Things are progressing slowly at the site of Brewton’s newest retailer, Rose’s Express Store.

Located in the former Wal-Mart building in the Douglas Square Shopping Center, the company is set to occupy half of the building, said Lawton Shipp with Brewton’s planning and zoning department. The city announced the store’s July opening in February, and contractors have been on site for a month, he said.

“They are 30 days into a 90-day contract, but it looks like work is going very slow,” Shipp said. “Residents will have noticed the door cut into the building. It will allow shoppers to enter into a vestibule before transitioning into an open-concept store.”

The store is part of a North Carolina-based corporation, Variety Wholesalers Inc. Company officials expect to hire 20 people. According to the company’s website, Variety Wholesalers owns several discount retail chains. The Super 10 Division consists of 85 stores ranging in size from 5,000 to 10,000 square feet and operates under the names “Super Dollar,” “Bill’s Dollar Stores,” “Super 10” and “Bargain Town.”

Brewton’s store will be one of the some 160 stores in the company’s Rose’s Division and will offer an extensive assortment of retail merchandise including both hardlines, which consists of toys, health and beauty aids, housewares, furniture, sporting goods, snacks, etc., and softlines such as clothing, accessories, jewelry, etc.

Attempts to reach corporate officials for more details were unsuccessful Tuesday.

Shipp said the site’s configuration allows for a third retailer to locate in the building.

“You have Farmer’s Furniture on one side, then the Rose’s store,” he said. “The company elected to split the space to allow for another tenant on the old garden center side.

“We know these projects take time, but it’s going to be a great thing for Brewton once it’s up and running,” Shipp said of the project.