Ruth Ownbey and Faye Penland are friends who share an entrepreneurial spirit. They teamed up in business in 1992 and purchased a building that had been home to a grocery store. After much personal work on the building they opened Bargain Center Outlet in March 1994. They started out selling carpet and rugs along with other merchandise, but rugs were what really caught on. Ultimately, they dropped everything else and enlarged their rug offerings. In 2000 they began stocking a few home accents and when they began to move so well the ladies knew they had found their niche. In 2002 they brought on staff an interior designer. Mary Benefield gave the store a new look and she, along with Pam Barnett, who came in 2003 do all the displays in the store. They have been a great addition to Bargain Center Outlet. Ruth is a retired Bell South Yellow Pages manager and Faye is a minister who also pastors a local church.