For 25 years the Employment Security Commission building on Park Avenue was Manager Tommy McKnight's home.

In 30 seconds on the afternoon of April 16 it was gone when a tornado ripped through Tenth Street and the surrounding area.

Now McKnight and his staff are planning on being in their new headquarters by the end of November at the back of the old Belk building at Becker Village Mall.

The commission is just one of several new occupants coming into the mall.

“It's going to give us more room,” McKnight said as he and another ESC staffer checked the progress being made on the building this week.

The portion of the Belk building the commission will be using is more than 5,000 square feet, mall owner Ellen Heaton said.

The office space will allow for a room for typing tests. The new office will have the computer terminals where people can look for jobs as well as a fax machine, copier and phone so job seekers can call employers.

The state is buying all new equipment and furniture for the building after contents were destroyed or sustained water damage during the tornado.

While the commission appreciates the city letting it work from the Neighborhood Resource Center on Jackson Street, a more permanent solution was needed.

For McKnight, the building on Park Avenue was almost a home away from home. “I've been going to work there 25 years. In 30 seconds it was gone. It was disheartening to see it gone. I felt like a part of me was gone.”

That employees will be all together under one roof is comforting, McKnight said. “It will be like we're in heaven because we'll all be together.”

Paul Heaton, of Heaton Construction, told McKnight during the tour he saw no problems with having the building ready by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, Ellen Heaton said Marina's in Gaston has signed a letter of intent to put a restaurant in the old Bojangles' restaurant while Bernice Lee is opening Passions Floral Design.

Tashe Spencer is opening Bell-Donna Boutique in the mall.

'Spencer said the store will feature clothing from casual to formal and will have a salon for walk-in appointments for extensions.

She plans a November 12 opening from noon to 8 p.m. with 99.5 doing a live broadcast from noon to 2 p.m.