Workers walk across the parking lot of the forthcoming Golden Corral Buffet & Grill Friday. 

Golden Corral Buffett & Grill is eyeing a November opening in the former Ryan’s Buffet as Tractor Supply Co. gets ready to move into the old Kmart building being revamped as the Shops at Cullman.

Golden Corral is hurriedly wrapping up renovations at the Ryan’s building with hopes to open in time for Thanksgiving. The  City of Cullman issued a building permit valued at $700,000. 

The location has been vacant since closing suddenly in March 2016 following its owner filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to dwindling profits and a host of reportedly unprofitable locations. Golden Corral has opened in both Ryan’s locations in Decatur and Florence that closed in early 2016.

“Golden Corral is very community minded and will be a great corporate citizen,” Cullman Economic Development Agency Project Coordinator Susan Eller told The Times when the restaurant chain announced this summer it was coming to Cullman. “One of the first things we discussed were ways they give back to the community. They are a huge supporter of Disabled American Veterans and their families and annually host a ‘Military Appreciation Night’ where they feed active military personnel and veterans.”

Meanwhile, Tractor Supply Co. is preparing to move from its home at 1807 Second Ave. S.W. to the former Kmart building off U.S. 31 and Cherokee Avenue, city building records show.

Nearen Construction has been busy working to remodel the sprawling building into three separate commercial units, with Planet Fitness already confirmed to move into the middle unit spanning 26,600 square feet. According to the city building department, Tractor Supply Co. will move into the unit on the east end of the building, closest to U.S. 31 with plans to build out. 

The city’s building permit for the new location is valued at nearly $600,000. It’s not clear yet what will inhabit the third unit of The Shops at Cullman.

Kmart, owned by Sears Holding Corp., closed its Cullman location in December 2016 following a liquidation sale. It was among nearly 80 Kmart stores shuttered, including locations in Birmingham, Decatur, Homewood, Mobile and Oxford. Kmart spokesperson Riefs Howard told The Times in September 2016 the decision was “difficult, but necessary.”

And looking ahead to 2018, more shopping options are coming to Cherokee Avenue. Academy Sports + Outdoors is slated to build a $8 million, 62,000-square-foot store off Lee Avenue Southwest, behind Aldi’s, in February 2018 and open in the fall.

The store is expected to create 100 new jobs and create $270,000 in new annual sales tax revenue, plus more tax revenue from the construction materials, business license and ad valorem for Cullman.

In exchange, Cullman would remit back to Academy $800,000 of its sales tax, paid in seven annual installments up to $110,000 and $30,000 on the eighth year, or half of the sales tax revenue. Local schools would continue to receive sales tax money from Academy’s sales, and the city will cover the removal of a storm pipe and installation of a new sanitary sewer line for the store as part of the agreement.

 

Tiffeny Owens may be contacted at 256-734-2131, ext. 135.