ONEeighty Church

Officials break ground on
18-acre campus in Odenville

Story and photos
by Carol Pappas

On a hilltop above Odenville a vision is rising up to meet the needs of the community and well beyond the city’s borders.

ONEeighty Church, just as the name implies, represents the degree to which lives can be turned around, and that’s the purpose of the 18 acres that hilltop overlooks. Officials have broken ground on a massive new campus near Interstate 59 on Alabama 174 at Odenville.   

The church began in a vacant Ace Hardware building in Springville as a ministry of Clear Branch United Methodist Church in 2009. Two years into it, it grew to become a standalone church. Cam Price was pastor for a year and a half before Gresh Harbuck became the pastor, and she named it ONEeighty – symbolic of turning lives around. Four years ago, it launched as non-denominational and has now grown well past its walls.

Leaders were led to build a new church and other buildings on the acreage and even though it began in Springville, Harbuck said they never viewed ONEeighty as a Springville church. “It’s a community church – one gigantic circle of owners. They take ownership in the Great Commission. Members pay dues. Owners have responsibilities and are on a mission, winning one more for Jesus Christ.”

Pastor Gresh Harbuck motions toward the hilltop where the church will grow its new home.

When they were first looking for a new home, Realtor Lyman Lovejoy envisioned the ideal place as a piece of property that wasn’t even for sale. “They won’t sell it to me, but they might sell it to you,” he remembers telling them. He is credited with approaching the owner with the idea of transforming the piece of land into a place of worship and life-changing experiences.

The owners understood the vision, too, noting that it would be the perfect legacy for their father. And the deal was done.

“Our goal is to really focus on people who never would walk into a normal church,” said Harbuck, describing it as “very contemporary,” welcoming “all walks of life” to venture through its doors.

The growth has been evident. Easter Sunday, apparently all roads led to ONEeighty Church with people attending from Argo, Odenville, Pinson, Gadsden and Springville. “We’re not an Odenville church,” Harbuck said. “We’re not a Springville church. We’re a community church. We want lukewarm Christians to turn into purpose-filled Christians who will be the hands and feet of Jesus. We want to help the hurting and the broken.”

Of the church’s approach, Harbuck explained, “This is a great place to fall in love with Jesus.” Small groups are how they disciple people, giving them a more intimate, close-knit experience. The youth group is packed with activities and is “growing by leaps and bounds.” Celebrate Recovery – one of the largest in the state – continues to make a sizable impact on addictions throughout the region. It partners with Lovelady Center, Brother Bryan and jail ministries in Ashville and Oneonta.

Celebrate Recovery, coordinated by Ministry Leader Joyce Simonson, was 300 strong before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. They still feed 200 there every Friday night. “We view ourselves as recovery ministries,” said Harbuck, who once served as CR Ministry Leader himself.

Looking ahead to what that Odenville hilltop will become, Harbuck said, the new church campus will house the worship center, a sanctuary that can seat 600, lobby and children’s area in the first phase on top of the site. Second phase will be a dining hall, small group rooms and offices, and the third phase is a courtyard outside the worship area.

Beyond that, “God gives us the next steps,” Harbuck said. “We will look at the needs of Odenville. If the needs in the community change, we’ll change.

Johnny Evans and James Barker, who are active in the church and have a background in contracting, will oversee the project. Cline Construction is the builder.

“Even though we’re moving the building, it doesn’t mean the DNA changes,” Harbuck stressed. “We want to be a light to the community, helping the outcast and broken,” he said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Lay Leader John Rich called it “a big milestone for us. This is a community church – one group, all together. This means a lot.”

And it means much to the community that surrounds it. “Thank you for your vision,” Odenville Mayor Buck Christian told those in attendance at the groundbreaking. “We’re excited to see what the future holds. The campus will be explosive” in terms of growth. “Welcome to Odenville. We are extremely excited about what this will mean to Odenville. The growth potential is unlimited.”

Harbuck agreed. “God has been blessing us and growing us.”

Pell City rolling in new restaurants and retail

Story by Linda Long
Photos by Graham Hadley and Carol Pappas

Anybody for a cup of coffee? Would that be tall, grande or venti? Maybe a shot of espresso. Perhaps a mocha, cappuccino or latte.

That’s right! Starbucks has come to town, located in the new Coosa Commons shopping center at U.S. 231 and I-20. Based on a steady stream of cars waiting in the drive through, Pell City is rolling out the red carpet.

“We just opened our lobby today,” said Savannah Crone, a Starbucks manager, a few weeks ago. “Everything is going great. The crowd has been steady, and we’ve had a lot of people here. We’re making sure everybody is enjoying their drinks and their visit. Of course, there’s always somebody in the drive-thru.”

Crone says the staff is asking for their customers’ patience. “We’re still training our employees. We have a lot of high school students, and they’re learning. We want to make sure everybody is fully trained so we can pay full attention to our customers.”

Starbucks isn’t the only new kid on this block. New eateries seem to be opening almost every week. In addition to the long-awaited Starbucks, folks may opt for subs of all kinds at Jersey Mike’s next door or taste tempting treats at Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers nearby on U.S. 231 North. 

And for those who want to feel like their takeout is home-cooked, folks are flocking to Papa Murphy’s Take ’n Bake Pizza in the strip center near Publix, where owners boast fresh ingredients, including freshly made crust every day. Patrons pick up their made-to-order pizza then take it home to bake.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Jacory Calhoun, district manager. “The customers have been awesome. Very responsive. As soon as we opened, they started bombarding the store. It’s been amazing. I’m going to be honest with you, I didn’t expect to see it like that.”

Calhoun explained that Papa Murphy’s came to Pell City with a fully trained staff. “Everybody in this store is seasoned, and that’s what you want when you open your store – everybody trained and ready to roll.”

Calhoun has this advice for folks ordering a Papa Murphy’s Pizza: Try stepping out of your comfort zone. “At first, I was a regular pepperoni person, but ever since I tried our Tuscan Chicken and Sausage … I’m telling you, that’s the best I ever ate. I tell people don’t go for the cheese or pepperoni. Now, you will like it, but it’s not what brings you back. You’ve got to try one of our specialties. Those are the pizzas that really bring you back.”

Success in the early weeks foretells a bright future. “If the customers keep having the responses their having to us right now, I promise you, we’re going to be here for long while.”

That’s Holly Gaston’s plan, too. As general manager of Jersey Mike’s, she says she’s happy to be in Pell City. “It’s growing. It’s booming. There are so many opportunities here. New jobs are here. Pell City is just full of growth,” said Gaston.

The popular eatery chose March for its grand opening because according to Gaston, that’s the company-wide month of giving. This year’s benefactors are the Special Olympics and locally, Big Oak Ranch.

“Our company believes in giving back,” said Gaston. Eating at Jersey Mike’s is “more than just enjoying wonderful food. It’s also about helping others that need it.”

The new sandwich shop, also located at Coosa Commons, features a variety of subs, including gluten free.

“Our thing,” said Gaston, “is sliced fresh to order. Everything here is absolutely fresh every single day. The bread is baked fresh every day. Hot subs are prepared when you place your order. You have other sub chains who claim they are fresh, but we are the definition of fresh.”

Head south on U.S. 231 in Cropwell and check out Isabella’s Cocina and Cantina, which is getting rave reviews in its early days. Featuring a full Mexican menu, spacious dining inside and out, this new construction is attractively decorated and has an inviting atmosphere, drawing from residents of nearby Logan Martin Lake and all around.

But there’s more on the local dining scene. The buzz around Pell City says another restaurant – a high-class, white-tablecloth, candlelit, sit-down establishment is also considering Coosa Commons as its location.

Pell City Manager Brian Muenger says he’s met with the potential owners, and they are “excited” about the prospect.

“I know with the restaurant concept that was being reviewed, they were looking at taking all the rest of the available space and having a dining side, a bar side and also outdoor seating,” said Muenger.

“I strongly encourage them to consider that space and the menu they prepared. It was something really unlike anything we have here currently, and it’s something we have a great desire for. So many people tell me they’re traveling outside the city for sit down meals. And that’s certainly a need we want to see fulfilled,” he said.

“People strongly prefer to get their shopping and things done as close to home as possible, and that’s what we’re working to deliver here with as many options as possible. We want to keep our money and people here in St. Clair County.”

That’s a goal that just might be close at hand. Don Smith, executive director of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council, isn’t surprised about the apparent retail and restaurant boom. “As far as revenues go, even 2020 (pandemic) was a record year for Pell City, and 2021 continued that momentum,” he said, saying several developments have jumped from plans on a drawing board to real brick and mortar.

“A lot of these projects taking place now go back a couple of years,” said Smith. “They were delayed because of 2020,” but now are all full steam ahead. Last year was a record in sales tax, countywide basically. Pell City was up 8% over the previous year,” he noted.

“Folks are getting away from big cities looking for a quieter place to live,” explained Smith, “and Pell City, being on the lake, has drawn a lot of folks here from Atlanta and Birmingham to have a second home or to live here and work remotely.”

Muenger has the numbers to back that up. “Last year, we had over 200 new home permits that were issued, and we’re still seeing that continue at about the same level. Builders are building as fast as they can, but in some cases, they are hampered by the availability of finishing goods. Things like windows, doors, different fixtures. Absent those constrictions,” he said, “I really think they’d be building even faster.”

Most houses, in all price ranges, are staying on the market only a few days and in some cases, only a single day, Muenger said.

Despite the understandable optimism expressed by city and county leaders, there is somewhat of a downside. “The economy is so hot right now that business – all businesses and industry – is dealing with a staffing demand. All industry is trying to expand its workforce because labor ability is not always what they’d like it to be.”

Also, according to Muenger, with the obvious inflation, “we’re all paying more for the goods we are buying,” but people are also getting higher wages, creating what he called a “brisk demand” for all items from big purchases like houses and automobiles to the day-to-day purchases.

“Things are moving back to something very similar or in many cases above what the demand was in 2020,” said Muenger. 

And for Pell City, that retail pipeline just keeps on producing. The next major project soon to be underway is development of the old hospital property. The complex is to be anchored by Hobby Lobby and T.J. Maxx.

Smith said other tenants which can’t yet be announced will include “all brands, allowing folks in Pell City and surrounding areas to stay home and get the products they want rather than having to drive 45 minutes to shop.”

According to Smith, the 135,000 square feet of retail space is expected to be ready for shoppers in about 18 to 24 months. Groundbreaking is set for this summer.

“This is something very exciting,” added Muenger. “It’s something we worked on for several years. In the same vein we talked about in keeping people here, this center is comprised of national brands that people are going to be very excited to see.”

As Pell City adds population, “we become more attractive to national brands,” he explained. “We have a larger population to service. I think businesses that come here will be very happy in the reception they receive. We’re excited about where things are headed on that front, and we’re excited about the people moving to St. Clair County to make it their home.”

New Richey’s Grocery

Same family approach

Story by Eryn Ellard
Photos by Graham Hadley

There are certain things about life that are inevitable, change being one of them. People and places can’t stay the same forever. For the folks who have lived in Cropwell on the outskirts of Pell City, there has been one big change this year – the demolition and ultimate rebuilding and rebranding of the old Richey’s Grocery.

For years, the tiny country store was more than just the last place to pick up milk on your way home from work; it was the gathering place for the small community – the coffee was always hot and the Blue Bell ice cream was always cold. Eventually, though, the old, family-run business closed its doors and in 2017, new owners took over.

Business partners Danny Dinani and Frank Devani saw lots of potential in the old building, its history and ideal location just a stone’s throw from Logan Martin Lake.

Dinani, who has made a career in retail for over 20 years, acquired the property in 2017, and also moved his family to Pell City to start their lives in the small town.

“The lake and the community were a big selling point for me,” Dinani said. There are very nice people here, and it is a family-oriented place.”

Recognizing that many people in the area know each other and their families, Dinani said the purchase was pretty much a no-brainer. “My customers know me and my family very well. It is a safe place to live, raise children and work in,” Dinani noted.

During the COVID-19 shutdown, Dinani said his store remained open, serving the small community in a big way. It was then when he and his partner decided that it was time to build a new Richey’s Grocery.

“The town of Cropwell is growing, so we wanted to grow along with it,” he said. “It also needed some changes, such as including a package store, new gas pumps, fishing supplies and groceries.”

The store was closed for nine months while the demolition of the old store and construction of its newer, more modern version was built. Richey’s reopened at the beginning of the year, officially three times the size of the old landmark store. The new store features a beer cave, which stays at a cool 32 degrees 24 hours a day.

Dinani has two full-time employees, and he and other members of his family also work there.

“The customers are all very friendly, they have welcomed me and my family with open arms, and we are very thankful for that.”

Fort McClellan Credit Union

Breaking ground on new Pell City location

Story by Carol Pappas
Photos by Wallace Bromberg Jr.

When Fort McClellan Credit Union first opened its doors in 1953, it organized as a nonprofit financial cooperative to serve military and civilians stationed at Anniston’s Fort McClellan.

After undergoing expansions in its services and its coverage area, Fort McClellan Credit Union has taken a decisive step into St. Clair County, breaking ground on a new facility in Pell City. Located at U.S. 231 and 19th St. South, officials expect it to open in late summer.

In a groundbreaking ceremony in late February, Fort McClellan Credit Union Board Chairman Joseph Roberson called it a “momentous occasion. We are really excited to break ground in this beautiful place called Pell City and we look forward to a bright future.”

He lauded the efforts of the City of Pell City and the Greater Pell City Chamber of Commerce for their assistance in facilitating the move and groundbreaking. “We are looking forward to working with you and meeting the fine people of Pell City,” Roberson said.

Pell City Manager Brian Muenger views the groundbreaking as a positive for the city’s future and will spur more development along the major thoroughfare. “Fort McClellan Credit Union is already a familiar name to many of our residents, and the city is pleased to see them establish a local presence. The site they have selected is conveniently located along Highway 231 South, and will further bolster the development of that area, which has seen substantial growth over the past five years.” 

Urainah Glidewell, executive director of the Pell City Chamber, noted that the credit union had been a member of the chamber for a number of years. “We’re excited they are finally in the community.” It builds on the “growth of the area and will be a great addition to Pell City.”

Councilman Jay Jenkins concurred. “We are glad to have another new business in Pell City,” he said. “Anything new in most cases is beneficial. We’re glad to have them here.”

Since 1953, FMCU has expanded to meet the communities it serves.

Its membership has grown to include employee and association groups and residents of multiple counties in the region. Its services have grown as well, and it now offers a variety of financial services of a full-service financial institution. They include new and used auto loans, signature loans, RV, motorcycle, boat, farm and garden tractor, line of credit, vacation and holiday loans.

Accounts include IRAs, checking and savings.

FMCU is located in Anniston, Oxford, Jacksonville, Ohatchee and Roanoke.

Lovejoy honored with Congressional recognition

Story and photos
by Carol Pappas

The name, Lyman Lovejoy, is well known around these parts. But it reached a lot further than Alabama’s borders when he hit his 50 years in business milestone.

Lovejoy’s feat of five decades of business caught the eye of U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, who presented him with a resolution he read into the Congressional Record in the U.S. House of Representatives.

To celebrate back home, the congressman hosted a luncheon in Moody to honor the longtime Realtor, businessman and community leader, describing him as “an advocate for the county and his community” in the framed, official resolution he presented to Lovejoy.

Read into the Congressional Record in August, Rogers cited Lovejoy’s extensive involvement in the community – St. Clair Association of Realtors, Ascension of St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital Board, Alabama Real Estate Commission and past chairman of the St. Clair Economic Development Council.

A member of First Baptist Church in Ashville, he also finds time to entertain local nursing homes and in senior centers with his musical group, the resolution noted.

In accepting the honor, Lovejoy recognized his family and staff first, talking of their unyielding support over the years. Turning to Rogers, he said, “This is the highest honor I’ve ever had, Congressman. I enjoy people. I would come to work even if they didn’t pay me.”

As for the motivation behind his civic activism, as well as his business acumen, he said, “I love my county. I love my community. I love meeting people. Thank you for letting me do what I love to do for 50 years,” he told the crowd in attendance.

Lovejoy, owner of Lovejoy Realty in Odenville, began his career in a building just across the highway from his present-day office. With only a high school diploma and no experience in real estate, he embarked on a career that not only lasted 50 years but is still going strong.

At 80, he still goes to work every day, and he still employs the same relationship-building skills he honed in those early years.

In the resolution, Congressman Rogers included a reference to Lovejoy’s moniker – “Mayor of St. Clair County” – giving a nod to the ambassadorial spirit for which he is known throughout the county. Rogers took it a step further, calling him “one of the treasures of St. Clair County.”

Fresh Value plans location in Moody

The Birmingham-based grocer, Fresh Value, has executed a lease at Crossroads Plaza Shopping Center at the northeast corner of U.S. 411 and Park Avenue in Moody. The space was most recently occupied by Fred’s but was also home for many years to Food World.

“This is a culmination of tireless effort from a lot of great people over the past 18 months to bring this deal to fruition,” said Bear Burnett of The Canvass Group, who represented the property owner in the transaction.

The move comes as several transformative shifts continue to shape the U.S. 411 corridor with the growth of several residential neighborhoods in the area as well as major investments in nearby business parks.

“The City of Moody has worked hard over the last year to backfill the old Fred’s building at Crossroads Shopping Center,” said Moody Mayor Joe Lee. “Moody City Council, along with myself, are happy to announce that Fresh Value Grocery will open soon and are excited to welcome them to our community.”

Fresh Value will occupy approximately 21,860 square feet and plans to also include a drive-thru pharmacy. A grand opening date will be announced in the coming weeks, but plans indicate the store could be open by summer.

“Currently, we operate stores in Trussville as well as Pell City, so Moody was a natural fit for us,” said Gerry D’Alessandro, owner of Fresh Value, Inc. “The community’s growth and numerous requests from our customers made this an ideal location expand our footprint.”

“Myself and our team are really excited about this location,” he added. “There are a lot of great things happening in Moody, and we are honored to have the opportunity to serve this community.”

In addition to the Fresh Value announcement, Burnett says he is in discussions with other regional and national retailers to back fill the adjacent 19,000-square-foot space.

“Our primary focus was getting Fresh Value across the finish line and now that we are there, we are shifting gears to procure not just any co-tenant but the ‘right’ co-tenant,” said Burnett. “We’ve had a ton of interest from retailers across many different categories, and we look forward to sharing more very soon.”

Editor’s Note: Fresh Value is currently accepting applications. For more information, visit www.apply4positions.com/grocery.