There’s ‘A Lotta Things’ to love at this new LaPlace discount store
Published 11:43 am Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Chris Merrill stocks a shelf at A Lotta Things, a store that offers a wide variety of quality products at low prices.
Chris and Sharon Merrill stand in front of a seasonal display at their new discount store, A Lotta Things, opening this week at 1800 W. Airline Highway Suite C in LaPlace.
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
LAPLACE — It’s not quite a Dollar General and not quite a Five Below. True to its name, A Lotta Things is a new store that offers an assortment of quality household essentials, school supplies, seasonal items, tech gear and more at unbeatable prices.
A Lotta Things celebrates its soft opening this week at 1800 W. Airline Highway Suite C, the location that once housed Payless next to Walmart in LaPlace.
Owners Sharon and Chris Merrill found their forever home when they moved to the River Parishes from Houston three years ago. Serving as pastors at Rich Agape Word Ministries on Highway 51 allowed them to quickly lay roots in LaPlace, but they still yearned to become more involved in the community.
The Merrills considered specializing in day care or adult care services but ultimately leaned on Sharon’s 20 years of retail experience and selected a business venture to fulfill a need within the community. A Lotta Things is a brand designed for quality and convenience, two things the people of St. John the Baptist Parish deserve after two years of unprecedented challenges.
One of those challenges was Hurricane Ida, which devastated the region and totaled the Merrills’ home. Yet, the couple has high hopes for 2022 as they welcome to the community to their new store.
“We’ve endured a lot of things,” Sharon said. “We are rebuilding. We are continuing to be resilient. With the economy the way it is right now, we wanted to offer good items for great prices.”
A Lotta Things offers items commonly found at Five Below and other discount stores, from kitchenware to T-shirts, $1 oven mitts and pet supplies. Many of the items are priced under $5, including phone chargers and lightning cables that would sell for twice as much at other stores. Even the higher priced items such as oversized Valentine’s Day stuffed animals are sold for less than the suggested retail price to remain affordable for everyone.
With a bright color scheme and wide aisles offering plenty of walking room, the store has more of a “boutique” feel than competitors, allowing for a more sophisticated shopping experience.
If all goes to plan, the Merrills hope to expand A Lotta Things with a second location by the end of the year.
“I think this will allow us to embrace the community,” Chris said. “Here, there’s not the hustle and bustle that you had in Houston. It’s a small town with a loving, family atmosphere.”
Following this week’s grand opening, A Lotta Things will celebrate its ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, February 9. Store hours are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
For more information, call 985-224- 8646 or visit A Lotta Things on Facebook.
