BUSINESS PULSE: Despite requests, I won’t sing with Adkins
Before I get started with this week’s column, I want to dispel rumors that I will be appearing on stage this Monday night with Trace Adkins. Simply put, this is not true.
Now I realize this is a musical combination many people are anxious to see, and I wouldn’t rule it out of the question at some point in the future if Trace were to ask me to perform with him, but it’s not going to happen this Monday night.
I only hope that by dropping this bombshell just one day before Trace is scheduled to perform that it doesn’t kill attendance numbers at the show. But since I’m always stressing that honesty is the best policy, it’s something I had to do. I didn’t want people to go to the concert thinking they would see me sing only to be disappointed.
As for other amusing stories, how about the DUI charges that were leveled against Orlando, Fla., woman Robin Wilkinson in August. For those who don’t know Robin (and I wouldn’t think many people in Tennessee would), she’s been a prosecutor with the district attorney’s office for almost 20 years.
Since Robin was arrested she has quit her job with the DA’s office – although she is fighting the charges. She claims at the time of her traffic stop, police did not properly inform her she had the right to an attorney.
And this one has to take the cake for being the most ridiculous decision ever handed down by a judge. Based on a recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Lawrence Kahn, a New York prison inmate will be able to have a sex change – and the state will be sent the half million dollar bill for it.
In giving his ruling, Kahn cites the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. Kahn says that prison inmate Mark Brooks, 34, is completely miserable as a man and needs to have a sex change to become a woman. Brooks also wants to be transferred to a woman’s prison to serve the remainder of his 50-year term for murder.
The state attorney general’s office says it plans an appeal. Attorneys with that office say the worst part of the whole thing is the victim’s mother, a New York taxpayer, would be paying for the sex change of her son’s killer.
Now repeat after me: “We have the best justice system in the world. We have the best justice system in the world.” Keep saying that until you believe it.
The rumors have been flying
Talk about your rumors. I think I’ve heard just about all of them this week. Walgreen’s is coming. O’Charley’s is coming. Ruby Tuesdays is coming. Wow, things really are looking up in McMinnville.
There is however this little problem. Don’t count on all those rumors being true.
Here’s what we know for sure. Jewell Hale recently had the building next to Favorite Market leveled. Formerly that building had been Dairy Queen and most recently it was Dark Hollow Nursery.
Well now that eyesore of a building is gone and Jewell says there has been considerable interest in what is now a vacant lot. That land is drawing so much interest because: 1) it’s on the busiest corner in McMinnville, and 2) it’s located across the street from where Lowe’s will soon be.
We also know for sure that representatives from Walgreen’s have been in town. They have been to that site and taken pictures. The manager over at Favorite Market also tells me the Walgreen’s folks have made several pictures of Favorite Market and inquired about that prime-time property.
But, as expected, the local manager doesn’t know anything about a deal. She says that’s handled through the company’s home office in Georgia and she indicated home office officials are being extremely guarded about releasing any information. That said, I didn’t even try to track down the right corporate person to talk to because I just didn’t feel like getting the run-around last week.
So we know Walgreen’s has an interest in that spot and the Chamber of Commerce tells me Ruby Tuesdays and O’Charley’s have also expressed an initial interest in McMinnville. As to whether they are looking at that property in the Favorite Market area is anybody’s guess.
I’ve heard that Ruby Tuesday representatives have been in town checking out a few locations and Don Rigsby, the county’s director of economic development, tells me that’s true.
“I think they’ve been around, but they’ve been kind of low key,” said Rigsby when asked about Ruby Tuesdays. “It’s nothing official yet. They haven’t stopped by the Chamber. I think they’re just slipping around and getting a look at the area.”
Rigsby said several folks have asked about O’Charley’s so Chamber president Lea Chrisawn sent an e-mail to the company asking about the possibility. In the e-mail reply, Rigsby said O’Charley’s indicated it would be conducting a survey in the fall to gauge local interest in an O’Charley’s here.
What exactly that means I have no idea. I don’t know if a survey will come in the mail, if they’ll call folks on the phone, or if they’ll approach people at the mall. Who knows.
What we do know is there appears to be some interest in McMinnville – at least as far as big, chain restaurants and stores are concerned. (The pro-liquor group will say it’s because of the booze).
Pet Shop does well one door down
It’s been about two months since The Pet Shop made its big move at Plaza Shopping Center. For those who don’t know, the store moved one door down and now has an even bigger, better shop full of all types of critters.
“People come in and they say a pet shop like this belongs in Murfreesboro or Nashville,” said manager Gayle Cook. “Everyone seems to like the new place. I’ve been at Wal-Mart and people have come up to me and said, ‘I love the new shop.'”
I must admit, the new shop is impressive and that’s coming from a guy who is not easily impressed. They have added about 25 new fish tanks and there’s a little more of about everything else too.
“We’re still working to get a few more of the little things done,” said Gayle. “We’re still working on our live plant tank, the reptile room, and adding more salt-water fish.”
The Pet Shop is holding an official grand opening Saturday, Sept. 20 and it sounds like there will be some serious fun at this celebration. In addition to the usual grand opening fare such as hot dogs and drinks, there will be hamster races for the kids and one of those duck ponds where the ducks have numbers on the bottom and you win a prize.
And speaking of prizes, if you stop by The Pet Shop before the grand opening, you can register for a free 55-gallon tank to be given away that day. There will also be a variety of other free stuff given away.
In addition to Gayle, other employees are Pam Lawson, Ashley Vance, and Aimee Hillis, who will be participating in this week’s Fairest of the Fair. If Aimee wins the pageant Thursday night, all merchandise at The Pet Shop will be 75 percent off on Friday. Just kidding.
Trace Adkins will autograph books
As most of us know by now, Trace Adkins will be arriving in McMinnville Monday afternoon. What a number of us probably don’t know is that shortly after his arrival, Bookland manager Yalta Cantrell will rush 250 copies of Trace’s new book over to the fairground for him to autograph.
“I was worried I wouldn’t be able to pull this off,” said Yalta. “I called just about everybody in Nashville to see who I needed to talk with to get this done.”
Trace’s book is titled “And Then They Do” and it’s just been recently released. The book sells for $14.99 and a CD single of the title song comes with it.
Yalta said if you can’t make it to Bookland during fair week, she will have the books for sale at the fair. They will be available at the Glory Bound Clown booth located under the grandstand.
“The book has just come out and books about country music stars usually sell real well,” said Yalta.
I bet this book will sell extremely well. I wonder if all 250 copies will be sold after the concert Monday night.
That’s all folks
The rumors have been flying and who knows when they will stop. If you’ve got business news to report, give me a call at 473-2191. I’ll try to track down home office representatives from Walgreen’s, O’Charley’s and Ruby Tuesdays in the coming weeks and see if they will tell me anything.
Of course it is fair week so who knows how much I’ll actually accomplish. Until we meet again, may all your cotton candy be fresh, and all your corn dogs be greasy.