By David Hedstrom – Centreville Press Reporter, May 16, 1974
Several Brent citizens are rebuilding stores destroyed by the tornado of May 27 at a new shopping center, which will be located near the Brent Banking Co., on the opposite side of Highway 5.
Mr. Preston James, Jr., has already built the 5,000 square foot brick frame and roof of what will become James Hardware. Having started construction on March 1, he owns the only standing building at the future shopping center. Everyone else has not begun or completed the foundations of their new stores.
Besides selling building material and general hardware like sporting goods, paints and garden tools, Mr. James is also going to feature a drapery shop within the hardware building, which will be operated by his wife, Mrs. Dexine James.
Mr. James was in the hardware business several years before the tornado. His new building is four times as large as the old one. He hopes to open his store sometime during the end of May.
Second behind Mr. James in construction is Mr. R.E. Hollifield, who is laying the foundation for his future grocery store. Brent Super Saver, Inc. Mr. Hollifield’s son, Mr. Wayne Hollifield, spent a lot of time on a tractor spreading dirt for the foundation of the store last Monday.
“I’m looking forward to business. Everything will be all new,” Mr. Hollifield said.
Mr. Glenn Peak of the Bibb Supply Co. can watch the development of the new shopping center through the window of his tornado-battered store.
“I’m hoping to start building during the next 30 or 40 days. I don’t have any land yet, and I have to wait to know what size building to order,” Mr. Peak said.
“Then I’ll stock anything to make a nickel,” he said with a smile. He deals with general merchandise like seed, plants, fertilizer, garden supplies and no groceries. He said he also sells pumps for private wells.
Mr. Johnny Meigs of Hunt Drug will also soon move into the shopping center. Presently, he is operating in a trailer bordering Highway 5.
“They’re already getting ready to pour the floor,” Mr. Meigs said, though he is waiting on contractors to enter a bid. Once this is accomplished, he expects to start building.
“We’re going to have a complete drug store. It will be large, and will have a soda fountain, greeting cards, cosmetics, and health-related products. He said the area of the new drug store is 3,200 square feet.
The employees of power, telephone and gas companies were seen planning the installation of wires and pipes on the construction site last Monday.
Brent Bank Building & Employees, September 18, 1975