By CAROLINE CARMICHAEL / Staff Writer

Suds R-Us in Jemison ceremoniously reopened for business with a grand opening at 11 a.m. on Oct. 5 at its new location, 144 Highway 191.

A soft opening took place on Sept. 29.

Suds R-Us received a warm welcome to its new location during the grand opening by Chilton County Chamber of Commerce and Jemison City Hall officials, including Mayor Eddie Reed.

Suds R-Us employees and other affiliates wore blue Suds R-Us T-shirts to the event, and everyone enjoyed barbecue catering from Hickory Chip Barbecue.

Gloria Cuthbert, owner Tom Cuthbert’s wife, described the grand opening as a family event.

“We don’t have employees,” she said, “we have family members.”

Gloria Cuthbert cut the ceremonial ribbon in front of the new shop around 11:10 a.m., and Suds R-Us in Jemison was officially and ceremoniously open for business.

Tom Cuthbert said Suds R-Us relocated because the city needed the space for parking accommodations for the Marion Bank.

Cuthbert said it was for the best, stating that between the former shop and the new shop, “there’s no comparison.”

“It’s head and shoulders above what we had,” Cuthbert said of the new shop.

“I had to deal with an existing building that had structural problems that I couldn’t do anything about,” he said of the old building. “This building… this is the best layout we could come up with. I’m very happy with the way it came out, and it’s a much nicer facility than what we had.”

The new Suds R-Us shop is larger than the former shop, and features $50,000’s worth of new and larger equipment and equipment upgrades in addition to the shop’s original equipment.

Cuthbert said the project of switching locations lasted about 100 days.

“I am glad that it’s over,” Cuthbert said. “It was all-consuming, and I actually have a wife and other responsibilities besides here.”

Cuthbert owns eight Suds R-Us stores scattered throughout Chilton County.

Suds R-Us is open 24/7 and offers a family-friendly atmosphere and services to all who walk through its doors.