TALLADEGA — Battle Street is beginning to show new signs of life. At least five previously unoccupied business properties either have new businesses in them or will soon, and the Talladega Wal-Mart, at the end of Battle Street, is about to undergo a $1 million renovation and expansion.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Citi Trends would soon be opening up in a portion of the old Food World building. According to Talladega Community Development director Chris Stone, other retail businesses have expressed interest in the remaining part of the building, but none were ready to announce as of this week.

The Verizon store, formally housed in the Food World Shopping Center, recently relocated to the former Jiffy Lube on Battle Street, a much larger space. The new location is already open for business.

Work is also under way on the former Shell Station on Battle Street, next to the automated car wash. According to Stone, this building will eventually be occupied by an income tax preparation service.

On the other side of Battle Street, work is also well under way on the old Alabama Eye Clinic Building, which, come January, will house the offices of nephrologists Dr. Ghayas Habach, internal medicine specialist Dr. Luigi Furgone and nurse practitioner Laurie Gautney. According to office manager Connie Lowe, Habach and Furgone will be relocating their offices from the current location in the office park near the hospital. This will be convenient for Habach’s patients, since the new location is just across the street from Da Vita Dialysis Clinic.

“It’s a larger building and nicer facility,” Lowe said. The new office should be up and running by January, and will operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both will also continue to see patients at Citizens Baptist Medical Center.

Habach will also be moving his offices in Sylacauga into the Cancer Center on James Payton Blvd.

On the square, the Kenwin Building, which was recently renovated with grant funds, will soon be home to LMO and Company, according to Stone. Owned by Lyndsey Moses, the store will specialize in handmade jewelry and stained glass.

On Fort Lashley Avenue, the former home of Charlie’s Auto Glass will be Dee’s Sports Bar and Grill, owned by Derrick Pointer. Pointer said he is not ready to go into great detail about what he will be offering just yet, but will be announcing a grand opening celebration soon. The Talladega City Council voted to approve a liquor license for the new business Thursday afternoon.

At the other end of town, Wal-Mart is planning a major renovation that will include capital investments of more than $927,000, not including new fixtures, according to city building inspector Larry Riggins. The project does not include any new square footage, but will include retractable walls around the seasonal section (currently only bounded by a chain link fence, that will create an additional 8,000 square feet of space available year-round.

The project also involves changing the configuration of the sales floor, new electronic and mechanical equipment and new aisles and counters, according to plans filed with the city.

Riggins characterized the project as “a total overhaul from floor to ceiling,” including new heating, air and ventilation systems and more modern tile. The deli area will also be renovated and relocated inside the store. Most of the work will be done at night, so as not to inconvenience the customers.

Work is scheduled to begin in the spring, and should be complete in six to eight weeks, according to documents filed with the city.