Such was the anticipation for many people in Limestone County, that although the April 21, grand opening of Athens’ new TJ Maxx wouldn’t happen for almost an hour, the international chain store’s first customers made sure to secure their spot despite chilly, seasonal temperatures. That was shortly after 6 a.m. Sunday. The store opened at 7 a.m.

The ribbon cutting wouldn’t take place for another hour, but by that time the opening festivities had already included a live DJ inside and outside of the store, performances by the Athens High School Band and, fittingly, a fashion show. The new Athens store is located at 1061 Kelli Drive, south of U.S. 72.

The capstone of the event, though, was likely one that didn’t directly involve ringing cash registers. That morning, the store announced a $10,000 donation to Habitat for Humanity of the River Valley.

In earlier remarks, Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks noted that the new store represented one more reason for people to keep their sales tax dollars in the city. And, Pammie Jimmar, president of the Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce said that the new business was a “testament” to growth in the county.

Today, that growth is represented by Limestone as one of Alabama’s fastest growing counties. As a home to both Athens and Huntsville suburbs, Limestone County added 3,800 people from 2022 to 2023, and now totals 114,654 people, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. The county has grown nearly 40%, adding more than 31,000 residents, since 2010.