The first major department constructed outside of the main downtown area of Hendersonville was a Roses Store that opened in 1967 near the intersection of U.S. 176 and U.S. 25. This site is where the Fresh Market is located today.
It was in 1968 that Cliff Shipman began building Clifton’s Cafeteria. Shipman had already opened the Hasty-Tasty, the Hitchin’ Kitchen and the Chicken Shack. Hasty-Tasty was one of the first fast-food restaurants in Henderson County, opening in 1954.
Most of the major department stores, clothing stores and grocery store chains were still located in or near the downtown area of Hendersonville.
Retail sales and trade accounted for 12.9 percent of personal income in 1970 in Henderson County. Approximately 2,235 persons were employed in retail sales and trade. Approximately 1,005 were sales workers. This category includes food sales, bakeries, service stations, motor vehicles, department stores, drug stores, building supply, hardware stores, farm and garden supplies, furniture, appliances, florists and restaurants.
Professional and business services accounted for 17 percent of personal income in 1970. This census category employed 1,742 persons. The majority of these persons were employed in businesses and occupations such as hotels and motels, laundries, beauty salons, barber shops, shoe repair, tailors and dressmaking. About 334 people worked in private households and 248 for non-profits and religious organizations. The business and repair services employed 228 people. This included advertising, auto repair, electricians, plumbers, protective services, and others.
There were about 233 persons working in the legal field, engineering and other professions.
A total of 171 people worked in banking and finance in 1970 in Henderson County. Insurance, real estate and other financial businesses employed 256 people.