Most people say that there are just not enough hours in the day, but for Keith and Paula Holley of Holtville, 24 hours is plenty.
The Holleys run four individual companies: Holley Oil Company, Inc.; Holley Properties LLC; Holley Washer LLC; and HolleyWood Tanning Salon LLC. Through Holley Properties LLC, the Holleys have five shopping centers (Town Plaza, Rumbling Waters, Main St. Plaza, Martin Way and the newly acquired Parkway Plaza), with several rental units throughout Elmore County. Nearly all of these units are occupied by small businesses that are owned and operated by people who live in the county, a factor that connects the Holleys to their renters.
“I think the reason I’m successful at commercial property is that I understand the tenants – I understand their fear,” Keith said.
The 47-year-old entrepreneur learned the ropes of retail from his parents, Denson and Sherrye Holley, who along with his father’s original business partner Jimmy Davis, formed the Boy’s Store in the Slapout community. Keith grew up in the aisles of this local general store, where he picked up all the traits of retail and leasing as a personable owner.
At 19 (and after graduating from Holtville High School), Keith opened his own store.
“I went and borrowed all this money, went into business, and I literally ate Vienna sausages. I borrowed $70,000, had $800 in cash and had a $1,000 mobile home,” Keith said. “And that was all I had. When my parents borrowed the money against their house (for [my] financing), I could not sleep. If I didn’t make it, my parents owed the $70,000.
“I think that’s why commercial rental property management is so easy for me; I understand what new entrepreneurs feel, and I care.”
Keith’s wife, Paula, a fellow Holtville student, comes from a family of self-employers. She said both her husband and she know the importance of easing the burdens of their tenants; especially as they just start out in business.
In speaking about Keith, Paula said, “He’s very good to his tenants. We attended the Donut D-lite grand opening recently, and one of our tenants in the same shopping center came up and hugged me and said, ‘I have made my last payment, and I want to thank you. I would have never been able to put carpet in my place.’ Keith financed the carpet for them. Just little things like that Keith will do for them to help them out, because he and I both know that getting started is the hardest part.”
The Holleys have brought 200 jobs to Elmore County through their companies and properties over the years, but they realize that the area hasn’t tapped out its potential.
“We don’t have enough homes. We don’t have enough apartments. The biggest challenge I have is there’s not enough rooftops,” Keith said. “Most of the people live in the rural parts of Elmore County, but we need more people. I really feel like to get to the next level that Elmore County deserves, we’ve got to have a larger 20-year infrastructure plan.”
A good starting point, Keith said, would be for local city and county governments to continue their efforts to improve infrastructure, with a focus on Highway 14.
“We need to make (Highway 14) a main east and west corridor, because we have the main cities growing around it – Prattville, Tallassee, Millbrook and Wetumpka with the new casino. Then you have Auburn and Opelika. Highway 14 goes through both,” he said. “That’s why I have half my properties on Hwy 14. Highway 14 is a bigger thoroughfare than people give it credit for.”
With more people locating to the Wetumpka, Millbrook and Deatsville areas in Elmore County, the Holleys said they hope to assist growth by expanding commercial vision and providing more units for more jobs.
“Keith comes from a family of business, and I come from a family of self-employers,” Paula said. “Coming from these backgrounds, we like and know what it takes to make it.”
She said they hope their children Todd Holley, Brittany and Marlayna Brown, who already help run the family businesses, learn from their experiences.
“We are hoping they will learn from us – as we did our parents – to work hard, have respect for others and prosper,” Paula said.
And according to Keith, that’s all about how you spend your time.
“Everybody has the same 24 hours, it’s what you do with it.”
