Several businesses in a Talladega shopping center on the corner of Battle and 17th streets will be relocating this summer to accommodate a major expansion project for another local business.

Although neither the property owner nor the corporate office will confirm the identity of the new business, the construction permit lists CVS Pharmacy as the owner and tenant of the proposed building.

Property owner Barbara Barr of Atlanta said the sale of the property "is still not closed, but we are very close to getting ready to announce. I'm not sure what the delay is, but I suppose they want to get all the necessary licenses and permits set up before the go-ahead. We should be ready to announce by the end of the month, no later than June 30."

A spokesman for the CVS' corporate headquarters said, "At this time, we have no announcement, no agreements in place," but echoed Barr in saying an announcement should be forthcoming by the end of the month.

The company has been granted at least one variance by the city and has already purchased a building permit listing an estimated $708,000 new construction project. Halstead Contractors LLC of Montgomery will be handling the project.

Two of the shopping center's recent tenants, New Life Gospel Church and the Bed and Mattress Factory Outlet, have already relocated. The church, according to Pastor Samuel B. Holt, has purchased property at 1125 Avenue H, and plans to begin work on a permanent building in the near future. Services are currently being held under a tent at that location.

The Bed and Mattress Factory Outlet is now in two different locations, at 1106 North St. E. and on Alabama 21 North, just past the Ranger Station, according to a large sign in the window at the former location at the intersection of East Battle Street and Stephen J. White Memorial Boulevard.

The sign in the window of 801 Nails in the same shopping center stated they had gone out of business due to circumstances beyond their control.

Family Vision and Security Finance and Tax Service will be moving across Stephen J. White into the old Cabletown building, according to Julie Moon and Stephanie Robinson, respectively.

Moon said Barr had told her recently she would need to be ready to move "in a couple weeks," but could not offer anything more definite.

Robinson said she had not even heard that much. "We were told in January that we should be ready to move by April, but then everything got put on hold," she said. "Right now, everything is still tentative."

Blockbuster Video's situation is even more uncertain at the moment, according to manager Nicky Horn.

"We were initially told that we would either be moving up next to Wal-Mart or maybe to Sylacauga," she said. "But I understand Radio Shack is going to be moving into the old Friedman's Jeweler's building, which is the one we were looking at. We're supposed to know more after a meeting June 29."

A spokeswoman at Radio Shack's corporate headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, confirmed the move, but could not say when it would be happening.

Margarita's Restaurant will be moving either into the old Family Dollar building or the old Rent-A-Center Building in the same shopping center that Family Vision and Security Finance are moving into. An employee said the manager had told him they would be moving in September.

Brothers' Fitness has not settled on a new location, according to owner Randy Hudgins.

City manager Thomas Christie has said previously that the expansion of the existing business and the movement of some other businesses into previously vacant buildings were "more signs that Talladega is showing positive economic progress. The council and I are pleased and elated that they have chosen to stay and expand. They are making a sizable investment here, and we wish them continued success."

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