The small, quiet town of Leeds has always been hidden from the bustle of Birmingham. That is, until major developments located there in recent years, and put Leeds in the spotlight.Now, a major shopping center is only a week away from hopefully, bringing crowds of visitors to the area.
"We've really grown lately," said Sandra McGuire, executive director of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce. "And with [The Shops of] Grand River opens, we'll grow even more."
The Shops of Grand River is a shopping development by Birmingham-based Daniel Corp. The center features name-brand outlet stores like Talbot's and Banana Republic. Doug Neil with Daniel Corp. says, the shops will fill a void in the Birmingham area.
"There isn't an outlet center like this from Birmingham to Atlanta," he said.
That's precisely where the center, and Leeds, is located --- off I-20 between Birmingham and Atlanta.
"I think it's our location," McGuire said. "We're close to Birmingham, close to the Birmingham Airport, and we're convenient for people who travel back and forth to Atlanta."
The small town's location is also what made it a prime spot for the Barber Motorsports Park and Vintage Motorcycle Museum, which opened there in 2003. It was also a draw for Bass Pro Shops, which opened nearby in 2008. The Shops of Grand River is a multi-million dollar project, bringing with it 650 jobs.
It's expected to draw in millions of dollars in sales tax revenue, which McGuire said, will be crucial for the city's school system.
The Shops of Grand River will hold its grand opening Oct. 28 through Oct. 31.
SOURCE: CBS42
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