By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

Revitalization boosters in downtown Fayetteville have won a major victory with the announcement that one of the city's largest empty buildings may soon be filled.

Western wear retailer Otto Meier has purchased the former A&T Grocery building at the corner of Jeff Davis Drive and Ga. Highway 54 west, which has been vacant for about two years. Purchase price was reportedly $650,000.

“This is exciting news,” said Sherri Anderson, director of Main Street Fayetteville, a program aimed at historic preservation, revitalization and building a sense of community in the city's downtown area. “We're hoping some really neat businesses can go in there,” she added.

Owners vacated the 10,000-sq. ft. building soon after it opened in 1997 as a new home for a small grocery that had occupied the corner for years. SouthTrust Bank, holder of the construction loan, took over ownership.

Over the last two years, city officials said, there was a lot of interest from potential buyers, but the store, ideally situated at the westbound entrance to Fayetteville, was too large for some, too small for others.

The Wiley Real Estate Group took over marketing of the property three months ago and handled the sale to Meier. The company will continue to work for Meier, leasing and managing the property.

Johnny Easterling, broker for the company, said he will try to find a single lessor, rather than breaking up the building into smaller stores or offices.

The building could be used for either retail or office activity, he said.

Lease price will probably be in the range of $9.50 a square foot, he said.

“We've had several bites on it already,” said a spokesman for the company.

Meier, owner of the national Western Stores retail chain, is currently in the process of opening a new Horsetown clothing store in Locust Grove, Ga., said Anderson.

“He's very enthusiastic about this building,” Anderson said of Meier.

Local leaders have expressed concern about the growing number of vacant buildings in Fayetteville, as large retailers like Wal-Mart have moved out to the new Fayette Pavilion shopping center.

The A&T sale is welcome news, said Anderson, adding that it dovetails nicely with the city's street scape improvement plans.

Within the next few weeks, crews should begin installing brick sidewalks and period street lights along Hwy. 54 in front of the store.

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