By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
Whit Davis Lumber Plus broke ground on Wednesday for its new $1.5 million, 11,000-square-foot store that will be built at 9000 Brockington Road in Sherwood.
Company president Terry Toney said at the groundbreaking ceremony, “It’s a very exciting day for Whit Davis.”
He told The Leader that construction would start in a few days. Toney said the store would open in early 2015.
He added that a new turning lane into the store’s planned entrance was nearly completed.
Whit Davis’ widow, Miriam Davis; her son, John Davis; her grandson, Dan Davis, and several other members of the Davis family attended the ceremony.
Dan Davis will manage the new store.
“I’m just real excited. What Whit Davis has been built on is customers service,” which he wants to continue at the new store, Dan Davis said.
He told The Leader that the new store would fill customized orders, have a large paint selection and have a lawn and garden department.
Toney said the new store would be a lot like the one at 723 School Drive in Jacksonville but would cater more to the retail hardware side of the business rather than be a lumber yard.
Two or three experienced employees will transfer from the Jacksonville store, Dan Davis noted. That count includes himself, the manager added.
Dan Davis said others would be hired for a total staff of six to 10 at the Sherwood store.
Sherwood Mayor Virginia Hillman said during the groundbreaking, “Sherwood is just continuing to grow…We are looking forward to the partnership.”
She noted that getting Whit Davis to the city was a process that took a few years.
Toney said, “It’s been a long time coming. It’s a great day for Sherwood, and it’s a great day for Whit Davis.”
And chamber board president Clay Partridge said, “We’re looking forward to great things.”
