Abilities Unlimited has no timetable to rebuild

The one-year anniversary of the devastating fire that destroyed the Abilities Unlimited Inc. building is just a few weeks away, but construction on the new site is still not expected to begin any time soon.

The fire, which happened in early March of last year, left the AU building unusable, and demolition on the building began last August. However, little has been done at the site since demolition was completed.

Product site manager Ricky Baker told the CN in August that no timeline had been established for the opening of the new store, which was to be located in the building adjacent to the former AU building on the south side. Both Baker and AU regional manager Darren May said the organization has no plans to pull out of Blytheville.

"We'll stay (on Main Street) or move. Either way we're not leaving Blytheville," May said.

AU Chief Financial Officer Lorraine Gibson said the store's re-opening may still be a year away or more.

"We're hoping to get started (rebuilding) here in the next year or so," Gibson said. "We're going to rebuild in the same location, and use that same lot, but it's a long, tedious process. We have to go through getting bids and things like that. But we are enthusiastic about the rebuild."

Gibson said there has been a large number of people from the area anxious for the new store to come in, but until it is open, AU has been having regular warehouse sales at the organization's warehouse, located on the Arkansas Aeroplex at 2100 Texas St., Building 433.

"We've been doing these warehouse sales because there's been such a big outcry for them. We do them monthly right now, but we're looking into maybe staring to open up weekly," Gibson said.

No specific date has been set for construction to begin.

cpinkard@blythevillecourier.com