Another retail store is taking a chance at finding a niche in downtown Tooele during the current recession.
Real Deals Home Decor will be opening this Thursday in the old Dave’s Drug building at 30 West 100 South in Tooele.
Jennifer Baird-Hebdon, of Grantsville, is bringing her favorite home decor store to Tooele along with the help of her friends, Brittani Lots and Vickie Benincosa. Lots and Benincosa own a Real Deals franchise in Bountiful and are partnering with Baird-Hebdon in the Tooele venture.
“I used to go shopping at the Bountiful store all the time,” said Baird-Hebdon. “We don’t have anything like this in Tooele.”
The Real Deals franchise has 60 stores nationwide. The Tooele store will be the eighth in Utah.
The trio of owners scouted all the downtown locations in Tooele and settled on the old Dave’s Drug location.
“We wanted to be in the older part of downtown,” Lots said. “In other cities that is where out stores are located. Rent is cheaper and the older part of town matches our mom and pop store theme.”
The Dave’s Drug building was also the only downtown store where they could get deliveries from the large trucks that bring new merchandise each week, according to Lots.
Baird-Hebdon is hedging her bet on downtown, however, by only opening the store two days a week initially — Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Although a discount store, Real Deals sells only new merchandise, according to Lots.
“We even design our own lines of some things and then import them,” Lots said. “So much of what we have is unique to our store.”
Along with home decor, including traditional Americana to more exotic items, Real Deals also carries seasonal items.
“We aim to make shopping in our store fun,” said Lots.
The store has a “man hole” with a large television and a couch to entertain the men while the ladies browse, Baird-Hebdon said. They also have a children’s play room.
Opening a new store during the recession doesn’t phase Baird-Hebdon.
“We are in the right place at the right time,” she said. “We are really happy to offer a decor alternative that our customers can afford.”
Real Deals Home Decor will be opening this Thursday in the old Dave’s Drug building at 30 West 100 South in Tooele.
Jennifer Baird-Hebdon, of Grantsville, is bringing her favorite home decor store to Tooele along with the help of her friends, Brittani Lots and Vickie Benincosa. Lots and Benincosa own a Real Deals franchise in Bountiful and are partnering with Baird-Hebdon in the Tooele venture.
“I used to go shopping at the Bountiful store all the time,” said Baird-Hebdon. “We don’t have anything like this in Tooele.”
The Real Deals franchise has 60 stores nationwide. The Tooele store will be the eighth in Utah.
The trio of owners scouted all the downtown locations in Tooele and settled on the old Dave’s Drug location.
“We wanted to be in the older part of downtown,” Lots said. “In other cities that is where out stores are located. Rent is cheaper and the older part of town matches our mom and pop store theme.”
The Dave’s Drug building was also the only downtown store where they could get deliveries from the large trucks that bring new merchandise each week, according to Lots.
Baird-Hebdon is hedging her bet on downtown, however, by only opening the store two days a week initially — Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Although a discount store, Real Deals sells only new merchandise, according to Lots.
“We even design our own lines of some things and then import them,” Lots said. “So much of what we have is unique to our store.”
Along with home decor, including traditional Americana to more exotic items, Real Deals also carries seasonal items.
“We aim to make shopping in our store fun,” said Lots.
The store has a “man hole” with a large television and a couch to entertain the men while the ladies browse, Baird-Hebdon said. They also have a children’s play room.
Opening a new store during the recession doesn’t phase Baird-Hebdon.
“We are in the right place at the right time,” she said. “We are really happy to offer a decor alternative that our customers can afford.”
