Construction Notes: Dixie Brings New Stud to Northwest Arkansas

Dixie Brings New Stud to Northwest Arkansas

Dixie Building Products in Rogers, a division of Dixie Management & Investment of Fayetteville, is bringing the latest in home and office efficiency to Northwest Arkansas.

The company is manufacturing metal studs and trusses that have become popular in California and Texas. The metal studs and trusses are far superior in strength to the usual two-by-four wood studs and trusses.

Also, Dixie will be using a spray-on soybean-based insulation in its new commercial and residential construction projects.

Doug Rye, an expert on energy efficient homes from Little Rock, will work as a consultant with Dixie on its new residential construction.

Ben Israel, president and CEO of Dixie, said about 10 percent of the new homes in the California market are using the metal studs and trusses.

The metal studs and trusses are pre-designed by a computer, therefore there is no on-site sawing to fit by builders. That saves time. Also, Israel said the metal studs and trusses “withstand high winds much better than a conventional stick-built house would.”

The metal studs and trusses will be sold commercially nationwide by Dixie. House kits will be available. Israel said they can be shipped by rail line from the Rogers facility.

Dixie is soon to enter the residential market, and Israel said its houses will sell between $80 and $90 per SF with the metal trusses.

Also, Israel said the spray-on soybean-based insulation is “three times more energy efficient and will lower utility bills dramatically.” He also said the insulation and metal studs and trusses were fire- and bug-resistant.

— Kyle Mooty

Wal-Mart Sets Expansion Plans

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville said on Oct. 1 that it would add 200-210 Supercenters and 45-55 new discount stores during its next fiscal year, which begins Feb. 1.

Wal-Mart said it would continue expanding its Neighborhood Market stores, adding 20-25 during the next year. It also said it will add 40-45 new Sam’s Club warehouse stores.

Of the new Supercenters, about 140 will be relocations or expansions of existing stores. About 85 percent to 90 percent will open by the end of the third quarter, Wal-Mart said.

About two-thirds of the Sam’s Club stores will be relocations or expansions, and the company said it will continue its remodeling program in those stores.

Beyond the United States, Wal-Mart International plans to open 120-130 new stores in existing markets.

In all, Wal-Mart expects to add about 48 million SF of new retail space. Wal-Mart said it also will add three new regional general merchandise distribution centers and six new food distribution centers, adding about 8.7 million SF of distribution space.

As of Aug. 31, the company had 1,603 Wal-Mart stores, 1,179 Supercenters, 517 Sam’s Clubs and 36 Neighborhood Markets in the United States.

Internationally, the company has stores in Argentina (11), Brazil (22), Canada (199), China (20), Germany (96), Korea (12), Mexico (578), Puerto Rico (18) and the United Kingdom (256).

Wal-Mart also owns a 6.1 percent interest in Seiyu Ltd. with options to purchase up to 66.7 percent of that company. Seiyu operates more than 400 stores in Japan.

— Arkansas Business staff

Belk Will Spend $5M to Expand, Open Store

Belk Inc. of Charlotte, N.C., said on Oct. 2 that it will open a new department store at Cornerstone Market Place in Hot Springs in the fall of 2003.

The store will occupy the former Albertson’s grocery store site, which will be renovated and expanded from 55,922 SF to about 70,000 SF.

Cornerstone Market Place sits on the southeast corner of King Expressway and Central Avenue. The $35 million market place is managed by Selig Commercial Real Estate of Hot Springs.

“We’re excited about coming to Hot Springs,” said Linda Zwern, chairman of Belk’s Western Division based in Greenville, S.C. “Our goal is to make shopping convenient and enjoyable for customers.”

The company said that top designer and national brands will be offered at the new store, along with exclusive Belk brands. The store will include a gift registry, gift-wrapping, alterations, Great Gifts cards and Belk revolving and interest-free charge accounts.

The company said the store is about a $5 million investment.

— Arkansas Business staff