ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Burlington, a national off-price retailer, has opened a new store on Tunnel Road in Asheville. During the ribbon cutting, store staff presented Haw Creek Elementary School with a check for $5,000.

Where is Burlington located in Asheville?

Burlington held its ribbon cutting ceremony around 8:55 a.m. this morning, Friday, May 15 at 80 S. Tunnel Road.

The store will be open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Before the store officially opened at 9 a.m., a line of customers was already forming in front of the balloons and ribbons.

According to store manager Amy Woody, the arrival of the store has been a long time coming.

“The team’s worked really hard to be part of this community,” Woody said. “Burlington’s really excited to open the new location. They’ve been wanting to come to Asheville for 20 years. It’s a great opportunity for local jobs in the area and bringing some amazing treasure finds to the area as well.”

Investing in local community

The grand opening was marked by the presentation of an oversized $5,000 check to Haw Creek Elementary, a nearby school in the Buncombe County Schools system. The donation will go toward credit on www.adoptaclassroom.org, to be split between Haw Creek Elementary teachers.

Christen Davidson, principal of Haw Creek Elementary, accepted the donation with the help of school mascot, the Haw Creek Hawk, and Judy Lewis, BCS Board of Education District 5 Representative.

“I just want to say this is such an amazing surprise for the teachers of Haw Creek Elementary,” Davidson said. “We’re so appreciative to Burlington for sharing this gift with our school, and even though summer is almost here, our teachers never stop thinking and planning about all the wonderful things that are coming up in the new school year ahead.”

Before the ribbon cutting, Davidson ended on a note befitting of the Haw Creek Hawks.

“We welcome you to our community, Burlington, and, as we like to say at Haw Creek Elementary, we look forward to soaring to new heights together,” Davidson said. “Thank you so much.”