TOP PHOTO: Woodson’s Cash Stores Property Manager Becky Aiken gave Campbell County Leadership class participants a tour of Woodson’s Mall on Thursday.

By Charlotte Underwood 

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Leadership Campbell County class participants toured several local businesses on Thursday, learning about the importance of area retail and how it affects the tax base and economic health of the community. 

The annual leadership course kicked off its 2023-24 session in June and will run through March. 

One of the first stops on the business tour was the Woodson’s Cash Stores which included a tour of the Woodson Mall.

During the tour of Woodson’s, participants learned that the shopping center is “thriving,” with over 30 retail tenants, according to Property Manager Becky Aiken.

Woodson’s Cash Stores Property Manager Becky Aiken gave Campbell County Leadership class participants a tour of Woodson’s Mall on Thursday. Leadership Campbell County class participants toured the mall and other businesses on Thursday. Gold Creek Foods and Pyro Shows were also on the itinerary of stops for the leadership class.

These tenants include a broad spectrum of businesses, with everything from JPS Walk-In Tubs, Food City, the Quilt Patch and Little Ceasar’s Pizza, to the Back Door Cafe and even an extension location of the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, just to name a few. The Tennessee College of Applied Technology even has a new satellite location in the mall and will be starting its Criminal Justice classes there this fall.

According to Aiken, upgrades and renovations are in the works at the busy mall. 

Woodson’s Cash Stores Property Manager Becky Aiken described the shopping center as “thriving” with more than 30 retail tenants. The Woodson’s Cash Store shopping center continues to grow and is undergoing renovation right now to house the new Five Below store, which should be open in October.

Currently, the former location of the Hope Center Thrift Store is being renovated and will soon house the new Five Below store that should be open by mid October, according to Aiken.

Just for fun, we had to share a photo of this mall fixture that we’ve all seen, and used, over the years.

“The more businesses we get in the community, the better. I still like the small town feel we have, but more businesses help keep our tax dollars here in the community and that benefits everyone,” Aiken said. 

This year, 14 participants are taking the 10 month Leadership Campbell County program. The class provides the opportunity to “network with local leaders, businesses and civic organizations and encourages community efforts to improve Campbell County,” according to organizers. 

According to Becky Aiken, Woodson’s Cash Stores Property Manager, upgrades and renovations are in the works at the busy mall. 

Thursday’s itinerary also showcased the Chamber Coffee Connection at the Powell Clinch Utility District (PCUD) in Rocky Top, as well as tours at Gold Creek Foods in Jacksboro and Pyro Shows in LaFollette. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 07/21/2023-6AM)

Related