By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Multicolored lights are all that's dancing right now at the defunct A&T grocery store in Fayetteville.

But the 10,000-sq. ft. building at Ga. Highway 54 and Jeff Davis Drive is ready to come out of retirement next week, filled with the sounds of teen talk, music and dancing.

A new teen center, The Market, will provide an element that parents and teens in Fayette have long called for — something for kids to do on a weekend night.

The teen club should open next weekend, said Taylor Williams, who is organizing the club along with a group of Fayette professionals.

“We're just waiting on the DOT (Georgia Department of Transportation) for a permit to connect the fire hydrants to the sprinklers, and we'll be done,” said Williams.

With $50,000 invested in light and sound equipment, Williams said he is hoping the center will provide a good social environment for local teens.

Williams said he came up with the idea for the center as a way to give local teens a way to fill idle time.

“I've got a 17-year-old son, and he just goes `out' on weekends,” said Williams, a music marketer. “What's `out?' It's just hanging out.”

Williams said decided the area needs a teen center where youths can dance, hang out and talk to friends in a safe environment.

The center will be smoke-free, alcohol-free and drug-free, said Williams, adding that off-duty police officers will provide security. A cover charge of $8 will help defray expenses for the nonprofit center, he said.

The center will be open Friday and Saturday nights for dancing, and eventually, Williams said, he hopes to launch an “American Bandstand” style television show.

Once the club is established, Williams added, he hopes to bring in additional activities during the week, like motivational speakers, mentor programs and anti-drug programs.

“Once they're coming there on Friday and Saturday, all we have to do is plug in different things,” he said.

The facility also will be available for wedding receptions and other parties, Williams said, adding that the space may be donated for church and youth group activities.