EAST ALABAMA LIVING

By ASHLEY SMITH DURHAM

A city that is located between two state capitols; a site that offers interstate corridors; an economy that is in the center of the automobile industry; a community that boasts a top-of-the-line healthcare facility; and an area that takes pride in the traditions and honors of higher education. What more could the people of Opelika ask for? The missing piece to the puzzle is one that has no match. It is a district that administrators had to create as a new city zone, yet an area that will attract thousands of locals and tourists at one time... Celebrate Alabama... an entertainment and retail destination to impress us all will soon be a part of Opelika.

A signature concept of Silver Companies CEO Larry D. Silver, Celebrate Alabama is a 535-acre project that will host more than four million square feet of retail space. In addition to retailers, Celebrate Alabama will also offer a convention and expo center, an indoor water park and hotel, a luxury RV facility, many restaurants, walking trails, and live entertainment.

Silver Companies success in similar commercial developments is proven, and their experience involves more than 60 years in innovative real estate dealings. Their Celebrate Virginia development in Fredericksburg turned an economically depressed area into a prospering community in terms of dollars per capita, and they expect to have similar results in Alabama.

"Opelika is poised for tremendous growth," explains Silver. "Celebrate Alabama is a project that will be extremely exciting to many citizens. We are going to celebrate every great thing there is about Alabama. We feel that we can bring people from 250 to 300 miles away on a regular basis to showcase Opelika and the state of Alabama to the world."

With approximately two miles of road frontage on Interstate 85 between exits 64 and 66, Celebrate Alabama will be built as a "Main Street" concept. A two-mile divided boulevard will flow through the center of the development, each side giving tribute to notable Alabama figures. The life-size monuments may include historic icons such as Rosa Parks, Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, Harper Lee, Hank Williams, Shug Jordan, Bear Bryant and others. This avenue of heroes will help share with the world a portion of Alabama history.

The development's eateries will also convey Alabama heritage. From barbecue in the northern part of the state to the coast's fresh seafood, Celebrate Alabama restaurants will share a vast display in cuisine to families, friends and business people from all over that will visit the area.

"The City of Opelika is joining Silver Companies to build the convention and expo center, a place where we can host boat shows or car shows or other big events," explains Opelika City Council Member Eddie Smith.

"We'll have use of the facility, and it will be a great site for functions such as Opelika High School graduation or junior-senior prom and so forth. Of course it will employ many local citizens, and we'll see thousands of tourists each month, which will benefit Historic Downtown Opelika, Tiger Town and other local merchants," adds Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller. The expo center will give Opelika the ability to attract state and regional conventions that will bring people to the area for days at a time, as well as drastically increase the economic impact and revenue for the city. The expo center is part of the early stages of the Celebrate Alabama development and estimated completion could be as early as 2009.

Along with the expo center comes an immense area for retail space. Silver Companies has relationships with retailers of all types based on their previous developments, such as Celebrate Virginia. A notable attraction for many involves a large outdoor and recreation retailer that may make Opelika its home through Celebrate Alabama.

"The entire development could take 10 to 12 years to build," explains Fuller, although locals are excited and thankful to the Silver Companies for already seeing movement on the Celebrate Alabama property.

With an estimated one billion dollar investment into City of Opelika and the possible creation of almost 5,000 new jobs, the Silver Companies have put their faith into Alabama. A company that is built on honesty and integrity, the Silver Companies understand what the consumer is looking for, "a place to be entertained and enjoy yourself," and in the case of Celebrate Alabama, they are willing to deliver that.

"Celebrate Alabama will offer something exciting to everyone in this region. The local population will use it daily for music, entertainment, food and shopping experiences. Millions of retail sales will be made right in Celebrate Alabama. Every city in the country would love to have something like this," explains Silver.

The Silver Companies know that every state has a story to tell. They have chosen Opelika to be a "hub for the whole southern region." A place where people can search for the "soul of the country," and a place where Celebrate Alabama can help "bring the Alabama story alive."

www.silvercompanies.com

www.celebratealabama.com

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