The grand-opening drum beat of change continues to spread in Foley as Moe's Original Bar B Que opened Saturday, following Shoe Station last month, and Academy Sports + Outdoors is a few weeks off.
The openings are part of a trend that began to heat up last year all along State Highway 59. Foosackly's opened in April followed by Whataburger in June, Popeye's in late summer, and Hobby Lobby and Big Lots in October.
"The last five years have been great," said Jeff Rouzie, Foley's economic development director. "We gain a little more momentum every year with retailers and developers. As this economy has turned around, we knew it would, the retailers are out their building again and the developers are developing, so that's exciting."
The much-anticipated Academy Sports location, next to Walmart, is expected to have a grand opening on May 15.
The sports goods discount store chain will anchor the Foley Square shopping center in its 62,000-square-foot building. Mobile-based Burton Property Group is developing the $15 million project on 13 acres on Pride Drive off Ala. 59 thanks to a more than $4 million incentives package approved by the Foley City Council through the city's cooperative district.
Academy store is expected to produce about 125 jobs. While future tenants of the development have not been announced, Mayor John Koniar said two supermarkets have both been courted.
"I know that the developer of Academy is talking to both Rouses and Publix but I don't know which way that's going to go," Koniar said. "But I would assume that one of them will eventually come but I haven't heard anything there. Also, they're talking to all the other traditional stores, like Panera Bread, Chili's, places like that, but again nothing (is set)."
The mayor did say Burton is on the cusp of receiving a firm commitment from a "mid-box" clothing retailer. "But, again, it's not official yet so I can't really be throwing names out," he said. "They're talking about a February opening there, so it's a ways off."
Koniar said he was at Moe's grand opening on Saturday. It's the Alabama-based barbecue chain's fifth location in Coastal Alabama, joining barbecue joints in Mobile, West Mobile, Daphne and Orange Beach.
"It has really good food there," the mayor said. "I've eaten there before but not in Foley. They had a good crowd and a really good opening, so it should do well."
The restaurant is located next to Wolf Bay Lodge and the Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermens Market on Baldwin County 20/Miflin Road. Forland Family Market also opened a few weeks ago in the same building as Moe's.
In coming weeks, another addition to former warehouse building, which was retrofitted and expanded, will include Grill Island Inc. -- next to Forland. The company's focus is on custom outdoor kitchens and fire pits, according to Rouzie.
"The guy's really talented," Rouzie said. "He'll probably open around the first of May."
Future expansion at the coastal market site will be the construction of five hydroponic greenhouses later this year. Loxley-based Craine Creek Farms will operate the greenhouses, according to Koniar.
The Forland family of Loxley offers fresh fruits and vegetable at its market, Monday through Saturday, supplementing the neighboring coastal open-air market's limited hours. The Forland family has farmed Baldwin County for 100 years and they also operate Loxley Farm Market.
Koniar said Forland did well at its opening in late March. "They were pleased," Koniar said.
Shoe Station made the biggest impact when it opened on March 13 at its new location in front of Hobby Lobby and Big Lots, according to the mayor.
The old Chappy's restaurant building was razed to make way for the new 13,200-square-foot retail store, front highway 59. Shoe Station, which opened its first regional chain in Mobile in 1984, touts itself as one of the nation's largest independent shoe retailers with nearly 20 stores in five states.
"Shoe Station was just a home run," Koniar said. "They told us it was the biggest opening they've ever had."
And the beat goes on.
Opening Day
Posted by Moe's Original Bar B Que- Foley, Alabama on Monday, April 13, 2015