1990-1999
There were lots of changes going on in the City of Eden during the last decade of the twentieth century. The July 18, 1990 issue of the Eden Daily News headline "Sharp Exchanges Mark Public Forum". The forum was held on Eden's upcoming water and sewer bond referendum and the costs of the proposed $23 million project.
In early 1990 Sara Lee announced a $20 million expansion that would add 450 jobs but by April of 1991 Fieldcrest sold part of its business. The news article noted that Fieldcrest was trying to sell its blanket business which employed 900 people.
By 1993 Mayor Lawrence Cox decided not to run and Philip K. Price began his term as mayor of the City of Eden.
City Manager Steve Routh resigned in January of 1994 and by the summer it was announced that the city had hired James L. Pennington, the manager of Paducah, Kentucky to begin, effective after July 1, 1994.
Fieldcrest offered their technical center up for sale in 1994 and the city purchased it for the new City Hall and staff moved in after renovations in 1995.
Mary Lambert, the City of Eden's first City Clerk, retired in late 1995.
According to the paper, as 1995 came to a close, Release International finished its facility, the Meadow Greens Shopping Center's renovations was in the final stages, and the Hampton Inn had begun construction.
In 1996 Gary R. Benson, the city's superintendent of water filtration, began working on a city web page to "boost the city into cyberspace". By the summer, James L. Pennington had resigned as city manager, and Dennis Asbury, the Director of Environmental Engineering served as an interim manager.
In October Fieldcrest announced the sale of it's blanket division to Pillowtex Corporation for approximately $30 million dollars. About 750 employees at the Eden facilities would lose their jobs. It was noted on October 28, 1996 that the mill closure would cost the city tax revenue, "the loss equals to about 1 cent of Eden's tax rate".
In January, Radford L. Thomas, manager of Newton, NC, became the city manager of the City of Eden.
The city's 30th birthday was celebrated during the Apple Festival held at the Eden Mall in October. Festivities included a birthday cake with the city's seal, the size of four sheet cakes. The cake would also list the mayor and city council members of 1967 on one side and 1997 on the other. A tent was also set up to give away commemorative key chains and magnets.
In October of 1997 Pluma announced an expansion that would bring 50 new jobs and A.C. Furniture Company officials announced in December that they would open an upholstery plant.
In January of 1998 Sara Lee Corporation announced the sale of its Eden facility along with 8 others to National Textiles, LLC.
In April a mixed beverage referendum was approved and voters would get the chance to decide in October of 1998 as to whether they wanted to permit sales of mixed beverages in local restaurants. The city was also urged to develop a park on land bounded by Fieldcrest Road, Edgewood Road and Stadium Drive. In June the City Council voted 4-3 to launch a new city park on a 123 acre tract.
The Council approved $1 million for the city hall renovations which included finishing up the Council's chambers and the Police Department. The city's voters approved the sale of mixed beverages in local restaurants in October.
In January of 1999 Pluma announced that its local sewing plant would be consolidated into other corporate facilities, with workers to be offered jobs elsewhere. The closings meant a 21 percent reduction in Pluma's total workforce.
With the closing of Fieldcrest and other industry cutbacks, by October of 1999 the city was looking at splitting the 123 acre tract of land that was set aside for the city's park and use 65 acres for a new industry.