Fort Payne Lands 3 Major Retailers, 100+ Jobs in 2026

Fort Payne, Alabama residents won't have to drive an hour to the nearest city for shopping much longer. Three major retailers are opening stores in the former sock capital of the world this year, bringing both jobs and tax revenue to the small town.

Ross Dress for Less, Marshall's, and Five Below are all scheduled to open in 2026. Marshall's and Five Below will move into DeKalb Plaza, while Ross will occupy the former Badcock Furniture space in Second Street Plaza.

"We like small towns, but we like to be able to do a little bit of shopping without having to go all the way to Gadsden or Huntsville," Fort Payne resident David Wootten said. His sentiment reflects what many in the community have been hoping for.

Mayor Brian Baine says Ross alone is expected to bring about $400,000 in sales tax revenue annually. Marshall's and Five Below are projected to do about the same, and the mayor believes these conservative estimates will likely be exceeded.

Each retailer is expected to employ between 20 and 40 workers. That means up to 120 new jobs for Fort Payne residents, with retail often serving as a critical first employment opportunity for young people entering the workforce.

"A lot of people don't realize that retail is actually one of the number one employment sectors in the United States," says Brett Johnson, executive director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Authority. "A lot of the time, it's people's first job."

The Ripple Effect

The retail expansion reflects Fort Payne's strategic location between major cities like Chattanooga, Huntsville, and Birmingham. Johnson says this positioning has sparked renewed interest from retailers looking to serve customers in smaller markets who previously had to travel significant distances for basic shopping needs.

Local resident Jacob House captures the community's excitement. "It's going to be a good economic boom for this little strip mall we got going here," he said.

Both Mayor Baine and Johnson hint that more retail announcements are coming soon. The economic development authority reports a strong pipeline of potential retailers eyeing Fort Payne as their next location.

The new stores represent more than just convenient shopping for this Alabama community.