Some big changes are on the way for one Vidalia shopping area.

Jimmy Smith, owner of Home Hardware Center in Vidalia and Natchez, along with Mark Carter and Don Ater have purchased the Vidalia Shopping Center on Carter Street.

The shopping center includes the LaSyone Furniture Building, Vidalia Market and other retail tenants.

Smith said he and his partners have plans that include reconstructing and refurbishing most of the shopping center.

The first phase of the project is the remodeling of the LaSyone Furniture building to become the new location of Home Hardware Center in Vidalia.

Work is currently ongoing at the site and Smith hopes to be moved into the new building by March of 2009.

The store has been in its current Vidalia location for over 20 years, but growth has forced the store to relocate.

The extensive remodeling work includes a 23,000 square foot building for the hardware store and additional facilities for lumber and building materials.

Smith said the building provides much more space and will also give the store a chance to expand its inventory.

“It is four times the size of our current store,” he said. “With the extra space we will be able to offer a variety of additional products and lines.”

The additional products include a full line of building materials, lumber, appliances and flooring. They will also offer work wear and a boot department for shoppers.

“The new location will give the people in Vidalia a chance to shop at home more so than they can do now,” Smith said. “They will no longer have to travel out of town.”

Smith said the move is just the next in the continued growth of Home Hardware Center The home improvement chain has grown from a single store in 1984 to 15 stores today.

Smith said the larger store will also create more jobs.

The second phase of the Vidalia Shopping Center project includes the demolition and rebuilding of the remainder of the shopping center. The Dollar General store, however, will not be demolished.

Part of the project includes the construction of a through street to connect Carter Street and Murray Drive.

Demolition should get started in the next couple of months, Smith said.

The new property is 9.78 acres and will have approximately 80,000 square feet of building space.

“There will probably be 10 to 15 spaces for tenants depending on size,” he said.

Because of the demolition process, Smith said some tenants will have to relocate.

“Some of the tenants will be offered space and we have been talking to others about moving into the center,” Smith said.

The center’s biggest tenant, Vidalia Market, will get a brand new facility that is scheduled for completion by fall of 2009.

“They are really excited about getting a new space,” Smith said.

Smith said this is an exciting time for him as well as Vidalia.

“With the present growth and future growth of Vidalia, (we) thought this would be a nice addition to the Vidalia landscape,” Smith said. “The remodeling and new-look buildings will provide a more modern look for the city.”