Dana Hudson said she had to drag her husband into a Bargain Hunt store, but he eventually bought a new generator.
"He saved hundreds of dollars," she said Thursday outside the retailer's East Brainerd store. Her husband was won over by the discounts offered by Bargain Hunt, which is preparing to expand its Chattanooga presence.
Bargain Hunt today will open its second Scenic City unit in the former Toys 'R' Us store space off Highway 153 in Hixson.
Don Gozzard, the company's vice president of retail operations, said the business was anxious to add to its first location at East Brainerd and Hickory Valley roads where the chain has sold brand-name apparel, electronics, housewares and other goods since 2013.
"We're definitely very anxious to have a strong footprint in the Chattanooga area," he said. "Based on the first store, we wanted to expand our reach into that area."
The new store is more than 25,000-square-feet in size and will have more than two dozen employees.
"It was a great opportunity to move into that center," Gozzard said, noting the retailer has done some work to turn it into a Bargain Hunt including new signage.
The LaVergne, Tenn.-based company now has 43 stores and plans to go to 60 by the end of this year, Gozzard said. The privately held merchant opened 11 new stores in 2015, he said.
Gozzard wouldn't share annual revenue numbers, but he said the company saw "substantial profit improvement" last year.
The retailer's business model calls for continuing to trim the price on merchandise if it doesn't sell after a period of time.
"We feel customers are always interested in a value-driven retailer," he said. "We're one of the best at providing national products and brands at a great value. Our customer service is top notch. We feel as long as we provide a service at a great value, we'll continue to grow across the mid-South."
In addition to Tennessee, the discounter has stores in Alabama, Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, and Georgia, including Dalton and Rome.
The retailer is counting on more customers like Terry Wallin of Fort Oglethorpe, who said he got "a good deal" on a new jacket at the East Brainerd Bargain Hunt, noting the store took off another $5 from the list price.
"I'm coming back," he said.
The new Bargain Hunt fills the vacancy of the Toys 'R' Us store in Hixson, which closed a year ago after a 20-year run at the Highway 153 site. The toy giant's lease on the space was up and the company decided to shut it down, leaving just the Toys 'R' Us unit on Hamilton Place Boulevard in Chattanooga.
In addition to the new Bargain Hunt, the Hixson shopping center holds a Books-A-Million store and a Buffet King. A T-Mobile outlet and a Starbucks unit are located nearby.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.