By Lori Bredemeyer, Managing Editor

Students will have more opportunities to shop since several new businesses were completed this summer.

At the new Shops at Abilene at Catclaw and Southwest drives across from Wal-Mart Supercenter, five new stores are open, and several more are being built. Bed Bath & Beyond, Michaels craft store, Ross Dress for Less, Petsmart and Shoe Carnival have been in operation since early to mid-summer.

Michaels, which specializes in arts and crafts supplies, tries to keep a fun atmosphere in the store that students will enjoy, assistant manager Rick Stane said.

“We try to make it fun,” he said. “We’ve got great employees here. They come to work not only to do their job but to have a good time. … We want the customer to have the best shopping experience they can.”

Shoe Carnival tries to maintain an entertaining environment, said Chuck Price, store manager. The store has an employee with a mic to announce sales and specials, give away prizes, have customers spin a wheel to receive discounts, and sometimes more unusual things, such as encouraging shoppers to hop around the store with shoes on their ears or do the YMCA.

“We market ourselves as the world’s most unusual shoe store,” Price said. “The person on the mic is the key to our concept.”

He said having a Shoe Carnival in Abilene allows students a chance to find good shoes locally.

“Our store gives a great variety at a good price without having to drive to Dallas to find good shoes … and it’s just 15 minutes away from anywhere in Abilene,” Price said.

Michaels has several opportunities for the customer to get involved. The store offers free art demonstrations every day and usually about four times a week has a class that teaches a variety of topics, such as creating scrapbooks, making soap and painting.

“We like to see the youth come in here and especially be a part of some of our classes and get involved in some of that stuff. It’s good, clean fun,” Stane said.

The stores’ openings created more jobs, and both managers said they employ several students. Stane said anyone interested can also sign up to teach an art class at the store.

Other businesses that are planned or are being built at the Shops at Abilene include Dunlaps, Lane Bryant, Lifeway Christian Store, Old Navy, and a Rosa’s Cafe across Southwest Drive.