Slippery Neck, W.Va. -- Executives from Andyco subsidiary AndyMart, along with community leaders have reached a settlement in the months-long controversy surrounding AndyMart's planned construction of a state-of-the-art retail outlet on what was once the site of a famous Civil War battle.

In August of 1863, Major Gen. Buford M. Smiley and his confederate troops fought to the last man in what's viewed by many as one of the most spectacular defeats of the war - the Battle of Slippery Neck.

From the beginning, community activists have opposed the new store -- a project that will provide poorly made household goods at deep-discount prices, while bringing scores of low-paying jobs to the region. But after months of negotiations, lawyers from both sides agreed on a compromise calling for a memorial to be erected within the new AndyMart. "This is wonderful example of creative problem solving," says Janet Fishkill, spokesperson for AndyMart. "Not only will shoppers be made aware of the significance of the site, they'll be saving money on hundreds of top name-brands at the same time."

The monument, a likeness of Major General Smiley, is to be built on the exact spot where the general was believed to have uttered his famous last words, "Everybody stay down!" (See artist's rendering.)

Though opponents of the plan were appalled at the monuments initial positioning adjacent to the pet supplies, later plans place the monument between snack foods and paper products. Opening is scheduled for Spring 2002.

AndyMart captures the flavor of an old-fashioned "Main Street" with it's newest concept in store design.

AndyMart is pleased to announce it's "store of the future" -- AndyMart's MainStreet USA.

Capturing the nostalgia of the classic old shopping distict of smalltown America, AndyMart has plans for recreating the charm of days gone by.

Every detail of Main Street will be faithfully recreated within the store -- not only in design (see artist rendering above), but right down to the "townspeople" -- our AndyMart employees -- who'll play the roles of your favorite townies.

From the eccentric barber at the AndyMart Salon, the town "sheriff" (our security personnel), and of course the angry right-wing gunshop owner who'll talk your ear off about how Jack Ruby was paid off by the Commies.

The first MainStreet USA is scheduled to open Spring of 2003.