The temporary closure of the

Pro Shop inside the Peachtree City Tennis Center concerns some members

of the club, who say the bare floors and empty racks send the wrong message,

especially to visitors in town for tournaments, that the entire facility

is in decline.

That concern was expressed

City Tourism Association, when it became clear that transition of the

Pro Shop lease wouldn't be a clear hand-off.

Patrons of the Tennis Center

enter and exit the facility through the Pro Shop, which also handles court

assignments, registration and fees.

Virgil Christian, former executive

director of the Peachtree City Development Authority, had run the shop

as a private business until Nov. 30, when the DAPC officially ended its

10-year contract to run the center and the Fred Brown Jr. Amphitheater.

Christian resigned his DAPC

position effective Oct. 31, and while the Tourism Association Board of

Directors did consider extending Christian's lease until a new tenant

could be found, that idea was nixed at the last minute, sources say.

Since the city assumed the

operation of the Peachtree City Tennis Center at the last minute starting

Dec. 1 of this year, the Pro Shop has temporarily discontinued the sale

of most inventory, said Betsy Tyler, city spokeswoman.

But City Manager Bernard McMullen

assured Tennis Center patrons that reopening the pro shop is one of staff's

top priorities.

"We've been discussing

various options with the Tennis Center employees and getting input from

local venders regarding the operation of the pro shop,"�McMullen

said. Several retailers have approached the city about continuing the

operation, said McMullen, but no serious offers have been considered yet.

"We expect to have a decision

on how to proceed by late December, with the shop back in full operation

Until the shop is reopened,

the Tennis Center will continue to provide basic services such as racket

stringing and the sale of tennis balls for patrons of the facility, in

addition to the membership task, Tyler said.

The Ashland Grille restaurant

adjacent to the Pro Shop is not affected and remains open.