ROCKINGHAM — A Tractor Supply location will be coming to the building that once hosted a Winn-Dixie grocery store at 1206 Rockingham Road, the company confirmed Thursday.
The opening date for the location is tentatively set for May 25, but that could vary based on construction schedules, according to Grace Stewart, a Tractor Supply representative.
“We’re not just building a store, we’re building a team that understands the needs of the Rockingham community,” District Manager Jon DeOliveira said in a press release. “At Tractor Supply, we carry products that support the lifestyle our customers lead, the land they own and the animals in their care, so whether you are someone who raises horses and pets, runs a hobby farm or just enjoys the rural lifestyle, we’ll be there to make sure you have all the tools you need.”
Tractor Supply will hire 12 to 15 employees “with firsthand knowledge and expertise in caring for pets, livestock and land,” the press release continued. The location will also support pet adoption initiatives, 4-H and FFA, county fairs and livestock shows.
The building required a “total renovation,” according to Larry Powell, job superintendent with W.R. Newman General Contractors, with work on the building starting on Jan. 29.
The contractors are installing new plumbing, electrical, mechanical, HVAC and sprinkler systems, according to Tim Combs, inspections superintendent for the city of Rockingham.
The company is only leasing two-thirds of the property, according to planning documents, the other third of which will be leased out to another business. Retail space for Tractor Supply will be 24,181 square feet, which will include a pet washing station, according to the press release.
April Smith, a customer service representative with nearby Welcome Finance Company, said the 1206 property has been empty for at least 15 years.
“I hope it brings more business (to the area),” Smith said.
Reach Gavin Stone at 910-817-2674 or [email protected].