There’s no place like home
Stockdale’s in Covington holds grand re-opening
Story by Jodie Hassall Photos by Cara Moore and Allison Farley
A celebration was held on March 29 as Stockdale’s Manager Cecilia Musick cut the ribbon to commemorate the re-opening of the store in Covington. Sharing in the festivities were Chamber of Commerce representatives, area FFA students, Stockdale’s team members, and Tennessee Farmers Cooperative’s Chief Executive Officer Shannon Huff.
On the evening of March 31, 2023, an EF3 tornado tore a path through Covington, resulting in several injuries, devastation of homes and streets, and the destruction of the local Stockdale’s store. Thankfully, all staff and guests were safe, but the store was not able to reopen as staff, area volunteers, and even local FFA students worked to clean up the mess that the tornado had left.
Over the next several months, Stockdale’s reopened at a temporary location to continue to serve the community as recovery began. While thankful for the temporary space, the staff knew that the best avenue for success would be to find a way to return to its original site. Collaborating with Tennessee Farmers Cooperative and GreenPointAg, Stockdale’s began developing plans to rebuild the store at its 2064 Hwy 51S location, but with a few changes in its design to offer more to the community. Locally based Rose Construction designed the new floor plan and rebuilt the store to include office space and a dog wash station.
“They just came in here and knocked it out of the park!” said Stockdale’s Chief Executive Officer Vickey Stewart, as she commended everyone who played a part in putting the new and improved Covington Stockdale’s facility back in business.
Nearly two years to the day from the storms, the store was finally able to return to its original location. On March 29th, Stockdale’s hosted a Grand Re-Opening celebration, welcoming local leaders and long-time supporters to take part in the festivities and see the updated space. Local FFA students and advisers helped distribute door prizes, T-shirts, and lunch.
Among choruses of “We’re so glad you’re back,” “This looks better than before,” and “We’ve missed you,” shoppers enjoyed connecting with members of the community, browsing new products, and purchasing items to set up their homes and farms with new spring supplies. After a ceremonial ribbon cutting hosted by the Covington Chamber of Commerce, shoppers were encouraged to continue the celebration with cake and a picnic lunch.
Mayor Jan Hensley, spoke of his experience the night of the storm.
“I was here when [the tornado] happened,” Hensley recalled. “Your employees were taking care of customers and directing traffic out there until 11 that night. We were all experiencing it together.
Stockdale’s newly built store stands on the spot where the previous store stood and offers a wide variety of rural clothing, boots, and hunting supplies as well as pet foods, home goods, and lawn items.
They keep telling me that this store’s not any bigger,” he continued. “With the new office space and dog wash, it sure does feel bigger, and I know it's better.”
In her remarks thanking the Covington community, Rose Construction, and the leadership team from Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, Vickey Stewart had special praises for the Stockdale’s staff.
“The last several months that we’ve been in the store, they have worked endlessly to get this store merchandised and in the shape it is today,” she said.
Stockdale’s Covington store first opened in 2006. At that time, Tipton Farmers Co-op was moving to focus on production agriculture, and they partnered with Tennessee Farmers Cooperative to take over the consumer side of the business to support local farm families and consumers.
“[Stockdale’s] fits this area, and it takes the place of what the Co-op fit,” said Franklin Black, the first manager of Tipton Farmers
Co-op, as he commented on the impact of the Stockdale’s concept. “We didn’t go into it to this extent, but it’s a great asset to the county.”
While Tipton Farmers Co-op, now a GreenPoint Ag location, continues to serve the commercial farmers in the area, Stockdale’s strives to serve its customers’ rural lifestyle needs.
The staff and many of its customers spent much of the Grand Re-Opening reflecting on what had been, appreciating how far the community and the store had come, and sharing in hope for the future. It was a full-circle moment for many who had helped clean up from the tornado to return for the celebration.
“I just want to say ‘thank you’ to everybody who has come out and for being with us on this long journey,” said store manager Cecilia Musiek. “We really appreciate all our customers, our employees, and everyone who has helped us rebuild our location. We’re so happy to be home!”
Children received balloons, stickers, and coloring pages, and enjoyed shopping the toy section.
On hand for the celebration was the Stockdale’s corporate team made of Vickey Stewart, chief operating officer, along with Devon Jones, Jennifer Knight, Josh Cole, Susan Williams, Phillip Gathright, and Sheila Dotson. Joining them was Stockdale’s West Tennessee Livestock Specialist Barry Gray, along with Stockdale’s store managers Andrew Bullion, Bolivar; Glynda Guthrie, Selmer; Jennifer Stewart, Oakland; Cecilia Musick, Covington; Elaina Campbell, Bowling Green; and Halie Steward, Paris.
By Jodie Hassall,
Contact JHassall@ourcoop.com