Local Apparel Industry Experiencing Rebirth Under New Ownership

November 17, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Omega Apparel Incorporated was once a thriving garment factory in Smithville and the new company that has succeeded Omega hopes to make it flourish again.

620 Pelham, Inc. has begun operations in both buildings near downtown where Omega Apparel operated until recently deciding to go out of business after experiencing hard times.

The factory still produces Broadfall trousers for the US Navy although that contract is ending after the first of the year and it supplies three Goretex garments including pants and parkas under a sub-contract for the east Tennessee based Valley Apparel, LLC.

In a meeting Thursday, plant manager Amanda Callis and consultant Dick Chase, a former owner of Omega during its glory days, brought employees up to date on plans for the new industry. Chase also spoke with the local media afterwards.

With employment currently at just over 100, Chase said the factory plans to expand its commercial work and land more government contracts from the defense department for the US military and to eventually employ up to perhaps another 150 people. Hiring has already begun and anyone interested in a job can apply in person at the factory office on South Mountain Street.

“We need to get the labor pool started now in order to do some advanced training. We have just hired a half dozen people already to build on that Goretex line and when we get all the garments we are looking at doing we will probably have another 150 people,” said Chase.

“The word is back out that we are producing again and its just amazing what has happened. A buying group for the defense department is extremely interested in us getting up right away and we were contacted this morning (Thursday) about another company wanting us to do garments for them. They (defense department) have had some real difficulties because companies like Omega have gone out of business causing their supply chain to shrink. But now is a rebirth time for us (620 Pelham) to come back and do really spectacular things as before. Omega had an outstanding stellar reputation with the defense department and they depended on us for a lot of their production because we produced excellent quality work and did it fast. It was amazing how well we did it. We had some good structure to make it happen but it was all due to our employees,” continued Chase.

The California based company which owns 620 Pelham recently signed a two year lease including renewal options with the county industrial development board and the City of Smithville which owns the buildings where the factory operates. The company has 30 plus years of experience with operations in Mexico and Taiwan as well as the United States producing first quality sports apparel and other garments.

Why the name 620 Pelham?

“This is a name the owners started to incorporate for another opportunity. That didn’t work out but they still had the incorporation papers so they just applied that to this factory,” said Chase. The name is expected to eventually become 620 Pelham, Inc. DBA Omega USA.

Prior to Omega Apparel, the factory was owned by Tennessee Apparel. Chase and Brian Roberge bought the company in 1994 and started Omega.

“Tennessee Apparel started in 1988. I came to them in 1990 and worked for them until 1994 and they decided to go back to small business. Brian and I stepped up and bought it and the company became known as Omega Apparel in 1994,” said Chase.

Omega was still a successful company when Chase and Roberge sold it in 2012 and the ownership later changed again.

Although Chase and Roberge are not part of the new ownership team, they have been brought in as consultants for the new company.

November 16, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A 67 year old Smithville woman who was airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital after a one car rollover crash Friday night on West Main Street has died.

Dead is Linda Lawrence.

Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said  Lawrence was driving east in a 1995 Geo Prizm when the car went off the right side of the road and struck a curb, utility pole, and guide wire before overturning and coming to rest on its top.

Members of the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department were called for extrication to enable Lawrence to be removed from the car. She was wearing her seatbelt.

Lawrence was taken by DeKalb EMS to Ascension St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital and then airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital where she passed away.

November 16, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County residents will have the opportunity to donate Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes, beginning Monday, November 18.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993 Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 168 million shoeboxes to children in over 160 countries and territories. For many of these children, the gift‑filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received. Also, to help offset shipping costs, participants are asked to donate $9 per shoebox gift. They will receive a tracking label, enabling them to learn the destination of their shoebox gift.

The week of November 18th through 25th, is National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child. The drop-off/relay center for this area is located at the Indian Creek Baptist Church, 967 Hurricane Ridge Road, Smithville, Tennessee, and is a convenient place for churches, clubs, schools, businesses, and individuals to bring their filled shoe boxes.

The local drop off center will be open, as follows:

*Monday, November 18 through Friday, November 22 – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
* Saturday, November 23 – 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
*Sunday, November 24 – 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
*Monday, November 25 – 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

You may select from the above dates and hours to deliver your filled shoe boxes to the center.
This holiday season you can experience the true meaning of Christmas with a child in need by simply packing your shoeboxes with toys, hygiene items, school supplies, and other small gifts.

For further information please contact:
Sue Puckett:
615/597-7370 (office)
615/597-7325 (home)
615/464-7700 (cell)suepuckett@dtccom.net (e-mail)

For more information, including guidelines for shoebox gifts and an option to virtually “Build a Box,” visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ

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