Our columnist will be back next week

Ellen Phillips won't have her weekly Consumer Watch column in the paper today because she's preoccupied with a move.

She, however, will return in this spot in next Saturday's edition.

Belk's lower sales don't hurt profit

Belk Inc., which has locations in the Hamilton Place mall, reported a drop in net sales but an increase in quarterly profit.

Net sales during the three months ending Aug. 1, were $760.3 million, an 8.3 percent drop from the $829.3 million in sales during the same time a year ago, according to a company statement.

Net sales for the six months ending Aug. 1, were $1.5 billion an 8.5 percent drop from the $1.64 billion reported for the same period a year ago.

Net income during the 13-week quarter was $9.4 million, a 14.6 percent increase from the same quarter a year ago, the statement said.

Austin's Garden Center is closing

After almost 90 years providing plants and gardening supplies to the Chattanooga area, Austin's Garden Center is locking its doors, according to Mike Austin Jr., one of the owners.

The business will close its 241 Signal Mountain Road location that it has occupied since 1963.

Prior to then, it held a number of addresses, including 428 Market St., 3338 Market St. and 3462 Brainerd Road.

The store is owned by Mr. Austin; his father, Mike; and Chad Norman.

An official at the store said the trio decided it was time to pursue other things.

The store is scheduled to close at the end of next week, officials said.