NEW MEGACENTER: LARGE SHOWROOM PLANNED

Dmart Homes Megacenter could start a new trend in the sales of manufactured housing.

The 85,000-square-foot structure, larger than a football field, will house 20 homes, some with decks, skirting and landscaping. The megastore will have a variety of mobile home products, ranging from single-wide homes to multi-section manufactured housing.

The new facility -- 450 feet x 200 feet -- will include a 40-foot street down the middle of the complex, said Roger Reisenbichler, Dmart sales manager. Dmart Homes, a Division of Drury Southwest, is situated along the outer road just north of the Fruitland, Mo., Interstate 55 exchange.

The weather-controlled showroom for mobile homes sales, is being constructed to retail manufactured housing.

"When the megacenter opens, hopefully about the first of the year," it will include all new homes for sale, said Reisenbichler. Outdoor billboards will entice travelers to the megastore. Bob Drury of Drury Southwest had the idea for the megacenter.

Workers were putting finishing touches on the first of four giant steel superstructures at the site Monday. The structure covers more than 20,000 square feet, and there's three more to go, said Reisenbichler.

"It may not be the first mobile home megastore in the nation," said Reisenbichler, "but it is probably the first one constructed for that purpose."

The first mobile home megastore was in New Philadelphia when a mobile home dealer occupied a 72,000-square-foot former discount store. That operation, although it no longer exists, attracted more than 25,000 people during one three-month period, and sales increased tremendously.

"The megastore attracted people who were not even in the market for a mobile home," said Reisenbichler. "It's designed to make shoppers more comfortable."

In addition to a variety of manufactured homes inside the giant showroom, additional homes will be available outside the showroom.

"This megastore will attract people from miles around," said Reisenbichler, "and we'll provide special events in the center from time to time" -- home improvement seminars, boat shows, gun shows, arts and crafts, and other events.

Dmart has been in the manufactured home business more than eight years. Reisenbichler has been with the company four years. Dmart is a large dealer for Champion Homes and the Hart Housing Group.

The company also has some area mobile home parks, complete with streets, underground utilities, awnings and storage sheds. The largest is Weiss Park, near the sales center, which already contains 160 homes, with spaces for another 300.

Dmart plans a large park in the Cape West Business Park.

"We'll be putting our first home there soon," said Reisenbichler. "We'll have room there for about 100 homes."