Phillips Flooring Center recently opened at 1904 Judson Road with Rodney Phillips as owner and Ryan Cook as manager.

Phillips has more than 20 years' experience in the flooring business on both the retail and wholesale level. The finishing touches are being placed on the firm's showroom to make it ready for grand-opening festivities the week of April 21, according to Cheryl Phillips, who is helping her husband.

She said a ribbon-cutting is scheduled for April 24 to be followed by a reception from 1 to 5 p.m.

Phillips Flooring features a variety of floor coverings and provides installation, she said. Carpet, hardwood laminate, resilient flooring, ceramic tile, tumbled stone and natural stone are all available with a number of different samples on the showroom floor so prospective customers can see how they look installed.

Credit union opening event

The grand opening event for the new home of LeTourneau Federal Credit Union is set for 10 a.m. April 22 at 2301 S. High St.

Debbie Martin, president, said the institution had its former longtime home, a converted church, torn down after the staff moved to new quarters, which went up in front of the old location.

The new 4,800-square-foot facility represents about a $1 million investment in the credit union's future. Besides having more space, the new facility offers three drive-through lanes, a drive-up ATM machine, safety deposit boxes and a drive-through night depository.

Bank opens in new quarters

Another Longview financial institution, Franklin Bank, will be celebrating its relocation to new quarters at 1218 W. Loop 281 May 8.

Longview market president Mike Fitzhugh said Franklin Bank opened March 31 on Loop 281. He said some finishing touches are being completed on the facility as banking operations go on.

The bank's new sign is scheduled to be installed this week, he said. Ribbon-cutting ceremonies with the Longview Partnership are slated for 4:30 p.m. May 8 with an open house reception to follow, Fitzhugh said.

More banking options

First Convenience Bank has opened inside the Super Wal-Mart at North Fourth Street and Loop 281.

The institution also has a branch in the Wal-Mart at 4006 Estes Parkway. The North Longview opening represents the bank's 230th branch in Texas, according to Robert Starcher, spokesman.

Refined by fire

Karen Lowreys Refined by Fire handmade pottery, including functional and decorative pieces, can now be found at Art Gallery 100, 100 W. Tyler St. in downtown Longview.

Summer clay classes taught by Lowrey are now forming. She invites people interested to stop by the gallery for information and to sign up. Art Gallery 100 is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Growing in Hallsville

Hallsville Drug and True Value Hardware Store owners Mike and Linda Buchanan have added about 10,000 square feet to their operations at the intersection of U.S. 80 and FM 450.

Mike Buchanan said about 6,000 square feet were added to the hardware portion of the family business while another 4,500 square feet addition now houses Hallsville Farm and Ranch. The Buchanans have been in business in Hallsville for 34 years.

Perhaps the biggest change has been the addition of their son, Skip Buchanan, and his wife Jill, to the staff. Skip Buchanan, who has an accounting background, is handling the feed store operations at Hallsville Farm and Ranch while Jill, who works fulltime for the Hallsville school district's information technology department, helps out with the family business on a part-time basis.

Mike Elswick is business editor of the Longview News-Journal. He can be reached at (903) 237-7737 or at: melswick@longview-news.com.