Aaron's, Inc. breaks ground in Vidalia

By Vershal Hogan (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Thursday, June 4, 2009

VIDALIA — Dirt work on U.S. 84 between the highway and the Murphy USA fuel station will eventually become a Vidalia location of Aaron’s, Inc.

The company plans to open a 10,000-square foot store, Mayor Hyram Copeland said.

“We are excited about them coming, and are expecting more (businesses to come),” Copeland said.

Based on its location and market, and the customer accounts manager for the Natchez Aaron’s location, James Griffin, said the store will likely hire seven employees when it opens.

The company has 1,650 stores around the country, and because of both the company’s growth — Griffin said it opens a new store every week — and Vidalia’s recent expansion, the city seemed a good place to open a new franchise, Griffin said.

“Vidalia is growing and so is Aaron’s,” he said.

The company also recently closed a store in Jonesville, so the Vidalia location will help keep its share of the Louisiana market, Griffin said.

“We have to get a little something between Jena and (Natchez),” he said.

Aaron’s, Inc., is a rent-to-own business that offers products ranging from computers and electronics to furniture, air-conditioning, plants and yard equipment.

“We offer the whole package, and if we don’t have it here we can get it,” Griffin said.

Under a rent-to-own plan, a client enters into a contract with the company to take a piece of furniture home and make payments in installments.

If the client has made all of the payments at the time their contract with the company ends, they own the piece of furniture they have until that point been renting.

Other Aaron’s locations can be found in Brookhaven, Columbia, Jena and Winnsboro.