Jul 28, 2007

Downtown Bristol atmosphere and merchants are attracting diverse new businessesBy David McGeeTriCities.com

Bristol, Va. – Scott Howard can’t stop talking about the warm welcome he’s received from people in the Twin City.

The owner of Short Sheet Fabric, Howard recently opened his business in the former J.C. Penney building on State Street. It’s one of several new businesses that recently opened in the city’s downtown.

“I feel more at home here in six weeks than in Crossville [Tenn.], where I’ve lived most of my life,” Howard said. “Every single person I’ve talked to – on both sides of the street – has said, ‘What can we do to help you?’ They’ve really embraced me.”

The business offers a wide variety of brand-name fabrics at discounted prices, similar to his family’s other stores in Crossville and Knoxville. Despite opening two weeks ago, Howard hasn’t had time to install a sign on the 19,000-square-foot building.

“We looked for the last year at Johnson City, Bristol and Abingdon and didn’t find a building that fit,” Howard said. “But [Deputy City Manager] Mike Sparks from the Tennessee side just kept working with us. We looked on both sides, but this was the only building for sale.”

The store is larger than his other locations, and long-range plans include adding a work room and reupholsterer to the space.

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