By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – A crowd of excited Montevallo citizens attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the city’s newest retail venture, Tractor Supply.

The soft-opening ceremony began promptly at 8 a.m. Feb. 12, with Montevallo Mayor Ben McCrory wielding a pair of gardening shears to cut the ribbon and welcome the new business to the city.

“We have been anxiously awaiting for this day; the citizens have been anxiously awaiting this day,” McCrory said. “We want to let Tractor Supply know how much we appreciate them putting the multi-million dollar investment into Montevallo, and I can assure you that we are not going to let them down.”

Tractor Supply Manager Geoff Wymer is looking forward to serving the citizens of Montevallo.

“All of the hard work paid off to get open and make this available to everyone here so it could be a mutually beneficial relationship with us and the community,” Wymer said. “I want to thank you all for coming out this morning.”

The “mutually beneficial relationship” allows for the people of Montevallo and the surrounding areas to find supplies for their farms and homes previously unavailable in Montevallo. Wymer said the company recognized the need in the community, and he believes Tractor Supply will supply that need.

“(The need for animal feed and other farming supplies) is a part of the outdoor lifestyle need, and we’re going to have what they need,” Wymer said. “They won’t have to drive to Chelsea or other places they’ve had to go. People like myself, even in Alabaster, had to go to Columbiana or Chelsea to get chicken feed.”

Montevallo Chamber of Commerce President Mary Lou Williams sees the positive impact of the store not only for the city, but also in her own life.

“I’ve got 20 acres, and it’s great to have a place in town where you can just buy the things you need,” Williams said. “There used to be places in town, but for the last month, I’ve been driving to Wilsonville, and there are people who drive to Clanton.”

The Chamber’s vice chair, Debra Payne, and her husband, Steve, were in attendance for the ribbon cutting.

“This is his kind of store,” Debra Payne said of her husband. “He couldn’t wait. He used to have to go to Chelsea.”

“Mainly, it’s great because of the selection,” Steve Payne said of the new store. “If you live on a farm or ranch, this is your kind of store. They have everything you need for your farm or ranch. The only thing they’re short of is food for humans.”

“It’s like a Wal-Mart for men,” Debra commented with a smile.

Steve only predicts one problem with the close proximity of the store.

“Now my problem is that I’m going to have to bring my granddaughters over here to buy them cowboy boots. It’s going to cost me a fortune before I can get them out of here,” Steve said, grinning. “Especially the pink cowboy boots, all three are going to have to have a set of them.”