Remembering Some Of Our Older Businesses

In August of 1983 two new businesses were opening up in what was known as Darben Plaza, created by Darrell Jent.  

Crittenden Press, August 4, 1983.  Two new busineses are expected to open soon in the former Tresslar Home and Family Center building in Marion's Darben Plaza.

Family Dollar, a Charlotte, N. C. based variety chain, will open a store here at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 11, and a Pizza Hut restaurant plans to be in operation by late September.

The 12,000 sq. ft. area formally used by Tresslar has been divided into a 9,000 saq ft. section for Family Dollar and a 3,000 sq. ft. area for Pizza Hut.

Over the past few weeks, carpenters have been preparing the Family Dollar portion of the building for its grand opening, and this week merchandise is being placed in the store.

Al Boyd, former Tresslar manager, has been named as manager of the store here, which will be Family Dollar's 23rd store in Kentucky.

The store will carry merchandise geared toward family and home needs, including clothing and shoes, health and beauty aids, housewares, school supplies, candy, toys, paint, a sewing department, and auto supplies.   It was a great store for a small town like Marion to have. 

What is so unique about these two stores is that they both, Pizza Hut and Family Dollar Store are still open and doing business.  

Through the years, other stores that were located in the plaza weren't so fortunate and had to close, there have been a department store, a video store, and others, one of my favorites, and during the seventies was really popular, was a great dinning place called "The Rustic Inn."   It was a great restaurant with really good food.

CVS Drug Store is the only other business still active in the area known as Darben Plaza.