Flash Foods Developer Buys Bell's Store

The developer behind a push to build a Flash Foods convenience store in the Buffington community has closed on a piece of property that's home to a historic building.

Macon-based developer Jim Rollins told Patch on Thursday that he's closed on the property that houses Bell's Store, which is currently being utilized by Cherokee Market Farm Fresh Produce. 

"We are now the owners," he said. "We’ll be allowing the tenant to stay a little while so she can relocate her business."    

Rollins, who represents The Summit Group Commercial & Investment Real Estate, said he's informed Cherokee Market owner Lisa Meyer that she will have six months to stay in the property while she searches for a new home. 

"She was in formed in May of this year that she was going to have to move," he added. 

Meyer said she plans to stay in the building as long as it takes to find a new home, which she hopes is in the Buffington community along the Highway 20 corridor.

"We're just looking right now," she said. "That’s all we can do."    

Rollins said the property owned by Robert Bolt has been for sale for at least five years, and Cherokee residents and other developers have had years to step in and utilize Bell's Store for uses other than what he has in store.

"I'm sure someone was aware of that besides me because I’m a later comer to the dance," he added wryly.

Rollins has had two other petitions to open a Flash Foods convenience store with gas sales shot down in Cherokee: one rejected on Monday by the Holly Springs City Council and the other was recommended for denial by the Canton Planning Commission. Rollins subsequently withdrew his petition to the city of Canton, said Community Development Director Ken Patton. 

Rollins said he was a little surprised by the Holly Springs' rejection, saying his request was denied because of "politics" as opposed to any real concerns over the proposal.

"The politicians wanted to please the neighborhood," he said. "I got to be a big boy about it." 

The developer said he'd done everything in his powers to address the concerns brought forth by Harmony on the Lakes residents, adding he reduced the number of gas pumps, reversed course on the store being open 24 hours and even agreed to install a turn lane into the convenience store from Hickory Flat Highway.

He also addressed residents' concerns for safety and crime, adding Flash Foods would have spent $15,000 on a security system and cashiers would have had access to a "panic" button in case of emergencies.

Despite the widespread opposition from many residents in the neighborhood, Rollins said he'd received 27 unsolicited letters from residents inside the community who said they were in favor of his request.

He noted the Hickory Flat Highway property owners, Ray and Peggy Rutledge, are lifelong residents of Cherokee County who were looking to sell the property for their retirement.

"Most people don’t understand you have to have a good mix of commercial business to offset taxes," he added. "You can't survive on residential property taxes as they (residents) use more of the resources as opposed to commercial businesses." 

Rollins, who noted he's very much an advocate for historic preservation, said he's offered to allow anyone to relocate Bell's Store from the site. He said he's heard from two different people who have inquired about the fate of the store. 

He said he's even reached out to the Cherokee County Historical Society to see if they would be interested.

Historical Society Executive Director Stefanie Joyner said they are currently searching for a suitable site in the Buffington community. They've also spoken with a few property owners, but nothing is set in stone.

If a site is nailed down, Joyner said it will take at least $25,000 to relocate the structure, which would have to come from donations from the community.

Despite the news, Meyer said her customers continue to support her enterprise, adding they will "never step food inside Flash Foods" once it's up and running.

"I just think it's sad that he's bringing in a store that no one wants," she said of Rollins' plans. "If I were a developer...I think I would listen to the community."

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