MONROE - The new discount store coming to Monroe's south side is geared toward serving the hometown area in a tough economy, say its new owners.
Expected to open mid-summer, Hometown Discount Center will feature food, paper products, party supplies and a bent-and-dent section.
The new business, created through the collaborative efforts of Deb Golackson, a business manager and her son, Mike Figi, a CPA, is hometown-based, locally owned, operated and staffed - even the contractors are local.
"We wanted to keep business in Monroe," Golackson said. "We want to be home oriented."
Golackson believes Monroe customers, without access to "bent-and-dent" shopping within 20 miles, will benefit from Hometown's section.
Hometown will also feature a "party room" for party supplies and an entire wall of helium balloons.
"We will be big into party supplies," she added.
Golackson said she was happy to stepped out of the "intensity" of her position as manager at Brookview Apartments, when Figi asked her to join him in his new venture.
The excitement has spread through the entire family. Mike's brother Mark, left his job at a cheese factory, to become manager of the store's warehouse - nearly half of the 10,500 square-foot building. Golackson's husband, Bob, took time from his work to help get the building cleaned, and a nephew, home from college, is working this summer, with intentions of working occasional weekends starting in the fall.
Golackson has already hired six employees, pulling at least two out of unemployment.
Interior construction was in full swing Friday as the temperature outside rose steadily. Buddy Stevenson, Juda, was laying new floor tiles; the crew of Don Golackson Construction, Monroe, was tending to myriad details for the ceiling; Mark Figi was helping move insulation; and Mike Figi was sorting store supplies in the warehouse.
"It's a lot of work, but it's fun," he said, smiling.
Hometown Discount Center is making its home on 30th Street.
Expected to open mid-summer, Hometown Discount Center will feature food, paper products, party supplies and a bent-and-dent section.
The new business, created through the collaborative efforts of Deb Golackson, a business manager and her son, Mike Figi, a CPA, is hometown-based, locally owned, operated and staffed - even the contractors are local.
"We wanted to keep business in Monroe," Golackson said. "We want to be home oriented."
Golackson believes Monroe customers, without access to "bent-and-dent" shopping within 20 miles, will benefit from Hometown's section.
Hometown will also feature a "party room" for party supplies and an entire wall of helium balloons.
"We will be big into party supplies," she added.
Golackson said she was happy to stepped out of the "intensity" of her position as manager at Brookview Apartments, when Figi asked her to join him in his new venture.
The excitement has spread through the entire family. Mike's brother Mark, left his job at a cheese factory, to become manager of the store's warehouse - nearly half of the 10,500 square-foot building. Golackson's husband, Bob, took time from his work to help get the building cleaned, and a nephew, home from college, is working this summer, with intentions of working occasional weekends starting in the fall.
Golackson has already hired six employees, pulling at least two out of unemployment.
Interior construction was in full swing Friday as the temperature outside rose steadily. Buddy Stevenson, Juda, was laying new floor tiles; the crew of Don Golackson Construction, Monroe, was tending to myriad details for the ceiling; Mark Figi was helping move insulation; and Mike Figi was sorting store supplies in the warehouse.
"It's a lot of work, but it's fun," he said, smiling.
Hometown Discount Center is making its home on 30th Street.