If you haven’t been to Hammer’s ...
Iconic store’s new location opens
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Mattie Manning works on the candle display at the new Hammer’s Dry Goods store in Clinton as workers prepare the store on Sunday for its 9 a.m. Monday (Dec. 19) opening. - G. Chambers Williams III
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Ashley Leach puts together a display of fishing gear on Sunday for the new Hammer’s store in Clinton. - G. Chambers Williams III
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Mallory Edenfield (left), Jenna Cooney and Whitney Ham- mer sort out merchandise in the front of the new Hammer’s Dry Goods store on Sunday. - G. Chambers Williams III
Hammer’s Dry Goods on Monday opened for business in its new building on North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard across from Anderson County High School, just east of Ray Varner Ford.
The previous location, at 1200 N. Charles G. Seivers Blvd. in the same center with Big Lots and Dollar General, closed on Saturday.
Staff members worked frantically all day Sunday getting the new location ready for its 9 a.m. Monday opening.
The plans to move were announced about 16 months ago by Hammer’s co-owner/manager Kelly Calhoun, grandson of the store’s founders.
At the time, he said, “This was a big decision for us. We’re excited about the move because it puts us in the middle of everything.
Construction began in February on the new 21,000 square-foot building at 2090 N. Charles G. Seivers Blvd.
The developers on Jan.18 obtained a building permit from the city of Clinton for the $3 million structure. It’s on a 2.78-acre site.
Calhoun said at the time that he hoped to have the new store open by early September, but there were a few delays.
The building was constructed by Dixie Roofing Co. of LaFollette, and Calhoun and a partner will buy the property and own the new building, he said.
“This is something we’re going to be proud of that will be there a long time,” Calhoun said in February. “We’re looking for it to be a long-term investment.”
He said then that there is also a vacant lot next to the new store that he hopes will attract another business to the site.
Calhoun said he believes the new location will help the store’s business grow, as it will be closer to most of the residential development underway in Clinton, as well as being more convenient to customers from Norris, Andersonville and other communities east of Interstate 75.
“We try to keep up with the times, and this will be our fourth move since we started in Clinton,” Calhoun said.
The store continues to offer its signature quality bargain-priced closeout merchandise, with an emphasis on clothing, he said.
A site plan submitted to the city last year showed the proposed building surrounded by 91 parking spaces. The site is between People’s Bank and the former location of Anderson County’s Glen Alpine Convenience Center (waste-collection) site.
Anderson County property records showed the property owner as I-75 Industrial Group-Series 3, LLC.
Hammer’s has been in business in Clinton since 1952, having started in a building on Market Street. The company itself was founded in 1942 in Guntersville, Alabama, and besides Clinton, it still has stores in Knoxville, Sevierville, Wartburg and New Tazewell.
According to the Hammer’s website, each store is still owned and operated by Hammers family members “who focus on bargains, a fun shopping experience, and customer satisfaction.”
“All Hammer’s locations offer a mixture of first quality, closeouts, and irregulars of famous brand merchandise,” the website notes. “Shoppers can find fun and fashion goods for men and women, along with top name hunting and work wear, shoes, and boots. Bargain hunters can also find quality accessories for the home like rugs, home decor, and seasonal florals.”
Store hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.