Red Bay has a long history of success with the Tiffin family owning businesses in town, and Lex and Denisha Tiffin are continuing the legacy by breaking ground on the new location for their business, Southeast Sales, in West Franklin Regional Industrial Park.

This will be the fourth generation of Tiffin-owned businesses opening in Red Bay, with the first business opening in 1910.

“It has just become a big tradition,” Lex Tiffin said. “My grandfather has business here, and my dad has a business here, and now we have business here.”

Denisha Tiffin said it is a surreal thing to finally be breaking ground on the new Southeast Sales location and see all of the local support.

“I didn’t expect it to be this big, and I think it just shows how much the community supports it,” Denisha Tiffin said. “We are excited about this new adventure here and serving this community.”

Southeast Sales general manager Don Ross said the discussion for a new location for Southeast Sales began in June 2020. After talking with Mayor Charlene Fancher, West Franklin Regional Industrial Park seemed like the perfect place.

The new facility will be 45,000 total square feet with 15,000 square feet on the second floor. It will bring 25 additional jobs to current operations.

Southeast Sales is known for its industrial supplies, but Ross said he hopes to add additional lines, such as hunting and camping, to help draw attention.

“We are hoping it will be something you are not accustomed to seeing that will make you want to come back to Red Bay,” Ross said.

Fancher said she is excited to see Southeast Sales opening in Red Bay and looks forward to seeing them grow.

“I feel confident in saying that Southeast Sales will introduce new products and new services that we haven’t had in Red Bay,” Fancher said. “That is very exciting, especially when you think about attracting new customers and new traffic to the industrial park.”

Construction on Southeast Sales is anticipated to begin in the next three weeks, with the project being completed as soon as possible.