Sporting goods retailer and more to open in Gastonia
Gaston Gazette - January 19, 2010
Danielle Jackson

Batteries Plus, the nation's largest battery-focused franchise with more than 15,000 distinct battery and battery related products, is scheduled to open Feb. 1 on East Franklin Boulevard across from Akers Center in Gastonia.

On Tuesday, franchise-owner Bill Dail said crews were moving merchandise into the store and preparing to pave the parking lot. Dail demolished a former Checker's restaurant at the site to make way for his Batteries Plus store, which offers everything from tiny watch batteries to large batteries for mobile homes and buses.

Dail said his best sellers are cell phone batteries, especially for older-model mobile phones that are in good shape, but are no longer carried in retail stores by service providers. The store also rebuilds old battery packs. Dail, who has seven other stores in the Carolinas and plans for two more, said the Gastonia store will have a large inventory.

"There are a lot of batteries out there," he said. "I want to have what people need."

You can reach Business Editor Daniel Jackson at 704-869-1833.