Jonesboro Developments

[Aporkalypse]

I agree with Aporkalypse. Enclosed malls are a dying trend. I'm not saying they may not make a come back sometime in the future. But I do think open air malls are probably more easily maintained. I know summers aren't great here in Arkansas but I think everyone can stand being outside just a little bit to go from store to store.

The major barrier to enclosed malls is cold weather, warm weather doesn't seem to be a big issue. I spent a lot of time in development-crazy Florida last year and open-air malls with central plazas and fountains are going up like wildfire there. The only exception is the mega-outlet mall Sawgrass Mills (the largest outlet mall in the world). It is similar here in DFW, which in climate is very similar to Central AR, where Grapevine Mills was built. You saw Southlake Town Square.

Garland is opening something very similar called Firewheel Town Center (named after a nearby golf development)...

http://www.ci.garland.tx.us/Home/Departmen...+April+2005.htm

What's notable about this is it is a Simon Properties project - the largest mall ownership group in the U.S. They have largely abandoned traditional malls in warmer areas of the country. Simon's planning on building something in West LR to replace University Mall and it will definitely be outdoors and possible follow the Town Center path of these projects.

They were working on a similar project in Bonita Springs (between Ft Myers and Naples, FL) when I was there that looked like this...

Arlington is planning on building a Town Center near the Rangers' Baseball Stadium and the Cowboys's planned new stadium as well, supposedly on a genuinely massive scale.

[Mith242]

The major barrier to enclosed malls is cold weather, warm weather doesn't seem to be a big issue.

I guess I hadn't thought of it from that standpoint. Well overall I don't think Arkansas winters are bad enough to really 'justify' an enclosed mall to be honest. Just gives people a chance to show off their fancy winter wear like they do at ski resorts.

[Aporkalypse]

I guess I hadn't thought of it from that standpoint. Well overall I don't think Arkansas winters are bad enough to really 'justify' an enclosed mall to be honest. Just gives people a chance to show off their fancy winter wear like they do at ski resorts.

People pull out the ski jackets when it hits 55 in South Louisiana.

Here's St John's Town Center in Jacksonville, FL which is along the same lines (about 1.5 million SF)...

The other obvious bonus is that by building in this type of configuration you leave much more ample options for additional development than an enclosed mall. Say you are building a 750k SF retail center in Conway and it greatly exceed expectations and an additional anchor, several restaurants (assuming liquor by the drink), and other smaller stores want on board. It's easy enough to add on new buildings in the same motif with minimal disruption to the existing development. This is exactly what happened in Southlake as demand was so high that it is being doubled in size - there is little or no disruption of the operating stores and restaurants. It also allows better options for restaurants and bars to stay open later than retail stores without having to "close the mall". One thing I noticed is there are far more restaurants, chain and non-chain, in this type of development than in your standard "mall" even counting pads in adjacent parking lots.

I like the convenience, frankly, of being able to drive right up to the store or restaurant you want to go to and park there. I avoid the Galleria altogether because of the hassle of getting into and out of the mall.

[Mith242]

People pull out the ski jackets when it hits 55 in South Louisiana.

Here's St John's Town Center in Jacksonville, FL which is along the same lines (about 1.5 million SF)...

The other obvious bonus is that by building in this type of configuration you leave much more ample options for additional development than an enclosed mall. Say you are building a 750k SF retail center in Conway and it greatly exceed expectations and an additional anchor, several restaurants (assuming liquor by the drink), and other smaller stores want on board. It's easy enough to add on new buildings in the same motif with minimal disruption to the existing development. This is exactly what happened in Southlake as demand was so high that it is being doubled in size - there is little or no disruption of the operating stores and restaurants. It also allows better options for restaurants and bars to stay open later than retail stores without having to "close the mall". One thing I noticed is there are far more restaurants, chain and non-chain, in this type of development than in your standard "mall" even counting pads in adjacent parking lots.

I like the convenience, frankly, of being able to drive right up to the store or restaurant you want to go to and park there. I avoid the Galleria altogether because of the hassle of getting into and out of the mall.

Another good point. And yes it is funny to see how some people react to weather. I guess if you lived far enough south and didn't have much experiance with a real winter maybe you'd be that way.

[Aporkalypse]

Interesting, I looked at their website. It seems like a mall-strip mall fusion with most of the square footage by far being in big-box stores (Circuit City, Barnes and Noble, Target) or the anchors (JC Penney, Dillard's). I think the mall is possible by bringing in some big-box tenants that otherwise tend to avoid enclosed malls and designing it to make access easy for them, otherwise it would be anchor-light. It is very similar to the now decaying Richardson Square Mall down here, which recently lost its Dillard's, Target, and Barnes and Noble. I think it will work up there, though, because of lack of competition by other malls which is what killed RS off. It's fairly unimaginative in design, though, and that Main Street theme they boast of is a frequently played theme in malls.

I like that the Belz-Burrow group is behind it. This is the group that owns the Peabody chain and they have close ties to Jonesboro.

I noticed on their website they are the ones developing the Shoppes at North Hills which will include the Bass Pro Shops. They also claimed a "unique streetscape design' for that development but it looks bland and disappointing as well. It's simply a big box strip facing the interstate, nothing unusual about that. perhaps the wetland issue is causing them problems but this pales in comparison the previous "Spectrum Center" design for the site. I hate to see it halfassed because it's the prime real estate for retail dev't in Arkansas right now.

It has an 18-screen theater, restaurants, and 3 dept stores (which is also perplexing with McCain Mall nearby, where would they come from?) and a couple of other big box slots. In total it's 866k SF but really on paper doesn't look it. I'm not sure they've completely thought out the retail end of things unless they're tied into some big anchor dept stores we don't know about yet. I think there's huge demand for restaurant pads there and in West LR.

[mcheiss]

What's the Theatre company on that 18 screen multiplex?

[Aporkalypse]

What's the Theatre company on that 18 screen multiplex?

I doubt they even know.

I still think the more interesting question is what are the three department stores? That's a lot since McCain is a couple of miles or less away and has Dillard's, Sears, JC Penney, and MM Cohn. Maybe Parisian could go there but what could the other two be?

[mcheiss]

^A Foley's, or Lord & Taylor?

[tim2462]

Burrow to Develop 100,000-SF Shopping Center in Jonesboro

1/4/06 3:11:31 PM

By Arkansas Business staff, Arkansasbusiness.com Daily Report

Bruce Burrow of MBC Holdings LLC of Jonesboro on Wednesday announced the firm's latest development: Fairpark, a $15 million, 100,000-SF retail center to be anchored by a 70,000-SF Kohl's Department Store.

The development is at Fairpark Boulevard just south of Lowe's in Jonesboro.

In a statement, Burrow said the center will create more than 175 jobs.

"Site work has begun on the property," Burrow said. "We are looking forward to bringing another first-class retailer to the market."

Burrow is a partner in MBC Holdings LLC with developer Marty Belz of Memphis. The two have also developed the The Peabody-Little Rock, the Hilton Little Rock Metrocenter and The Mall at Turtle Creek in Jonesboro, scheduled for a grand opening in March.

Burrow said "negotiations are underway with other national retailers" for the remaining 30,000 SF of open space.

[mcheiss]

I thought Kohls was going into the Mall at Turtle Creek, but I guess I was wrong.

[tim2462]

Kohl's was never a possiblity for the mall. Kohl's was just announced to come to Jonesboro in the last month or so. The Mall's anchors have been decided for about a year now.

[mcheiss]

Kohl's was never a possiblity for the mall. Kohl's was just announced to come to Jonesboro in the last month or so. The Mall's anchors have been decided for about a year now.

Now I see.

The anchors are: Target, JC Penny, Dillards, Barnes & Noble, and Bed Bath and Beyond.

[Mith242]

I know it's winter and there's not as much development news. But what's going on in Jonesboro? Seems like this area of the state has gotten rather quiet compared to what it was for a while. Anyone have any updates? I also have a question for anyone in the Jonesboro area. Has anyone been to the Nature Center there?

[Mith242]

Hello, all. I'm living in Florida, but might be moving to Jonesboro. Anybody there who can give me some advice on the area? I hear Jonesboro is growing and is a beautiful area.

Thought I'd post this over here too and bump up this topic. Arkansas_buff was probably a good source of info for this area but he doesn't seem to have been on for the last week and a half. Hopefully he'll come back and give you some info. But me may have some others who can help you out. Maybe even some of the western Tennessee people might be able to provide a little info.

[Mith242]

Speaking of Jonesboro, Nestle will be planning a $19.7 Mil expansion of their plant there. Apparently they make Stouffer's and Lean Cuisine there and will soon be making Hot Pockets.

[arkansas_buff]

Thought I'd post this over here too and bump up this topic. Arkansas_buff was probably a good source of info for this area but he doesn't seem to have been on for the last week and a half. Hopefully he'll come back and give you some info. But me may have some others who can help you out. Maybe even some of the western Tennessee people might be able to provide a little info.

Turtle Creek officially opens Wednesday! Dillards had a "soft opening" this weekend. Of course... my wife HAD to go. It's definately a big week for J-town. Just down Stadium Blvd from the new mall, they've begun building a Popeye's Chicken, some ice cream place, and the Chili's is in the dry! That mall will be the catalyst for a string of developments on Stadium!

Also, they've broken ground on the new Kohls, which is located next door to Lowes and about a block from the new convention center!

They've also put up a huge billboard photo on the site for the new hotel and convention center. No construction yet, though.

I'll keep you posted every now and then.

[Mith242]

Turtle Creek officially opens Wednesday! Dillards had a "soft opening" this weekend. Of course... my wife HAD to go. It's definately a big week for J-town. Just down Stadium Blvd from the new mall, they've begun building a Popeye's Chicken, some ice cream place, and the Chili's is in the dry! That mall will be the catalyst for a string of developments on Stadium!

Also, they've broken ground on the new Kohls, which is located next door to Lowes and about a block from the new convention center!

They've also put up a huge billboard photo on the site for the new hotel and convention center. No construction yet, though.

I'll keep you posted every now and then.

Thanks for the update Arknasas_buff.

[flamailman1]

Turtle Creek officially opens Wednesday! Dillards had a "soft opening" this weekend. Of course... my wife HAD to go. It's definately a big week for J-town. Just down Stadium Blvd from the new mall, they've begun building a Popeye's Chicken, some ice cream place, and the Chili's is in the dry! That mall will be the catalyst for a string of developments on Stadium!

Also, they've broken ground on the new Kohls, which is located next door to Lowes and about a block from the new convention center!

They've also put up a huge billboard photo on the site for the new hotel and convention center. No construction yet, though.

I'll keep you posted every now and then.

Thanks for this info. Sounds like good things are happening in Jonesboro. I am awaiting word on a possible transfer there. Planning to visit next weekend. (Mar 30 - Apr 3) MY wife can't wait to see that mall!

[tim2462]

I'm going up there this week to check out the new mall. I've been waiting for it. I was hoping for the other mall that was proposed, but this one will be just as good and spur as much development.

flamailman1, where would you be transferring from?

[vbfl85]

I was hoping for the other mall that was proposed, but this one will be just as good and spur as much development.

What was the difference between Turtle Creek and the other mall?

[flamailman1]

I'm going up there this week to check out the new mall. I've been waiting for it. I was hoping for the other mall that was proposed, but this one will be just as good and spur as much development.

flamailman1, where would you be transferring from?

I'm currently living in Port St, Lucie, Fl, and working in the Fort Pierce Post Office.

[vbfl85]

I'm currently living in Port St, Lucie, Fl, and working in the Fort Pierce Post Office.

I live in Vero Beach (30 miles north) and have visited Ark many times. Even though I've only been to Jonesboro once, I can tell you that Arkansas in general is much more laid back and less hecktic than PSL and the rest of south FL.

[tim2462]

I'm currently living in Port St, Lucie, Fl, and working in the Fort Pierce Post Office.

Jonesboro is a nice growing city that's well laid out. It's pretty being on crowley's ridge. You aren't too far from the scenic Ozark Mountains. Hot Springs and the Ouachita Mountains aren't too far either. You will be close to Memphis and Little Rock for big city fun. Tunica isn't far away, if you're into casinos. I think you'd really like it here. You guys will probably miss the beaches of FL, but I think we have enough here to keep your minds off of that

[flamailman1]

Jonesboro is a nice growing city that's well laid out. It's pretty being on crowley's ridge. You aren't too far from the scenic Ozark Mountains. Hot Springs and the Ouachita Mountains aren't too far either. You will be close to Memphis and Little Rock for big city fun. Tunica isn't far away, if you're into casinos. I think you'd really like it here. You guys will probably miss the beaches of FL, but I think we have enough here to keep your minds off of that

No problem; my wife hates the beach anyway. I'm more happy on a golf course myself. We have to drive to West Palm Beach or Orlando for concerts or theater. Shouldn't be a problem to drive to Memphis or Little Rock.

[johnnydr87]

Jonesboro is a nice growing city that's well laid out. It's pretty being on crowley's ridge. You aren't too far from the scenic Ozark Mountains. Hot Springs and the Ouachita Mountains aren't too far either. You will be close to Memphis and Little Rock for big city fun. Tunica isn't far away, if you're into casinos. I think you'd really like it here. You guys will probably miss the beaches of FL, but I think we have enough here to keep your minds off of that

umm... jonesboro is 3 3/4 hours away from hot springs... That's pretty far.

But yeah, the Ozarks are pretty close.