National Retailers Ross, Marshalls and Five Below Coming to Fort Payne
Fort Payne— Residents in Fort Payne will soon have several new shopping options as national retailers Ross Dress for Less, Marshalls and Five Below prepare to open locations in the city.
Fort Payne Mayor Brian Baine announced that the stores are expected to open in 2026. Marshalls and Five Below will be located in the DeKalb Plaza Shopping Center, while Ross Dress for Less will open in the Second Street Plaza at the former Badcock Furniture location.
According to Baine, Marshalls and Five Below are expected to welcome customers around May 1. Construction inside the Marshalls store is nearly complete, and crews are currently resurfacing the shopping center’s parking lot to prepare the area for shoppers.
City leaders say the new retailers will also bring additional employment opportunities to the community. Brett Johnson, executive director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Authority, said each store could create between 20 and 40 jobs.
Johnson noted that retail remains one of the largest employment sectors in the United States, including throughout the Southeast and Alabama.
“A lot of people don’t realize that retail is actually one of the number one employment sectors in the United States,” Johnson said. “Much of the same is true in the Southeast, in Alabama. So it is an important sector. A lot of the time, it’s people’s first job.”
In addition to job creation, the new businesses are expected to generate significant revenue for the city. Mayor Baine said Ross alone is projected to bring in approximately $400,000 in annual sales tax revenue, with Marshalls and Five Below expected to generate similar amounts.
Baine added that those projections are considered conservative estimates and could potentially be higher once the stores open.
City officials also indicated that additional retail announcements for Fort Payne are expected in the future. Residents in the area have expressed excitement about the arrival of the new stores and the expanded shopping opportunities they will bring to the community.
