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.”
