Open For Business! — New Stores Arrive In Valley

Big crowds turned out for a couple of grand openings Friday: one in Cathedral City for Linder’s Furniture and another for a Big Lots store in North Indio.

“We’re very pleased to be here and plan to spend enormous amounts of money,” said one shopper.

With the opening of a Louis Vuitton store on El Paseo earlier this week, there’s new hope for economic growth around the valley.

At Linder’s Furniture, dozens of jobs are being created, and the company says it’s committed to the community.

“We’re investing in the Coachella Valley. We know the economy is going to rebound. In the next few years, it’ll start and we’ll be firmly in place and gain market share here,” said Eric Foucrier, president of Linder’s Furniture.

Indio residents hope the new Big Lots store is a sign of things to come, as the city tries to bounce back from deficits and budget cuts.

“The city will get taxes out of it. And Lord knows, Indio needs all the money they can get at the moment,” said Indio resident Jeannette Taylor.

“It’ll continue. We’re confident of that; more and more will come,” said Ben Godfrey, Indio Mayor Pro Tem.