?Hometown Store’ and Weight Loss Center Open in Fayetteville

Sears Hometown Store

Owner: Brian Center

Address: 3162 W. Martin Luther King Blvd., Ste. 2, Fayetteville

Phone: 479-575-9266

E-mail: [email protected]

Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 1-6 p.m. Sunday

Web site: www.searshometownstores.com

Startup date: Oct. 9, 2009

What’s the difference in a Sears store and a Sears Hometown Store?

“We carry all the cool stuff Sears has,” Brian Center said, smiling.

Center is the independent owner-operator of the Sears Hometown Store in Fayetteville. And by “cool stuff,” he meant his store carries all the electronics, lawn and garden equipment, tools, and appliances typically found in full-scale Sears outlets.

Sears Hometown Store is located in Stadium Center, a Mathias Properties development. The Rockin’ Chicken restaurant sits in front of the strip of spaces that includes Sears Hometown Store.

Center said he’s known Mathias for some time.

“I’ve always wanted to own my own business, and this opportunity came up,” Center said.

The 7,700-SF store includes about 6,200 SF of sales floor jam-packed with all of the aforementioned items. Center currently employs three others.

A grand opening was held March 20-22, and “went better than expected, especially considering the snow,” Center said.

Center also said he’s currently having to order some appliances and electronic items, but he’s hoping to secure warehouse space “so that we can have at least one of everything in stock.”

“I’m like everybody else,” Center said. “When I pay my money for something, I want to take it home.”

Inches-A-Weigh

Owner: Kathia Robles

Address: 4155 N. Steele Blvd., Fayetteville

Phone: 479-439-4229

Hours: By appointment

Startup date: Feb. 15, 2009

A nationwide franchise of weight-loss centers for women has opened a Fayetteville location.

“Our goal is to provide sound nutritional counseling and exercise through a fun and healthy approach,” local Inches-A-Weigh owner Kathia Robles said.

The Fayetteville store currently is working on an appointments-only basis, but plans to be open from 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday once class enrollments expand.

Inches-A-Weigh promotes a low-fat eating plan in conjunction with on-site exercise classes and behavior modification classes. The company sets up its stores to feature a “day-spa environment.”

Inches-A-Weigh also utilizes a three-phase system in aiding clients. The first provides an individually designed eating plan, while the second incorporates “individualized figure shaping programs that concentrate on low-exertion exercises.”

The third phase is designed to develop cardiovascular fitness.

Submit tips about new businesses in Northwest Arkansas to Rob Keys at [email protected] or 479-725-0394, ext. 323.