The Town of Alexandria was once a vibrant little hamlet that some described as the busiest little town in the State of Tennessee. Twenty-plus years ago, nearly every storefront on the square was operating with some sort of business, from hardware and drugs stores, to video rentals and eateries. The town once boasted two grocery stores, restaurants, three banks, a doctor’s office, dentist, and numerous little niche stores such as antiques and electronics. There were several factories, and noon time would see many cars going for lunch and to the grocers.

Today, the town square is only a shadow of its former self. Storefronts are empty and traffic in the small town is to a minimum. But the town is getting at least one new business, and with a new benefactor showing interests in the town square, more could be on its way.

Tony and Jamie Bates, of Tony Bates Ford in Lebanon, have purchased one building on the Alexandria Square, the old Locked and Loaded building, where he says he plans on opening a general store. But Bates is eyeing more for the struggling little town, and wants to invest to bring the community back to life business wise, and they are asking the community for support and help.

Bates started his career as a used car manager at Burchett Ford in Lebanon, TN, in 1990. He had previously worked at Jim Reeves Chevrolet in Nashville, but his move to Lebanon eventually led him to the dealership that now bares his name, Tony Bates Ford.

Probably best known for his numerous television commercials, with the catch phrase, “We’ll trade for anything that don’t eat,” Bates grew up in Mt. Juliet and had family in Smithville, a cousin to Sonny Stults of Sonny’s Bait and Tackle.

He said it was a recent auction that drew him back to DeKalb County, and had he and his wife exploring a vision for the near vacant town square.

“We came to an auction one day, and we drove around the square,” Bates explained. “We were looking to see what was open. We noticed the coffee shop, it’s real nice and if you haven’t been there you ought to try it. I said, ‘I’d like to do something here.’ It felt like we were drawn here for some reason. The more we looked at the community, and started checking on places to buy, to start some little ventures in, we loved this town.”

When asked “Why Alexandria?” Bates said that for him, Lebanon had become too big. “The dealership there, [Tony Bates Ford] a tenth of everything we do goes toward ministry.” Bates explained he sees a vision for Alexandria similar to the renovations that have revitalized the nearby town of Granville.

Bates held a community meeting on the square last Saturday evening, inviting local residents and business owners to chime in on what they would like to see in the town and how to make it happen.

In the meeting, Bates said that he has extended offers to buy some of the empty buildings around the town square, but has yet to have any contact him back about the offers. “Instead of having these buildings empty, at least have them available to the public for events and such for the community.”

Bates suggest the town begin a merchant’s association or an advisory board, to work with the town government on how businesses in the area can grow and how to revitalize the downtown square. “I’m here for a reason, and I believe in bringing positivity. I’m here to tell you things can change, and I believe that 100 percent. I can’t fix what has happened in the past. We can only move on from this day forward.”

As for Bates’ new business on the square, he says he envisions a general store type of business. “We’re working on getting product and such, but we’re working on it. We’re talking about having clothes, shoes and other items. Things that are affordable. When I say ‘we’ll trade for anything that don’t eat,’ it won’t be anything that eats.”

Bates also said that he plans on installing a Pizza Forno machine, which would allow people to buy a hot pizza 24/7. He said he plans on installing the pizza machines in Wilson County, Alexandria, and other surrounding counties.

As for the rest of Alexandria, Bates said he hopes the local merchants, residents, and government can work together to renovate the town and bring it back to its former small-town glory.