By John Howell Sr.

Save-A-Lot owner Gail White said that the expansion of his grocery business on Highway 6 West will soon reach the stage of joining his existing structure with the building next door that formerly housed a video rental business.

“Should be interesting,” White said, as the store continues to do business as usual while the work is ongoing.

When completed, Save-A-Lot will feature between 14,000 and 15,000 square feet of selling area. The two separate structures will have been joined into one attractive store building, according to documents on file with Batesville Code Administrator Pam Comer.

Joey Caine is the contractor for the Save-A-Lot expansion.

At Batesville Shopping Center work is underway to convert the middle section of the building that formerly housed Walmart into Goody’s, Comer said.

Goody’s features women’s apparel. The store will include about 14,000 square feet, according to documents on file in Comer’s office.

Nearby at the intersection of Lakewood Drive and Highway 6 East, the Burger King restaurant is undergoing an extensive renovation that will double the interior dining space. Venture Construction Company’s Memphis Division has the renovation contract that is eliminating an existing playground area to allow the additional dining area. The construction will also remodel the bathrooms and building exterior.

On Highway 6 East, Steve Nickle is adding a storage area to Powell’s Liquor that Nickle recently bought from Tommy Powell. Johnny Fowler has the contract to add about 600 square feet of storage area and other amenities to the structure, according to documents on file in the Code Administrator’s office.