LACROIX CENTER HOME TO 5 STORES

After two years of changes and improvements, including extensive flood project work by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the retail center which formerly housed Lowell's and Silo has officially reopened with a new name and new tenants.

LaCroix Center, a 40,000-square- foot shopping center located on a two-acre lot with about 100 parking places near the intersection of Bloomfield and South Kingshighway, is home to five businesses.

"Building renovations will be completed within 30 days," said Charles Blattner, president of Blattner Brothers Inc., which operates the center.

A new sign featuring the name of the center and its tenants will be installed, Blattner added.

Businesses in the center include:

-- Carpet Connections, owned and operated by John and Connie Fodge. Carpet Corner has about 9,000 square feet of space and has been at the center since August 1993.

-- Hancock Fabrics, which moved into the center in August 1994 and occupies 5,000 square feet. The fabric shop was previously in the Town Plaza Shopping Center.

-- Plaza Gifts & Office Supplies, owned and operated by Frank and Carolyn Klueppel, which moved into the building recently and occupies about 15,000 square feet. The gift and office supply store was located in the Town Plaza Shopping Center for 25 years.

-- Room Mates and Sign Master, owned by Ed and Veronica McCormick, the latest to move into the center, opening there May 1. Both businesses moved into the section which previously housed Silo, absorbing 10,000 square feet for the two operations. Room Mates, which sells beds, waterbeds and spas, moved from Town Plaza Shopping center. Sign Master was previously located at 1901 Broadway.