The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 62

4D SUNDAY PFfFMBFR 2004 BUSINESS THF CHARI OTTF OBSFKVFR i wwwchirlnrtccom Battered NC mill town braces for flood of imports more job losses Toy ATM one of most wanted gifts In the parking lots of the Pillow-tex Corp plants east of downtown Eden weeds rise between cracks Chained gates encircle the massive low-slung brick factories Only crows interrupt the silence Foreign competition along with bankruptcy and consolidation has strangled manufacturers Fieldcrest corporate presence along with a couple of hundred white-collar jobs disappeared in the 1990s Pluma (466 jobs) shut its factory in 1999 Spray Cotton Mills (215 jobs) closed its yam plant in 200L In all the Eden area lost perhaps 3000 jobs in the past decade never did get out from under the pain of the Fieldcrest general office says Philip Price the mayor since 1993 living under that pain You see your neighbor give his job up It just destroys everybody Then people tell you they have to move Going to Greensboro in the morning you can practically walk on the car roofs just been a pall over Eden for 10 adds Price whose tire store sits in the shadow of the red brick Spray Cotton factory was probably the last Saddled with debt poor sales and outdated equipment Pillowtex closed in July 2003 taking 450 jobs with it In all the company shuttered 16 plants in the United States and Canada and laid off 7650 workers 4800 of them in North Carolina the union hall we had people coming in recalls Scales who made $1250 an hour before Pillowtex closed woman was sleeping in the car with her two kids She was put out of her apartment because she pay the Scales was driving home earlier this month from an unsuccessful job search in Greensboro when his 1992 Pontiac Grand Am broke down Neither he nor wife Donna a day-care worker earlier been laid off by Pillowtex carries health insurance demise ratcheted up the intensity of domestic abuse in Rockingham County says Angie Boles executive director of Help Inc which assists victims of violence and sexual assault injuries were more Boles says that time there were two or three assaults with hammers right in a row One woman had 80 stitches Victims come in and make excuses They say he was drinking or he lost his job and why he did Over the past four years North midsection has lost 25000 manufacturing jobs One in six residents lives below the poverty line Mayor Price points though to manufacturing newcomers A boilermaker is poised to move into the Pillowtex plant and hire 103 workers An Israeli baby-wipe company announced plans last year to hire 200 workers in nearby Reidsville But 10000 people applied for those jobs says Gordon Allen who runs the employment office is different than any recession Eve ever says Allen a 27-year veteran of the employment wars jobs are just not there When you lose 5000 out of a countywide labor force of 45000 a devastating blow We're in a transition but the $64 million question is what are we transitioning into? What are the jobs going to be? Vhere are we Dan Chapman writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Eden from ID More than 600000 more US jobs might disappear warn textile industry executives North Carolina which lost 25 mills and 14000 jobs last year could suffer more than any other state Three thousand of the textile jobs that could be lost are in the Eden area A quotaless world will allow US retailers to buy textiles and apparel from the lowest-cost suppliers mainly China India and Pakistan Cheap production in those countries means cheaper prices for US consumers the gates swing wide open for China the rest of the textile companies are going to be wiped says Jerry Scales laid off last summer after three decades in the mills is not going to have a future All got is Wal-Mart You make a living on that" Workers have joined with textile and apparel industry executives long their nemeses to try to persuade the Bush administration to curb the Chinese clothing imports icant and highly valued the money machine! It must have a very strong aspirational puff Using an ATM is one of the things that grown-ups do in full view of kids that the lads have very little access says Schor one part of consuming that kids in on They are full-fledged consumers buying clothing picking groceries selecting toys But they have entry into the real Her own daughter wants one badly Searl worry that he is helping create a generation of money-grubbing children they are learning about money whether we teach it to them or he says nothing else we are teaching them one simple concept: You gotta make money before you take money CSShromlD just falls in your The popularity is another illustration of how the toy industry is changing Children are leaving traditional toys behind much sooner than in the past Earlier this month No 2 toymaker Hasbro laid off 125 workers citing struggles to adapt to a more electronics-driven market making more of the My Little Ponies and not enough of the Game-Boy (type) products" said Hasbro Resident and CEO Alfred Verrecchia The marketers have a term for it KGOY growing older younger" The ATM is a real KGOY toy says Juliet Schor a Boston University professor who wrote to Buy: The Commercialized Child and the New Consumer The ATM marked for ages 8 and up symbolically signif onocecd DtrDdDcrce Charlottecom can help! 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Charlotterfom HOME PAGE These firms are just a portion of the customers of Charlottecom APARTMENTS Darby Terrace 4501 Central Ave Charlotte NC 28205 866-350-3999 wvMapartmentscomldarbyterrace Sterling Dilworth Grubb Properties 1315 East Blvd Charlotte NC 28213 704-333-7747 www grubbproperties com AUTOMOTIVE DEALERS Angel Autos 935 Fort Mill Hwy Fort Mill SC 29715 866-868-2070 wwwangelautoscom Arnold Palmer Cadillac Charlotte 8218 East Independence Blvd Chariotte NC 28227 704-531-9700 wwwamoldpalmrtadillaccharlotteaim Arnold Palmer Cadillac 10725 Pineville Rd Pineville NC 28134 888-269-6061 www carolinacadillac com Auto Exchange 6802 South Blvd Chariotte NC 28217 888-370-3863 wwwcarolinaautoexchangecom Auto Gallery 6835 Albemarie Rd Charlotte NC 28212 888-407-9471 wwwautogallerynccom Auto Hounds 2144 Carolina Place Blvd Fort Mill SC 29708 888-307-4728 www autohounds com Auto Showcase 7808 Matthews Mint Hill Rd Chariotte NC 28227 866-424-2377 www autoshowcaseinc com Auto Sports by the Lake 3489 North Hwy 16 Denvec NC 28037 888-252-3183 wwwautosportsbythetakecom Auto Sports Inc 2570 Springs Rd Hickory NC 28601 866-809-8546 wwwautosportsinc com Automotive Consignment 5000 East Independence Blvd Chariotte NC 28212 866-447-3715 wwwautomotiveconsignmentcom Bell Howard Chevrolet Cadillac 650 Gaither Rd Statesville NC 28625 888-864-0711 wwwbellandhoward com Ben Mynatt Chevrolet Cadillac 281 Concord Pkwy South Concord NC 28025 888-217-8678 www benmynattchevy com Black Pontiac Buick GMC 809 Salisbury Rd Statesville NC 28677 877-806-7683 wwwblackpontiacbuickgmccom Bob Mayberry Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep 3220 Hwy 74W Monroe NC 28110 888-701-5943 wwwbobmayberrychryslercom Bunky Gandy's Auto Exchange 1 04 South Old Statesville Rd Huntersville NC 28078 888-892-9674 wwwbunkygandyrcom Carolina Volkswagen 7800 East Independence Blvd Chariotte NC 28212 704-527-2336 800-489-2336 wwwcarolinavwnet Car Pros of Mooresville 224 Talbert Road Mooresville NC 281 17 866-311-0744 wwwcarprosofmooresvillecom Chariotte Auto Wholesale 4925 Hwy 74 West Monroe NC 28110 888-273-1068 City Chevrolet 5101 East Independence Blvd Chariotte NC 28212 877-829-0974 wwwcitychevroletcom Credit Union Auto Services 19008 Catawba Rd Cornelius NC 28031 877-493-6852 www vegastrust com Crown Honda 7001 East Independence Blvd Charlotte NC 28227 877-253-4883 wwwcrownautocom Dale Jarrett Ford 88 Dale Jarrett Blvd Indian Trail NC 28079 888-217-5343 www dalejarrettford com Dale Jarrett Suzuki 1601 Skyway Dr Monroe NC 281 10 888-622-7569 wwwdalejarrettsuauklcom Diamond Chevrolet Isuzu 9325 South Blvd Charlotte NC 28273 866-479-8832 wwwdiamondchevroietisuzucom Diamond Chevrolet of Kings Mountain 615 Broadview Dr Kings Mountain NC 28086 888-867-3820 www diamondchevy com Dixie Jeep-Chrysler-Chevrolet 61 5 Gaither Rd Statesville NC 28625 888-831-7180 wwwdixiejeepcom Folger Automotive 6701 East Independence Blvd Chariotte NC 28212 877-652-7018 wwwfolgerautomotivecom Fort Mill Chrysler Dodge Jeep 800 Gold Hill Rd Fort Mill SC 29708 888-748-0509 www fortmillcdj com Fort Mill Ford 1-77 Exit 88 Fort Mill SC 29716 888-462-7270 wwwfortmiiifordcom Green Comer Auto Park 1214 Gamer Bagnal Blvd Statesville NC 28677 866-404-7001 wwwgreencomerautoparkcom Gunter Mercedes Sales Service 336 Saluda St Rock Hill SC 29730 888-268-2168 www gun termerxedes com Harrelson Ford 6500 South Blvd Chariotte NC 28210 704-552-2760 www harrelson ford com Harrelson Hyundai 8525 South Blvd Chariotte NC 28273 888-784-3261 wwwharrelsonhyundaicom Harrelson Mazda 9029 South Blvd Charlotte NC 28273 704-552-8522 www harrelsonmazdacom Harrelson Nissan 2574 Cherry Rd Rock Hill SC 29732 877-851-8469 www harrelsonnissan com Harrelson Toyota 1195 RiverviewRd Rock Hill SC 29732 877-278-6975 www harrelson toyotacom Hendrick Acura 6824 East Independence Blvd Chariotte NC 28277 888-478-6351 www hendrickacuracom Gutter Helmet Systems 1-888-543-5638 wwwgutterhelmetsystemscom Pierce Construction 704-363-2010 wwwpierceconstructcom Tile Collection 11200 Carolina Place Pkwy Pineville NC 28134 704-541-8453 www tilecoliection com HOTELS INNS MOTELS RESORTS Hilton Chariotte Towers 222 East Third St Chariotte NC 28202 704-377-1500 wwwcharlottehiltoncom LANDSCAPING AJ's of Gastonia 704-867-5269 wwwajslandscapingsuppliescom MORTGAGE COMPANIES Amerisouth Mortgage 2101 Sardis Rd North Ste 101 Charlotte NC 28227 704-845-9400 www amerisouthcom Brad Moore Cross Mortgage Inc 4401 Colwick Rd Chariotte NC 28211 866-402-7677 www crossmortgagelnc com Southeastern Mortgage Solutions 5601 Executive Center Dr Ste 207 Chariotte NC 28212 704-536-1112 wwwsemortgagesolutionscom NEW HOME BUILDERS Centex Homes 4235 Stream Blvd Ste 400 Chariotte NC 2821 7 wwwcentexcom David Drye Real Estate 175 Davidson Hwy Concord NC 28027 704-791-2482 www ddcrealty com Hills Communities Jennifer Burger wwwhillsinccom Liberty Homes 6130 Harris Technology Blvd Chariotte NC 28269 704-599-1010 www buylibertyhomes com PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS Carolina Surveillance Investigations 704-516-6064 wwwcarolinasurveillancecom REAL ESTATE Allen Tate Company 6620 Fairview Rd Charlotte NC 28210 704-365-6910 wwwallentatecom Century 21 Murphy Rudolph 7400 Belhaven Blvd Chariotte NC 28216 704-399-4848 wwwc21murphyrudolphcom David Drye Real Estate 175 Davidson Hwy Concord NC 28027 704-791-2482 www ddcrealty com Help-U-Sell 6548 Carmel Rd Ste 106 Chariotte NC 28206 704-540-6880 wwwhelpusellcharlottecom REALTORS Belinda Carr Re Max Executive Realty 6842 Morrison Blvd Charlotte NC 2821 1 704-367-4472 wwwbelindacarrcom Teresa Dufine ReMax Executive Realty 6842 Monison Blvd Chariotte NC 2821 1 704-996-9651 wwwteresadufinecom Shenova Hill ReMax Executive Realty 6842 Morrison Blvd Chariotte NC 28211 704-363-4717 wwwshenovahillcom Steve Lepow ReMax Executive Realty 6842 Morrison Blvd Charlotte NC 28211 704-839-3799 VMWlepcMrealtorscoin Brian Lesley Lynch ReMax Executive Realty 6842 Morrison Blvd Charlotte NC 282 11 704-608-8888 wwwsoldbylynchcom Ivan Medina ReMax Executive Realty 6842 Morrison Blvd Chariotte NC 28211 704-367-4469 www idmproperties com Martin Pressley Prudential Carolinas Realty 4529 Sharon Rd Ste 200 Chariotte NC 28211 704-904-4244 www martinpressley com Scott Sadler ReMax Executive Realty 6842 Morrison Blvd Chariotte NC 28211 704-641-1335 wwwscottsadlercom Gina Strumpf Allen Tate Realtors 6620 Fairview Rd Chariotte NC 28210 704-365-5910 wwwcharlotterelocom The Homan Team Keller Williams Realty 1 2115 Rexford Rd Ste 102 Chariotte NC 28211 704-643-7711 wwwkwcharlottecom Nancy Turner Keller Williams Realty South Park Office 2115 Rexford Rd Ste 102 Chariotte NC 2821 1 704-602-0400 wwwkwcharlottecom Judy Charles Webb ReMax Executive Realty 6842 Morrison Blvd Chariotte NC 28211 704-364-7503 wwwthecharlottewebbscom SECURITY CPI Security 4200 Sandy Porter Rd Charlotte NC 28273 800-948-2028 wwwcpisecuritycom SPAS Euphoria Salon Spa 3904-D Colony Rd Chariotte NC 28211 704-367-9112 www euphoriasaloncom SPORTS MEMORABILIA Dale Jarrett Inc 1915 Fairgrove Rd SE Newton NC 28658 888-325-3527 www dalejarrett com TRAVEL Cape Fear CVB 877-406-2356 wwwcapefearncus Elliott Realty 401 Sea Mountain Hwy North Myrtle Beach SC 29580 800-525-0225 www elliottrealty com McKenney-Salinas Honda 4295 Wilkinson Blvd Gastonia NC 28056 877-492-6053 wwwmshoncfacom Metro Honda 2301 West Roosevelt Blvd Monroe NC 28110 800-768-3860 viwwmetrohondarKcom Metrolina Dodge 9131 South Blvd Charlotte NC 28273 888-577-7395 www metrolinadodge com Metrolina 3201 North Tryon St Charlotte NC 28206 877-702-0365 wwwmetrolinasandhautocom Mike Everett Mitsubishi 1120 Hwy 70 SE Charlotte NC 28603 866-814-0017 wwwmemrtsucom Modem Nissan of Concord 965 Concord Pkwy South Concord NC 28027 888-252-3176 wwwmodernnissanofconcordcom Modem Nissan of Lake Norman 18615 Statesville Rd Cornelius NC 28301 877-878-0561 wvMmodernnissanoflakenormancom Montgomery Mazda 6735 East Independence Blvd Chariotte NC 282 12 888-436-6549 wwwmontgomerymazdacom Mooresville Ford i 151 East Plaza Dr i Mooresville NC 888-830-4591 i wwwmooresvillefordcom Me Rebuildables I 2510 Eva Dr Concord NC 28027 I 888-753-5560 wvMmrrebuildablesnet Nissan of Statesville 1 1244 Gamer Bagnal Blvd i Statesville NC 28677 888-844-6074 I wwwnissanofstatesvillecom I Palace Auto Sales I 4104 North Tryon St Chariotte NC 28206 866-314-3260 i Paramount Volkswagen 1712 8th St Dr SE I Hickory NC 28602 877-340-1596 wwwparamountvwcom Parks Chevrolet 1 6441 North Tryon St Chariotte NC 28256 888-334-9667 I wwwparkschevroletcom Parks Chevrolet at the Lake 15235 Statesville Rd Huntersville NC 28078 1 888-537-4314 wwwparkschevroletcomlhuntersville Randy Marion Chevrolet Pontiac Buick 220 West Plaza Dr Mooresville NC 281 1 7 888-443-9032 wwwrandymarioncom Randy Marion Pontiac Buick GMC 13701 Statesville Rd Huntersville NC 28078 888-852-0515 wwwrandymariongmccom Ray Poteat Auto Sales 1433 Salisbury Hwy i Statesville NC 28677 888-596-2567 Hendrick BMW 6950 East Independence Blvd Chariotte NC 28227 888-731-7056 www hendrickbmw com Hendrick Lexus 6025 East Independence Blvd Charlotte NC 28212 866-549-1137 wwwhendricklexuscom Hendrick Motors of Hickory 1171 8th St Dr SE Hickory NC 28602 828-431-2404 wwwhendrickmotorscom Hickory Auto Exchange 840 Hwy 70 SE Hickory NC 28602 888-251-1845 Hi-Line Garage 13500 East Independence Blvd Matthews NC 28105 704-821-1957 wwwgourmetgaragecarscom Hunter Chry-Ply-Jeep 7501 South Blvd Chariotte NC 27273 877-396-7437 www hun termotors com Independence Nissan 6901 East Independence Blvd Charlotte NC 28227 888-287-9056 www independencenissan com Keffer Dodge 4800 East Independence Blvd I Charlotte NC 28212 877-414-7186 I wwwkefferdodgecom Keffer Hyundai 4700 East Independence Blvd I Chariotte NC 28212 I 877-419-5784 wwwkefferhyundaicom I Keffer Jeep-Chrysler 81 10 East Independence Blvd i Charlotte NC 28227 888-425-6992 I wwwkefferjeepcom I Keffer Mitsubishi 13517 Statesville Rd Huntersville NC 28078 888-401-2982 I wwwkeffermitsubishicom Keffer Volkswagen 13651 Statesville Rd Huntersville NC 28078 888-832-6506 wwwkeffervwcom K-Town Cars 280 South Cannon Blvd i Kannapolis NC 28083 888-588-7769 wwwktowncarscom Lake Norman Chrysler Jeep Dodge i 1-77 Exit 28 Cornelius NC 28031 800-889-5253 wwwlakenormanchryslercom Lake Norman Infiniti 20520 Chartwell Center Drive Cornelius NC 28031 877-278-8003 wwwiakenormaninfmiticom Larry Jay Mitsubishi 8415 South Blvd Chariotte NC 28273 888-346-4156 wwwjaymitsubishicom Liberty Pontiac GMC 9028 East Independence Blvd Matthews NC 28105 866-760-9961 www libertypontiac com McCarty Motors 205 West Plaza Dr Mooresville NC 28117 866-550-7859 www mccartymotorsllc com Scott Clark's Toyota City Inc 6801 East Independence Blvd Charlotte NC 28227 888-393-8020 wwwscottclarkcom Sonny Hancock Chevrolet Cadillac 831 South Main St Lowell NC 28098 704-824-2000 wwwsonnyhancockcom Sparks Chrysler Jeep 1463 Concord Pkwy Concord NC 28025 888-635-1010 wwwsparksjeepcom Auto Sales 417 South Post Rd Shelby NC 28152 877-809-3174 wwwsrautosalescom TD Auto Brokers 5113-B Hwy 74 Monroe NC 28110 888-387-9660 Tim Marburger Dodge 287 Concord Pkwy North Concord NC 28027 866-808-4009 wwwtimmarburgerdodgecom Toyota of Concord 967 Concord Pkwy South Concord NC 28027 888-818-6705 I wwwtoyotaofconcordcom i Toyota of Gastonia i 4821 Wilkinson Blvd Gastonia NC 28056 877-382-0945 i wwwtoyotaofgastoniacom Toyota of Lake Norman 13429 Statesville Rd Huntersville NC 28078 877-857-0954 I wwwtoyotaofiakenormancom Toyota Scion of Gastonia I 4821 Wilkinson Blvd Gastonia NC 28056 877-382-0945 wwwtoyotaofgastoniacom Troutman Motors 1510 Concord Pkwy South Concord NC 28025 888-984-7689 www troutmansoniine com University Volvo 7716 North Tryon St Chariotte NC 28262 704-547-1095 www universityvolvo com Volvo Saab of Chariotte 7040 East Independence Blvd Chariotte NC 28227 888-266-2083 wwwvohrosaabofchar1ottecom Young Ford 541 1 North Tryon St Chariotte NC 28213 704-598-2599 wwwyoungfordcom CLINICS Chariotte Cardiology Assoc 309 South Sharon Amity Ste 200 Chariotte NC 28211 704-377-0410 wwwchariottecardioiogycom Christenbury Eye Center 362 1 Randolph Rd Chariotte NC 28211 704-332-9365 www christenbury com Drs Armstrong Eshelman PA 201 Providence Rd Ste 200 Chariotte NC 28207 704-376-6470 WWW charlottedentistry com Mintview OBGYN Chariotte NC 704-377-5675 www mintv'pw com Miracle Ear 1-800-868-HEAR wwwmiracleearcom Sona Med Spa 7825 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy Ste 300 Chariotte NC 28277 704-364-3600 www sonamedspa comlcharlotte Women's Diagnostic Center 218 South Herlong St Rock Hill SC 29732 803-327-2828 wwwwdcswbdnet COMPUTER TRAINING ECPI College of Technology 4800 Airport Center Pkwy Charlotte NC 28208 704-399-1010 wwwecpiedu Right Source 6060 JA Jones Dr Ste 610 Chariotte NC 28287 704-643-1121 www rightsourcecom EDUCATION CPCC Corporate 8i Continuing Education 704-330-4223 www cpcctraining com ECPI College of Technology 4800 Airport Center Pkwy Chariotte NC 28208 704-399-1010 wwwecpiedu Mingle School of Real Estate 1201 Greenwood Cliff I Charlotte NC 28204 I 704-372-2984 wwwmingleschoolcom I Montreat College i 800-436-2777 wwwmontreatcollegecom FOOD ENTERTAINMENT 1 Brixx Wood Fired Pizza 704-295-0707 wwwbrixxpizzacom Chariotte Bobcats 704-BOB-CATS wwwbobcatsbasketballcom McIntosh's Steak Seafood 1812 South Blvd Chariotte NC 28203 704-342-1088 www mcintoshsl com FURNITURE Hickory Furniture Mart 2220 Hwy 705 Hickory NC 28602 828-322-3510 wwwhickoryfurniturecom Sweet Dreams Mattress 647 Brawley School Rd Mooresville NC 28117 704-799-0048 wwwscfmaftresscom HEATING COOUNG McClintock Heating Cooling Electrical Inc Matthews NC 704-321-5207 www mcclin tockHVAC com HOME IMPROVEMENT Archadeck-The Backyard Co 2311 Village Lake Dr Chariotte NC 28212 704-944-1350 wwwarchadeckofcharlottecom Champion Windows Siding ft Patio Rooms 1 108 South 1-85 Service Rd Charlotte NC 28208 704-398-0085 wwwchampionvvindowscom I.