AMORY — Three new businesses, all of which are national retail stores that trade on the New York stock exchange, opened on Hwy. 278 in the last month.

The latest of those was Walgreens that opened for business on Friday morning with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a good size crowd in attendance.

The 13,650-square-foot store, designed according to the company’s newest model, is managed by Eric Dillow. The store employs about 15 and is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Mayor Howard Boozer, speaking at the Walgreens grand opening Friday, said he is proud to have the store in Amory. “I look forward to growth and expansion in our economy and this is part of it,” he said.

Boozer said the new store made a three-fold investment in Amory: investment in real estate in the city, support of the city’s tax base and creation of jobs.

Walgreens District Manager David Sheppard said the store’s grand opening had one of the best turnouts he’s ever seen at a Walgreens opening.

Dollar Tree

Also opening last week was Dollar Tree, located next to Peebles in the Amory Pavilion on Hwy. 278. It is a national variety store that prices many items at $1 or less. It carries household cleaning supplies, glassware, housewares, candy, snacks, food, health and beauty items, toys, gifts, gift wrap, party supplies, stationay, books and more.

The Amory store is managed by Reginia Robinson and has 10 employees. Robinson said business has been fantastic in the first week.

At its opening ceremony, Mayor Howard Boozer called it a “great addition to the city’s tax base but more importantly it creates jobs.”

Boozer said that Dollar Tree is a strong company with its stock going from $27 a share a few months ago to $45 a share.

Sherwin-Williams

Last month a new Sherwin-Williams store opened for business in a new building located west of the Amory Pavilion on Hwy. 278.

The 5,000-square-foot store that is managed by Lana McGonagill is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday.

The store is one of the company’s new designs with new furniture style fixtures, a coffee bar with gourmet blends and flat screen TVs. Besides offering paint and painting supplies, the store offers all types of decorating products, including ladders, brushes, rollers, wallpaper, flooring and more.

McGonagill said her entire career has been involved in home decorating and she and assistant manager Britt Harris are available to offer decorating advice to customers.

“Business has been good so far,” McGonagill said. “I’m just so glad to be back in Amory.”