74 replies to this topic

[sleepy]

A Chicago developer is developing two 600,000 sq. ft. warehouses on the West Memphis/Marion line next to Union Pacific's intermodal terminal.  The projects are built on spec which is a positive bet on the economy of Crittenden County.  500 jobs are anticipated when the project is completed.  

The overall plan for the intermodal terminal is 5 million sq. ft. of wharehousing.

http://www.memphisda...d.aspx?id=93221

[Mith242]

sleepy, on Jun 19 2006, 10:09 AM, said:

A Chicago developer is developing two 600,000 sq. ft. warehouses on the West Memphis/Marion line next to Union Pacific's intermodal terminal.  The projects are built on spec which is a positive bet on the economy of Crittenden County.  500 jobs are anticipated when the project is completed.  

The overall plan for the intermodal terminal is 5 million sq. ft. of wharehousing.

http://www.memphisda...d.aspx?id=93221

Certainly good news for that area.  Thanks for the info.  Maybe Marion will eventually help bring up West Memphis in the future.

[itk]

sleepy, on Jun 19 2006, 10:09 AM, said:

A Chicago developer is developing two 600,000 sq. ft. warehouses on the West Memphis/Marion line next to Union Pacific's intermodal terminal.  The projects are built on spec which is a positive bet on the economy of Crittenden County.  500 jobs are anticipated when the project is completed.  

The overall plan for the intermodal terminal is 5 million sq. ft. of wharehousing.

http://www.memphisda...d.aspx?id=93221

Thanks for posting this info.

[skirby]

Southland Greyhound Park is going through a $40 million upgrade. Its name has been changed to Southland Gaming and Racing. They are looking to hire 200 additional workers.

[vbfl85]

It appears as if a Chilli's is being built in Marion! Plumbing plans were submitted last friday.  I havent used the plumbing review site before, but im pretty sure im reading this correctly.

chillis in marion

[mcheiss]

That's great to hear!! I know it's just a chain restaurant, but it will provide some jobs, not to mention a casual place to eat.

[vbfl85]

Also a Captain D's and Zaxbys are planned next to the Chilli's.  All three are located on Bancario Rd, which I cannot locate.  They have to be somwhere near 55.  Its nice to see development like this in that part of the state.

[mcheiss]

I had heard about the Zaxby's quite a while ago, but the Captain D's is new to me.

[johnnydr87]

Chili's in Marion??

That really is impressive.

Hot Springs only got its like a year or 2 ago.

[Aporkalypse]

johnnydr87, on Oct 19 2006, 12:23 AM, said:

Chili's in Marion??

That really is impressive.

Hot Springs only got its like a year or 2 ago.

Chili's is really starting to branch out into smaller towns.  They built one in my wife's hometown of Ada, OK which only has about 16,000 residents.  Applebee's is doing the same, often going even smaller.

[Mith242]

Aporkalypse, on Oct 19 2006, 10:09 AM, said:

Chili's is really starting to branch out into smaller towns.  They built one in my wife's hometown of Ada, OK which only has about 16,000 residents.  Applebee's is doing the same, often going even smaller.

Yeah they've also been doing that up here as well.  Siloam Springs is also starting to get some of these chains as well.

[mcheiss]

Aporkalypse, on Oct 19 2006, 10:09 AM, said:

Chili's is really starting to branch out into smaller towns.  They built one in my wife's hometown of Ada, OK which only has about 16,000 residents.  Applebee's is doing the same, often going even smaller.

It's all part of the goal to reach into those small untapped markets across the U.S.

[idlewild]

Marion Rocks, I hope it soon grows to be larger than West Memphis.

[skirby]

mcheiss, on Oct 19 2006, 02:42 PM, said:

It's all part of the goal to reach into those small untapped markets across the U.S.

They put a Chili's  in Jacksonville, AR and when it opened it was the top rated in sales for the chain. During the evening the parking lot is usually full and cars are parking on the side street.

[Aporkalypse]

skirby, on Oct 19 2006, 11:11 PM, said:

They put a Chili's  in Jacksonville, AR and when it opened it was the top rated in sales for the chain. During the evening the parking lot is usually full and cars are parking on the side street.

Jacksonville's less surprising, though.  It's a suburb of 30,000 next to another booming suburb of more than 22,000 that don't have access to a Chili's.  Plus, parts of Sherwood (another 25,000) are closer to Jacksonville than the NLR Chili's.  There's not much in terms of restaurants out the Jacksonville/Cabot way - it was really kind of a slam dunk to build it there.

Marion, though, has less than 10,000 residents.  I was a bit surprised.

Is there still supposed to be a Chili's going out on Hwy 10 somewhere?  I heard rumors but haven't heard anything concrete.

[mcheiss]

Didn't they just open one in Benton in Alcoa Exchange not too long ago?

[idlewild]

I have also heard rumors of an open air mall being built in Marion but haven't heard anything definitive...anyone know?

[Aporkalypse]

mcheiss, on Oct 20 2006, 09:48 AM, said:

Didn't they just open one in Benton in Alcoa Exchange not too long ago?

Yeah, but Benton (I think it may be technically in Bryant) has the dry county issue to contend with and Saline Co isn't as progressive as Benton Co in allowing liquor by the drink.  

Conway didn't  get one until much later than you'd expect for the same reasons.

Building in Jacksonville gave Brinker the luxury of locating it JUST next to a dry county.  If it were built in Cabot alcohol couldn't be served.

If the Gateway Towne Center is built I think you'll see a lot of chain restaurants targeted at Saline Co residents as the location is fairly close for them but it's in wet Pulaski Co.

Edited by Aporkalypse, 20 October 2006 - 09:24 AM.

[Rardy]

Aporkalypse, on Oct 20 2006, 09:16 AM, said:

Jacksonville's less surprising, though.  It's a suburb of 30,000 next to another booming suburb of more than 22,000 that don't have access to a Chili's.  Plus, parts of Sherwood (another 25,000) are closer to Jacksonville than the NLR Chili's.  There's not much in terms of restaurants out the Jacksonville/Cabot way - it was really kind of a slam dunk to build it there.

Marion, though, has less than 10,000 residents.  I was a bit surprised.

Is there still supposed to be a Chili's going out on Hwy 10 somewhere?  I heard rumors but haven't heard anything concrete.

Marion may have less than 10,000 residents within the city limits, but within the immediate area is over 65,000 people.  Marion and West Memphis are contiguous and provide the bulk of Crittenden County's population.  Not to mention they are also at the convergence of the region's 2 busiest freeways...

West Memphis is also getting an Applebee's.

[Aporkalypse]

Rardy, on Oct 20 2006, 01:41 PM, said:

Marion may have less than 10,000 residents within the city limits, but within the immediate area is over 65,000 people.  Marion and West Memphis are contiguous and provide the bulk of Crittenden County's population.  Not to mention they are also at the convergence of the region's 2 busiest freeways...

West Memphis is also getting an Applebee's.

I think in a couple decades Crittenden County will be huge.  It's easier to reach downtown from Marion than most of the TN and MS suburbs.  It's just a matter of having the amenities to attract them.  Once more jobs are in Marion, and they are pouring in, you'll see more commercial development that will eventually attract downtown commuters.

I like that, because it will continue with the rural to urban/suburban shift that is helping change Arkansas' legislative policies and make the state more progressive.