Dirt work began this week on the site of the planned Auto Zone on Hill Street in Ellisville, two blocks west of the traffic light on Highway 11. Site work has not yet begun on the site of the planned O'Reilly Auto Parts store, located at the intersection of Hill and Young streets, behind Ellisville Drugs.

Contractors tore down a brick home this week to make way for the Auto Zone store — the home and office of former Ellisville physician Dr. Maura Mitchell. The O'Reilly store will be located on the lot occupied by the home of Earl Young.

Under construction on Highway 11 south of the traffic light is the Smokehouse Restaurant, adjacent to Pizza Hut.

Mayor Tim Waldrup told the Laurel Leader Call recently that two new subdivisions — with approximately 448 apartments and 255 houses — are being planned. Work on a 448-apartment subdivision on Ellisville State School Road is under way with dirt work already started. Construction on a new 15-house subdivision at Hal Crocker Road and Graves Road should start soon. Plans are already approved by the city. Waldrop also said a 240-house subdivision on Highway 11 between Highlands subdivision and the Tech Park is being planned.

And that's not all.

Commercial development is booming in and around town. A major renovation project was recently completed downtown as developer Mike Carpenter purchased the old Ellisville post office building and completely overhauled the building at a cost of over $500,000. The building now contains several retail stores and small business offices downstairs, and upscale apartments upstairs.

Waldrup said he hears about the possibility of new retail businesses wanting to locate in Ellisville all the time. But, he stressed, the talk is only speculation and rumor. Some of the names being tossed around include a new Wal-Mart west of I-59 around the Highway 588 curve; a McAlister's Deli and possibly a motel on the east side of I-59, in the area of West Ellisville Baptist Church; a new car dealer currently calling Laurel home; Arby's and Taco Bell. Waldrup said Wal-Mart is "œconsidering" a location in Ellisville, and is "in discussion with different people." No paperwork at city hall exists on any of these "speculative" businesses.