Brittle Heaven and More

Faith and family feed the sweet taste of success at Pell City eatery

Story by Paul South
Photos by Graham Hadley
Submitted photos

On Pell City’s Cogswell Avenue, there’s a sweet spot that fills hearts and tummies with comfort and joy with a combination of homemade candies, cookies and cakes, down home Southern dishes and soft serve ice cream shakes and malts.

And it all started as a cottage food business in Sarah Deese’s home kitchen.

The place is Brittle Heaven & More. And while it’s hundreds of miles from the 80-acre Arkansas farm where Deese’s mother, Sadie Miles, taught her time-tested, generations-old recipes, the spirit of that kitchen is never far away.

“I couldn’t have done it without her influence,” Deese said. “She would always let me help in the kitchen. And with the brittle, she would always let me help her during the holidays when we were making it to give out as Christmas gifts.”

She added, “She was an excellent cook, so we were always busy doing something.”

Putting the icing on one of the best carrot cakes around

It seems that Deese and her staff are always busy, especially since she moved from her home kitchen in Pell City where she started in 2019, to a brick-and-mortar storefront that opened downtown in September 2021.

“I really had no idea that it would take off like it has,” Deese said. “My main goal was just to help my son, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. He had a lot of doctor bills, hospital bills, student loans that he was having to pay for. I just wanted to help him out.”

Pardon the pun, but to Deese’s surprise, folks went nuts over the candy sparked by her dream.

“When you saw how it was received, it was kind of hard to stop,” Deese said, “because when you see you’re making people happy, you know you just want to keep making them happy.”

Brittle Heaven & More attracts that happiness with nut brittles of all kinds, old-fashioned confections like Martha Washington balls, Turtles, fudge, buckeyes and  pecan Divinity and new creations like Almond Joy cookies, sweet treats not found in the grocery store.

“(Customers) say it reminds them of their grandmother or their grandfather, who used to make the brittle.”

But when Deese opened her brick-and-mortar shop, she knew she had to do more. So, she added cakes, pies and cookies, sourdough and banana nut bread to her growing basket of goodies.

Then came prepared meals. At J&S Country Store, she and Melissa Parker, a colleague she had met at an Alabama Cooperative Extension cottage foods course, began to make breakfasts, lunch and dinner, with daily specials customers could take home. Seating is limited.

“We try to specialize in home cooked plates,” Deese said. “Like today, we had chicken and rice and corn and tomorrow we’ll have meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans. Wednesday is chicken and dumplings.”

She added, “We don’t go all out meat and three. We just try to make whatever we do that day as a plate.”

Breakfasts feature omelets, breakfast burritos and croissants.

But Brittle Heaven & More is best known for its sweets. And for the weight conscious, she also has sugar-free offerings.

What drives the store’s popularity? Maybe it’s a longing for a taste of childhood and home.

“I guess people just love home-cooked food,” Deese said. “Everything we make is from scratch. You don’t find that everywhere. I think that’s one of the reasons we’re so well received. It’s different from the store bought.”

Deese and her team – something of a family itself – tries to create a warm, homey atmosphere. “We try to be as friendly as we can,” Deese said.

And with the holidays just around the corner, Brittle Heaven & More is gearing up for its busiest time of the year, when the shop’s high demand for sweets would make Buddy from the movie Elf sing at the top of his lungs.

Asked if there is a holiday hustle and bustle, Deese didn’t hesitate. Perhaps it would be best call it the “nuttiest time of the year.”

“Oh Lord, yes,” she said. It is the craziest time of the year. We have to shut down breakfast and lunch in November and December, especially December. We just can’t do anything except mostly make brittle and supply the store.”

Deese also gets a number of orders to ship out to other parts of the country.

“I’m just constantly making brittle during the holidays,” she said. “It’s almost 24-7.”

Deese is surprised by the store’s success.

“I feel like I gave birth to a baby, and I’m watching it grow,” she said. “Whenever we had the grand opening, I felt like that was the birthday. It’s just like a child. It’s going to grow slowly.”

Two years in, like any new parent, she knows what to expect. But in the stores’ early days, she admits, she didn’t even know how to run a cash register.

“Eventually, (the business) is going to carry itself,” she said. “In the beginning, I was thrown into a management position that I knew nothing about. All I knew is I wanted to make brittle.”

But those challenges have turned to joy. With her kids and grandkids grown and gone, she fills time with the business and her customers who have become friends.

And her staff has become family. Brittle Heaven & More has created four and sometimes five jobs for the local economy. Along with Parker, the staff includes River Goodwin, Tammy Ray and Gloria Todd.  Niece Jada Wade helps when home from college and Deese’s sister, Frances Brown, pitches in during the holidays.

“That makes me happy” Deese said.

And like any successful business, she loves her customers.

“I love people. And it’s just inspiring to know that they appreciate our hard work. It inspires you to keep going. Anytime you feel appreciated, you want to do more.”

Deese cleaned houses for 28 years while raising her boys, Now in an empty nest at home, Brittle Heaven & More has provided sweet relief from boredom. And it’s kept customers happy and well fed.

Two ingredients fuel the business more than sugar and nuts, cinnamon and flour, chocolate and caramel. The first is faith.

“I gave God this business from day one,” Deese said. “I remind Him now and again that this is your business. I’m just in a position of managing it for Him. God has inspired me.”

The other key ingredient, a piece of counsel Sadie Miles gave her little girl in that Arkansas kitchen long ago, is more timeless than the recipes Deese and her staff cook up on Cogswell Avenue.

“Cook with love. If you don’t put that extra ingredient in it, you can really tell a difference.”

BFIT Bakery

Making sourdough magic with an ancient recipe and a sense of humor

Story Paul South
Photos by Graham Hadley
Submitted Photos

From her home kitchen in Pell City – armed with the ancient staples of salt, flour and water along with a wicked sense of humor – Anna Warren fills the air with the warm, embracing aroma of fresh baked sourdough bread, cakes and cookies.

And she does it with a wink and a smile.

You see, sourdough begins as starter dough in a Ball jar. The living concoction is the heart and soul of the centuries-old recipe that’s fed and nurtured until time to bake.

In Warren’s world, every starter has a name. Her first was Lucille, named for television legend Lucille Ball. Another jar is named Ricky Ricardough. There’s also Betty, Martha and Jane Dough. And don’t forget Lucy’s friend Ethel, and Fran.

“Living, wild yeast has to be fed to stay alive, so they get named,” Warren said. “It’s more tradition than anything. And it’s fun.”

Make that deliciously fun.

Like many cottage food businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked Warren’s BFIT Bakery. It’s her second venture into the cottage industry. Her first was a home bakery in Florida. The Pensacola native learned to cook from a neighbor, back when Warren was barely tall enough to reach the counter.

Baked to order

“When COVID hit, I started watching TikTok, and I learned to do sourdough from another lady on the platform, and I decided to make a  business of it.”

Her interest in sourdough came from her family’s digestive health challenges related to gluten allergies and her own battle against Celiac Disease. She wanted a better gluten-free product than what was available in stores.

Buying the store-bought foods, first if they’re gluten free they’re nasty, and they’re full of all kinds of crap,” she said with a laugh. “So, I wanted to find something that I could really enjoy for myself that wasn’t going to hurt my stomach.”

Also, she wanted to include her three children in the mix. She has two in college and another is a high school junior.

“Anything that I could do that would include them. They love coming into the kitchen when they’re here and making it with me and learning about it. Other people enjoy it.”

BFIT Bakery began in January 2024. Before that, it was just BFIT. I got certified as a trainer and worked at Workout Anytime in Pell City, so that’s where the name comes from.”

She added, “A lot of people think I call it BFIT because it’s healthy, and it truly is because it’s flour, water and salt. Those are the three ingredients and if you want something else to go in it, I add that.”

And it’s not just bread, but a pantry full of items.

“Cookies, cinnamon rolls, rolls. Around Easter, I do Resurrection Rolls, and I do kits for the kids with little flash cards that are really, really popular so they can learn about the Resurrection.”

At Christmastime, she makes assorted flavors – cinnamon and gingerbread – and at Halloween, pumpkin goodies are part of the menu.

She grows the herbs and flavors – like rosemary and lavender – in her own garden. Jalapenos and other produce for her goods come from the local farmers market in an effort to support local growers.

“It’s limitless what you can do with sourdough,” Warren said.

A first step in making bagels

Think about these flavors – triple chocolate espresso and lemon blueberry – like all her recipes crafted from scratch.

The process to make sourdough takes about 36 hours. Her sourdough starter begins with flour and water.  Her recipe has evolved.

“When I first started learning, I wasn’t measuring with a scale,” she said. “I was just doing what I was taught through watching other people.”

And sourdough has risen into a community of bakers, some for business, others for family enjoyment.

“I’ve met so many people I wouldn’t have met if it wasn’t for sourdough,” Warren said. “I’ve kind of come up with a recipe that works for me.”

Along with selling her goods from her home, Warren teaches others how to make tasty goods. She conducts community classes, where for $125 per person, Warren will come to your home and teach her tasty brand of kitchen magic. The classes are held once a month, except for a summer hiatus because of the heat and bad timing.

“When I teach these classes, I really explain to people that what works in my house, isn’t going to necessarily work at your house because your temperature and the humidity will play into how your bread turns out. So, you may have to tweak things.”

Her first class begins this month (October). She will conduct one or two monthly out of her home. The three-hour classes are limited to six people.

“They’re learning the very basics of sourdough,” Warren said. “They get a starter, and they get to name their starter, and they learn about feeding and maintenance. We make a loaf in class that I’ve already started for them. They get to watch it in different stages, and they get to take home a sourdough journal. It’s a whole kit in a basket, the starter, the journal, the scoring tool. They get it all as part of the class.”

For Warren, the passion for sourdough, baking and cooking burns brightly. “If food was a love language, it would be mine.”

It all started with Pensacola next door neighbor, Miss Karen, who taught young Anna the basics of the culinary arts.

“She had me at her house every chance she could from before I could reach the counter,” Warren remembered. “She taught me to cook and measure and all those things. It’s just something that I’ve always done.”

The philosophy of BFIT Bakery is simple:

“Making homemade bread and sharing it with the community. It’s good for you. It’s good for people who are diabetic. It can help breakdown the sugars because of the fermentation process. Just giving people another option because we don’t know what they’re putting in our food anymore. It’s not the same.”

Warren, who works full time for the Alabama Department of Human Resources, has seen her side hustle grow. Her bread and baked goods are wildly popular.

On Wednesdays and Saturdays, she fills her front porch bins with bread and other goodies, complete with cooler packs to fend off summer heat.

She also takes orders online at Bakesy.com. The address is https://bakesy.shop/b/the-bfit-bakery.

“I really had to set boundaries for myself, because I could bake from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed,” Warren said.

But the bread has become a staff of her life. The chill of fall and winter heats up her bread business.

‘It’s just become part of my every day at this point,” Warren says. “I feed Lucille. I bake bread. My co-workers love it because they get to try everything. They’re my guinea pigs.”

Her own starter

As often happens with cottage businesses, The BFIT Bakery started with a heart for family.

She acted on encouragement from friends and sparked by a desire to buy a lifetime sportsman Florida license for her youngest son, an avid outdoorsman. At Christmas, the licenses went on sale for half the normal $1,000 price.

Warren and “Lucille Ball” went to work baking bread, two loaves at a time. She then hosted a one-day event featuring her bread at Pell City’s 4 Messie Monkeys in Pell City.

“I sold out in an hour and a half, and I made $700,” Warren said.

The business has given her a chance to do more for her kids. But again, it all comes down to Warren’s love language – food – good, homemade food.

“Whether it’s baking, grilling smoking meat, whatever it is I’m doing, it’s always going to be food related. My Dad is Italian. My Mom is Maltese, so it’s a lot of food. A lot of food and talking with our hands. That’s how I show my family and friends that I care.”

And while some cottage food businesses have exploded into corporations or retail chains, Warren wants to stay grounded.

“There’s something special about getting up at 4 in the morning on a Tuesday to bake bread for the community. I want to harbor that and keep it safe and special.”

For ordering information about The BFIT Bakery, visit its Facebook page, at Bakesy.com, or email at awarren@121218@gmail.com.

Kayak fishing

Paddle, pedal and have fun on the water

Story by Roxann Edsall
Submitted photos

Sitting out on the dock sipping your first cup of coffee, you watch the morning sun begin to cast a pinkish-orange glow on the water. Absorbed in the majesty of the morning, you startle as you catch the movement of the boat as it silently glides by just yards away.

 Silent, that is, until the snap of the line as it is cast again, all the while drifting past the dock.  Almost immediately, he jerks the line and reels in the prize. After a moment to inspect and admire his catch, the angler releases the fish off the side of his kayak.

Kayak fishing has exploded in popularity in recent years, thanks to huge improvements in materials, technology and available accessories. Fishing tournament organizers have even created competitive tournament series specifically designed for kayak anglers. Since having no live well makes transporting live fish to a weigh-in problematic, new rules were created for kayakers.

Kayak-specific tournaments and most tournaments with kayak divisions use cumulative length, rather than weight, as the unit of measure. Competitors in kayaks are often governed by the CPR (Catch, Photograph, Release) Rule, which includes catching, photographing the fish on a special measuring “ketch” board, then immediately releasing the catch.

Allen Norris and his catch

The evolution of the kayak from simple shell to tricked out vessel, loaded with fish-finding tech and gear storage has helped to define the growth of the kayak fishing industry. Technology and electronics originally developed for bass boats have been redesigned, and in some cases, retrofitted for use in kayaks. Live scope electronics can be added to fishing kayaks, too.

Arguably, the biggest development propelling its popularity has been the application of pedal drives to the hull, allowing the kayak to be moved through the water without the need for a paddle. The hands-free option allows anglers to cast and reel without having to switch to a paddle to maneuver the kayak.  As anglers are known to say, it’s a numbers game. And more casts equate to more fish.

“There are so many options when choosing a kayak,” says Allen Norris, co-owner of Cropwell’s Yak Shak and veteran kayak angler. “When you see something labeled fishing kayak, lights should go off to let you know it’s going to be more comfortable, more stable, and be able to carry more gear.”

He and Jessica, his co-owner and wife, ask a lot of questions of potential buyers to make sure they get them into the right kayak. Buyers will likely need to do a bit of research to be prepared to answer those questions, which would likely begin with what you want to do in your kayak and whether you’re looking for a sit-in or a sit-on type design.

The sit-on design, according to Norris, is more stable and many models are large enough to allow stand-up fishing. Also, with sit-on designs, there is no worry of taking on water, as they are designed to allow water to flow over the top and to drain through scupper holes.

After having the pedal/paddle, sit-in/sit-on, stand up/sit down discussion, then comes the question of motor versus muscle. Fishing kayaks can be fitted with small trolling motors, if desired, although Norris admits to being a bit of a purist. “When I’m kayak fishing, I want to be as tactical and stealthy as possible,” he says. “I don’t want to put more in the water than I have to. If you’re into lots of vegetation and stumps, you can’t use the motor anyway.”

Jessica Norris’ catch of the day kayaking on the Coosa

In a sit-in kayak, be prepared to use a different set of muscles while casting, as opposed to those you’d use performing the same activity while standing. “Casting and aiming are very different when you are sitting,” says Norris.

 “It’s very strenuous.  A lot of people would describe kayak fishing as intense.” Being so close to the water and to the fish adds to the intensity of the fishing experience, Norris explains. “You can get close to the nooks and crannies that boats can’t, places where the fish really are.”

Adding to the excitement, he says, “You feel every movement on a catch in a kayak. You can also see the movement of wildlife and fish along the shore as you move through the shallow areas in coves and among boathouses and piers. Kayaks are perfect for wildlife photography, for exercise, and for just getting out and enjoying the water,” he adds. “The tranquility and therapy are very real.”

Josh Tidwell agrees wholeheartedly. He’s a huge fan of kayaking and fishing. He’s combined the two for more than 25 years and now runs a kayak rental and tour company at Big Wills Creek, a tributary to Neely Henry Lake. “It’s quite a bit of fun,” he says. “You get to be out in nature and even if you’re not catching, you’re still enjoying nature.”

Tidwell, an accomplished tournament fisherman, began fishing nearly three decades ago from creeks and riverbanks, either wading or by canoe. Kayak fishing made it easier for him to get to the tight places he wanted to fish. “Bass boats can’t get to where I go,” he says. “I like to fish smaller waters. I don’t want to look at the back of somebody’s house, when I could be looking at cliffs or waterfalls.”

Although he says he likes small water fishing, he says, kayaks are not just for lake fishing. He took his kayak to Gulf Shores a few years ago and hooked a 6-foot shark. His brother-in-law caught a 150–200-pound tarpon.  For reasons which seem obvious, they did not try to bring it aboard their kayaks. “We got dragged all over the place. That’s part of the appeal,” he laughed. “You just have to prepare for it. And don’t go alone!”

The Coosa River system offers a variety of fish, from crappie to catfish, to several species of bass, including the Alabama bass. “On Logan Martin, I’ve pulled in a 15-pound channel catfish in my kayak,” says Norris. “I’ve seen a 50-75-pound catfish pulled in, unfortunately not by me.”

Strategies for success in kayak fishing are somewhat different, Norris explains. “We attack fishing in a very different way. We don’t fish the open waters as much as we do the tighter places. Where the bass boat world is launch as fast as possible, get to your spots as fast as possible, and cover lots of water. We might launch and stay near that launch fishing the harder to get places and cover only a mile or two.”

No matter what type of vessel you use or how you fish, all nautical rules apply. Kayaks are no exception. Before sunrise and after sunset, kayaks must have a stern light. The same holds true for red and green navigation lights. These are especially important for kayaks, which sit lower in the water and are harder to see.

Equipment add-ons for safety and for convenience and comfort make kayaking an activity perfect for anyone ages 5 to 95. Your grandpa’s kayak may have given you the inspiration to learn, but it is definitely not the only design option anymore. Today’s kayaks are lighter and stronger. They offer options in how they are propelled, how you fit into it and how you maneuver it. They can be outfitted for whatever activity you want to do on the water.

A final reminder that whatever fun you’re having in a kayak, be sure to remember safety is paramount. Alabama law requires all boaters, including kayakers to have a personal floatation device onboard for each occupant.

While it’s not required that boaters wear them, it’s a good idea. It’s also a good idea to always include water, a hat, and sunscreen in your float plan.

You may catch a beautiful sunrise, too, so don’t forget your camera. And give a wave to the lady sipping coffee on the dock as you drift by.

Lighting the way for kayaking

Chad Watts knows all too well how hard kayaks are to see in the dark. Several years ago, while fishing in a tournament on Lake Jordan, he nearly ran over a kayaker.

They were fishing at what is considered “safe light,” just as it is getting light enough to see, but before the sun has risen. “I was running 75 miles an hour toward a wide cove. There was a piece of land that jutted out about 30 feet, so I couldn’t see around the other side of it until I got almost even with it,” said Watts.

“By that time, I was doing about 60. When I came around, there was a kayaker 20 yards from my boat. How I avoided running completely over the top of him, I don’t know. I was so rattled, I couldn’t fish.”

Watts went to check on the kayaker and wound up talking to him for 30 minutes (in the middle of the tournament). What came from the experience was a friendship and a product that makes kayak fishing safer.

Watts started Firefly Marine, a company out of Trussville, that produces the Firefly stern light. The difference in their product over what was available previously is both the height of the light (telescopes to over 9 feet) and the material of the light (refracting plastic to eliminate blinding light).

Pell City Rotary

Celebrating 50 years of service above self

As most pivotal moments in history have their roots, this one began with a ‘what if?’ What if a group of business and civic leaders formed an organization that would work as a team to serve their community?

The notion that these men could work together to give back to the community that had served them so well individually sparked the founding of Pell City Rotary Club, a story of service that has unfolded over the past 50 years.

Just take a look around, and Rotary’s good works are easy to spot. The new park benches throughout historic downtown are courtesy of Rotary. So is the cutting-edge recording studio for Museum of Pell City’s Living History program.

Dozens of students have furthered their education with college scholarship awarded by the club, and the Sheriffs Boys Ranch has a new home and more because of Rotary’s efforts. The Love Pantry’s shelves are stocked for feeding those in need, and the Children’s Place Child Advocacy Center comforts children at their most vulnerable moments in life.

Jingle Bell 5K Run at Lakeside Park

Those in need of health care but unable to afford it, find it at St. Clair Community Clinic, yet another entity supported by Rotary.

The list is seemingly endless. Good causes – large and small – have Rotary’s helping hand behind them. Echoing through the heart of it all is the club’s motto, “Service Above Self.”

“That’s why we do what we do,” said President Kelly Furgerson, who represents a continuation of a part of the club’s history herself. Rotary was once a ‘men only’ club. June Brascho broke the gender barrier as the first woman member and later president in the 1990s, and Furgerson follows in her footsteps as the sixth.

“It is an honor to serve in the community in which we live,” said Furgerson. “Each day, we have an opportunity to do good individually and together as a club. The Pell City Rotary Club is made up of people of action who want to make our amazing community better one project at a time.”

How do they do what they do?

Rotary works beyond its own boundaries, bringing the community together to further its good causes. The money raised through these events provides the foundation for so many worthwhile projects throughout the community.

The Father-Daughter Dance is one of the most anticipated events of the year with daddies and daughters making lifetime memories on their special ‘date night.’ Led by Rotarians Blair Goodgame and Meg Clements, the dance venue is magically transformed into its colorful, imaginative theme, whether it be Candyland, fairy tales or lighting up the festivities with Glow Crazy.

The club’s tennis tournament in October each year could be called ‘spooktacular.’ Just in time for Halloween volunteers and competitors dress up for the occasion, making it a fun time for all. Meg Clements leads the effort.

Rotary’s Ray Cox Memorial Golf Tournament brings golfers, sponsors and volunteers together in a fun, sporting event at Pell City Country Club that continues a longstanding tradition of 42 years of service. Joe Paul Abbott heads this major fundraiser that has made so many charitable projects possible.

New to Rotary is the Jingle Bell 5K Run and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk. Led by Rotarian Bill Ellison, this event raised $65,000 in 2023 to help build a new home at St. Clair Sheriffs Boys Ranch. Set for Dec. 14, the run is through Pell City Lakeside Park and this year, it will set its sights on raising funds for Boys Ranch and a number of other charities throughout the community.

Why join?

Rotary continues to grow its membership roll, seeking business, government and civic representatives to join their movement to make their community a better place.

It’s all about community service – seeing a need, rolling up your sleeves and working to fill it. That’s Pell City Rotary Club, Where Leaders Meet. l

Editor’s Note: If you’re interested in learning more about Rotary or applying for membership, go to: pellcityrotary.org.

Partnership for success

New commerce park for Springville
could bring in $500 million in investments

A partnership between the City of Springville and the St. Clair County Commission to buy 250 acres of land to use as a commerce park is expected to deliver a sizable return – $500 million in investments from new companies employing 1,500 people.

The planned commerce park is located east of Wal-Mart and will be accessed from the County 23/I-59 interchange. “This will minimize any traffic impact while providing a location for quality companies to build and employ people from the surrounding area,” said Don Smith, executive director of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council. “The less we must drive for good paying jobs the better it is on the overall traffic congestion in the region.”

Further along in the development process, Kelly Creek Commerce Park is also on the receiving end of SEEDS grant, which will help run sewerage service to the park.

The EDC and St. Clair County Industrial Development Board are working with both partners to obtain grants and outside funds.  “Our focus is to minimize the local funds being invested into the parks but at the same time, develop a park that will provide jobs and taxes for decades.” 

 This park will be the only rail-served park in St. Clair County for new companies to locate.  “There are fewer and fewer rail sites in Alabama, and this park will give the I-59 corridor a recruitment advantage,” Smith predicted.  “We target advanced manufacturers in food production, automotive supplier and advanced metals.”

Based on the acreage and target sectors, “We believe we will be able to recruit multiple companies into the park,” Smith said.

The initial effort was boosted by a SEEDS grant that provided $2.1 million for the purchase of the property. The remaining funds needed were split between the county and city.

The SEEDS program was launched in 2023 to provide state funds to purchase and develop competitive properties for the state’s target sectors in Alabama.  The funds have a 50 percent local match with smaller communities and distressed counties a lower local match. 

In addition to the Springville grant, the EDC was able to obtain roughly $400,000 to run sewer to the new Kelly Creek Commerce Park, a similar project in Moody.  “It was the only missing piece of infrastructure needed to make the park complete,” Smith said.

Officials in Moody cut the ribbon on that 170-acre park in early 2023, and it is expected to generate 1.5 million square feet of distribution facility space and $125 million in investments in good paying jobs.

Looking ahead, the economic forecast for the county continues to be bright, Smith said. “We are in the running for a few manufacturing projects in Moody and Pell City.  I also believe we will have several impactful retail projects to announce in the upcoming months throughout the county.”

He credited residential growth as the factor “now catching the eye of many retailers that just 10 years ago would have passed on us.  They see our growing household income and job creation numbers and are ready to invest in St. Clair County.”