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Dillard’s opens Saturday in Anderson County
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Dillard's ready for Saturday opening
Local news media toured the inside of Dillard's, the latest addition to the Anderson Mall.
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ANDERSON COUNTY — Starting Saturday at 10:30 a.m., what is possibly the largest department store in Anderson’s history finally will be open to the public.
The soft opening of Dillard’s at the Anderson Mall is designed to familiarize the store’s nearly 120 new employees with the business’ inventory, customer service and accounting systems.
For Anderson-area shoppers, it will be the first opportunity to feast on the enormous inventory already filling the shelves and racks of the 126,000-square-foot facility.
The soft opening will run through Oct. 29, and store hours will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday’s hours are 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“We encourage everyone to come in and shop during the soft opening,” said store manager Heather Lagasse. “We want everyone to enjoy quality merchandise and fair prices.”
Lagassee is a native of Lancaster, S.C., and a University of South Carolina graduate.
Following the soft opening, the store’s grand opening celebration will last from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2
The grand opening celebration will feature a daily in-store Lucky Key event. Each day, the first 500 customers entering the store through the east entrance will receive a special key, and 20 of the keys will unlock one of several treasure chests located through out the store.
Each treasure chest will contain prizes ranging from free merchandise up to a $1,000 Dillard’s gift card on each day.
Dillard’s is among the nation’s largest fashion apparel and home-furnishing retailers.
The company focus is on delivering fashion and value through its line of apparel, cosmetics, accessories and home decor selections, according to company officials.
The Anderson location includes apparel for women, men (including big and tall sizes), children and junior apparel; ladies’ and men’s accessories; handbags; fashion jewelry; watches; and cosmetics, among many other items.
Dillard’s home store products feature the Paula Deen line of spices and cooking accessories as well as bath accessories by Micro-Cotton, whose product line is featured in the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Dillard’s employee and Anderson resident Jackie Pope said the Anderson store is ready to serve the public.
“Everything has been laid out, well-organized, and we are ready to go,” Pope said from behind the Lancome cosmetics counter.
The store will offer a collection of national brands, including Jones New York, Ralph Lauren, Dooney & Burke, Coach, Karen Kane, Kasper, Perry Ellis and Cole Haan.
For many shoppers, however, the stores biggest attraction will be found in the ladies shoe department.
“We our proud to say that we will carry over 30,000 pairs of women’s shoes in stock,” Dillard’s District Manager Keith White said from the immense stock room.
He said, “The sheer size of our inventory is a good indicator of how dedicated we are to serving Anderson’s shoppers.”
Enthusiasm is extensive among the store’s 100 employees and management team, and it is shared by the entire Dillard’s organization.
“We are so excited to be here in Anderson,” said Dillard’s marketing director Roger Williams during a media event Thursday. “We cannot wait to open the doors and serve the people of Anderson and the surrounding communities.”
Jack Cantrell, an employee in men’s clothing, said the opportunity to work for Dillard’s, if only for the last few weeks, has been a thrill.
“The opportunity to be a part of something this big, and be able to offer the community a whole new shopping experience is what I most look forward to,” Cantrell said.
The Anderson Mall already is reaping the benefits of its newest tenant.
The mall, the footprint of which grew from to 701,000 from 526,000 total square feet with the addition of Dillard’s, has seen a dramatic facelift in the past few months. Changes include new paving in parking lots, fresh paint on walls, and upgraded signage and mapping for mall customers.
“The addition of Dillard’s is an integral part of our vision for the Anderson Mall as well as a landmark occasion for the community,” said Simon Property Group representative and Anderson Mall Manager Josh Levinson.
Simon Property Group has planned several family-friendly events in conjunction with the Dillard’s grand opening events to take place Saturday, Nov. 1.
Inflatables will be stationed near the Mall Ring Road entrance from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and face-painting and balloon sculpting will be available adjacent to the main interior entrance to Dillard’s from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Seneca-based band Stone Echo will provide free music and entertainment from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. from an outdoor stage near the mall’s main entrance.
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Yeah, with food and bills to worry about being paid, all us women will be running to Dillards for their over priced shoes.With the wages they pay here in Anderson county, your lucky to afford Walmart shoes. I will be surprised if this store lasts, in this very poor area. Remember all you SC voters, vote Republican then you will surely be able to afford Dillards shoes...... NOT!!
I think Dillard's will do great in Anderson. Many of us drive to Greenville to shop. Now we're finally starting to get some variety.
Looking at the photo, I thought to myself..."It wasn't me I tell ya, I was framed!"
in response to mommy08
I agree mommy08. It will definitely be nice to have Dillard's in Anderson.
SBEBE, why are you so negative? If you worry about food and bills, why are paying for internet access?? That is waht is wrong with people today, be happy for a change and notice the difference!!
Sbebe, I am curious what you do for a living? Do you work for a rich person, or a company owned by rich people? Chances are you do, like it or not the Rich are who employee the middle and lower class in most cases.
It is attitudes like yours that are very scary this election year. I am sorry to be the one to break the news to you but the Democratic plan is not the answer. It is true that B.O. wants to redistribute the wealth, take from the rich, give to the poor, so it may help you if you are financially struggling now. But how is going to help if you loose your job because your rich employers begin cutting back due to increased taxation? Or how will it help you when products and services go up in price because business owners are forced to raise prices due to increased taxation?
My wife and I combined make less than 250k a year, we would be beneficiaries of B.O's wealth redistribution plan, however I am strongly against it as I can see the bigger picture.
in response to unregistered
I agree, I see it like the stock market, long term is the answer, not a "quick fix" democratic president that is full of empty promises. News flash, the republicans ain't much better, but I am not willing to sell off all my stock to the democrats!!
I agree with unregistered and simple tax payer.
A quick fix is not the answer. My husband and I also make less that 250K per year combined, we are struggling at the moment, but I do not agree with the democratic view of redistributing the wealth. I have a huge problem with the thought of my family working our butts off and having any more of our money helping people on welfare who wont make the slightest attempt to try to work or do anything to help themselves. We have to think long term here. I also agree that I am not thrilled with our Republican choice right now, but again, we must think long term! Our county, our children, our grandchildren...this is all of our futures we are playing with at the moment. I am more worried about my 20 year old son, who works and is in college, and his future right now than my immediate "wants".
As for sbebe...why are you always so negative. simple tax payers comment will hopefully make you think....so you want to end up unemployed? I am also guessing he is right with his opinion that you work for a "rich person" whos business could go under. Where would that leave you and your family.
I am horrified about either outcome of this election, its scary either way to me.
Sorry, I didnt mean to get off track of the article at hand, but people just really blow my mind with their negative attitudes towards the growth of Anderson. I am very excited to see Dillards and all the growth downtown happening here. It is a good thing. Does anyone care about the future of Anderson, or do the "life timers" just want to hold us back. You have to start somewhere.
No, I do not work for the rich. Also, I can afford to have the internet. What I am talking about is how many poor people live in this area and nobody cares about. One free clinic that you have to stand in line for and hope to get in that day. This area needs to start taking care of its own, instead of worrying about getting a Dillards. But, also, keep voting for the Republicans, because you need to keep your guns. You are going to need them soon. because if they get in there will be unrest. Keep on yeehawing, and good luck with Dillards.
in response to sbebe
Many of us enjoy shopping with our hard-earned money. It doesn't mean we don't care about the less fortunate. You're making way too big a deal out of this.
What caught my eye was with a new store that they spent millions on, Had the nerve to put last on the list they got a band to come and furnish FREE music. The very lest they could have done was give them a shopping credit. Dillards has been in Anderson all my life, as a matter of fact they started off across from White Jones and even when I was a child, I wasn't impressed with their business, and I'm still not impressed, and I guess I will spend about the same amount that I have in the past. None. While you are spending your money,I'll just keep mine.
Freedom_Of_Speech, you're thinking about Dillard's Sporting Goods run by a local family.
Dillard's department store is a separately owned entity.
Excuse me.
Interesting to see someone's family makes under $250,000 and is struggling! Wow! We make less than $100,000 and all our needs and most of our wants are met. I guess it is true, the more you make the more you spend.
Dillard's is a nice store, I'm waiting for the sales because I didn't see any on Saturday.
in response to SayWhat
I said under $250K, what makes you assume that means we make over $100K??????
in response to AJ_Tazz
Opps, I evidently misread your post incorrectly, my mistake!!
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