Cell phones and wigs are sharing space in two stores that recently opened in the former location of Cato in King Edward Shopping Center.

Separated by a shelf, Savannah’s Wigs and a Cingular store opened Nov. 25, sharing the vacant storefront, about 4,000 square feet total. Both businesses are owned by a Jasper woman.

Connie Pirkey, manager of both stores, said Thursday that she expected business to improve as more of the vacant storefronts in the shopping center are filled.

“It’s been OK,” Pirkey said. “I wish there would be more traffic.”

Each store has two employees besides herself, Pirkey said.

Bill Drinkard of Drinkard Development, owner of the shopping center, said a retailer whom he could not name is preparing to set up shop in the former Winn-Dixie location at King Edward. The supermarket closed Aug. 23.

“There is a business going in there,” Drinkard said. “I don’t know when exactly they’ll present their plans to the city.”

Drinkard said the business “involve(s) food” and would likely be one of several opening in north Alabama around the same time.

“We’re very excited,” he said. “Now we’re just waiting. They have their own time frame they have to do things in.”

Drinkard said the staff at the development firm owned by his father Roy Drinkard is also working on bringing a tenant to the old Wal-Mart building at the same shopping center.

New developments will revitalize the center, which has seen several stores close in recent months, he said.

“I think within the year it’ll be a really hot property,” Drinkard said. “I think people will be surprised. If everything works like we think it will work and the stores coming in do like we think they will, the people of Cullman will be very happy.”