Shopping center tenant enjoying new digs
Published 6:00 am Friday, December 8, 2017
- The staff of Osborne's Jewelers includes: Wayne Hand, jeweler; Shannon Thomas, sales; Anissa Benson, operations manager; Yvonne Chadick, officer manager; Sarah Poole, sales; Everett Osborne, owner; Aaron Gabardi, sales manager; Tiffany Shireman, managing partner; and Dawn Hagood, graduate gemologist and jeweler.
The newest tenant of the Eastside Junction Shopping Center on U.S. 72 in Athens has settled in after opening little more than a month ago.
Osborne’s Jewelers moved from its former location on South Jefferson Street to a new 4,000-square-foot space next to Marco’s Pizza. The store’s first day at the new location was Oct. 26.
Tiffany Shireman, managing partner at Osborne’s, said the move has paid off, as they’re seeing a lot of new customers after moving east. The business also hired two new full-time associates.
“The employees love that we have more square feet,” she said. “We also have a really nice coffee bar area with refreshments and a TV area for our guests who are hanging out with us.”
The added retail space also enabled Osborne’s to bring in some new product lines, including Mikomoto, John Hardy and Breitling.
Developer Bill Ming, who worked with the business on the move to the Publix-anchored shopping center, said the move made sense because Osborne’s is a specialty retailer with a strong following. He described the jeweler as having a long-standing history as a successful business.
“Anytime you have a business of this caliber in your shopping center, it serves as a draw for all businesses,” he said. “Having Osborne’s creates strong co-tenancy, which means they serve as a co-anchor that enhances the shopping experience and drives traffic for all businesses in the shopping center.”
When asked if there were additional plans for development at the center, Ming said there is a 4-acre site behind Publix, which fronts Lindsay Lane. He described the site as being suitable for professional offices or town homes.
“There are no immediate plans to develop this site, but it will be considered in the future based on market demand,” he said.
As for Osborne’s, Shireman anticipates the store will enjoy continued success in the shopping center. She also invites any last-minute Christmas shoppers to come by and visit.
“We’re going to be open on Christmas Eve, even though it’s on a Sunday,” she said. “A lot of guys like to sneak out of the house that day, and some people like to shop the day before Christmas.”
