| A typical ALCO store and its contents. |
Duckwall-ALCO recently announced its plans to open an ALCO Discount Store in Castle Dale. The opening is scheduled for sometime near the end of April. On completion of renovation and construction of a sales floor addition, the store will locate in the former Sprouse-Reitz store at 690 East Main Street and will employ approximately 25 associates. In announcing the opening, Glen Shank, President of Duckwall-ALCO Stores, Inc., said, “We are very confident that the new ALCO store’s selections, quality and prices will meet the needs of shoppers in Castle Dale and the surrounding trade area.”
ALCO will stress convenience, friendliness and service by offering quality full-line general merchandise selections at discount prices. The store will include clothing, shoes and accessories for all members of the family, jewelry, nonprescription medicines, beauty aids, candy, housewares, appliances, china/glassware, stereos, TVs, records/tapes, cameras, stationery, greeting cards, school supplies, furniture, hardware, tools, paint, garden center, toys, sporting goods, pet supplies, automotive supplies, bedding, curtains, shades, crafts, and sewing supplies. Merchandise will be supplied to the store from ALCO’s 350,000 square foot distribution center in Abilene, Kan.
| Employees in the new Castle Dale store ready the shelves for the new merchandise. |
The staff of the new store will be hired primarily from the Castle Dale trade area. Dennis Alesio, Vice President of Personnel for the chain indicated that representatives of the company scheduled and interviewed some 150 people from over 200 applications received. “We are confident that we have found well qualified individuals to fill the group managers and sales associate positions,” said Alesio. The store manager, Scott Wheeler, was assigned to Castle Dale from ALCO’s existing management pool.
ALCO Discount stores represent a division of the 153 year old Duckwall-ALCO Stores, Inc. There are presently 184 ALCO stores serving customers in 21 states in the Midwest and West. ALCO currently operates four stores in Utah, in Roosevelt, Moab, Tremonton and Blanding. In addition to the ALCO Discount Stores, the company operates 80 variety or specialty stores in 10 states. Currently celebrating its 103rd year, Duckwall-ALCO Stores, Inc. was founded in 1901 in Abilene, Kan. and has been in continuous operation since that time. The corporate headquarters and distribution center are still located in the small Kansas community.