News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Winell Lee’s Jackson Street location will be closing, with the longtime Putnam County company expanding to a brand new facility in Baxter.
Marketing and Design Director Jeanie Lee said the store’s 34 years in Cookeville have been great and the store has accomplished a lot. She said the store has run out of space to grow, especially with a new innovation that the company will launch in the next few months.
“The opportunity just came for us to have an extra new niche and an innovation that will be new to our community and beyond in the state of Tennessee,” Lee said.
Lee said the new property is located next to the Boma Community Center. She said the facility will include two large warehouses, a bigger showroom, and ample parking for shoppers or truck deliveries.
“We’re going to be growing as the Baxter community and surrounding areas and Putnam County, in general, is growing,” Lee said. “We feel like we’re bringing on something new to grow along with our county.”
Lee said the company has always manufactured in Baxter, so this feels like a return home. She said when they moved onto Jackson Street in Cookeville more than three decades ago, they were the first business on the strip. She said doing business in Cookeville had its perks.
“Just being part of community affairs, you know,” Lee said. “Whether it would be part of different communities and committees. Being in Cookeville, it was easy to do, and I think we help each other. I think we help each other. businesses help each other. Communities in the community whether it’s Cookeville, Monterey, Algood, Baxter, we can help each other.”
Lee said the company will be out of the Jackson Street location by June 1. She said there have already been materials ordered for the Baxter facility and she is excited to have a new slice of the same community come see it when they are all moved in.
