given the unpredictable nature of construction, but said she hoped it would be by spring. In the meantime, visitors are encouraged to check them out at their current location.
For more information about Vineland and Hickory, visit their website, or check them out on Facebook or Instagram.