First stores in new mall give boost to confidence
Jonesboro Sun
Roy Ockert
10/11/2005
JONESBORO -- Fittingly, members and guests of the Jonesboro
Regional Chamber of Commerce gathered for the organization's 90th annual meeting last week at the same time as many Jonesboro area residents were getting a sneak preview of the first two stores in the
Mall at Turtle Creek.
While not much was said about the mall -- in fact, the chamber's annual meeting mostly consists of introductions -- there was an air of confidence on the Convocation Center floor that a lackluster, sometimes troubling 2005 is about to change for the better.
That's largely because the Mall at Turtle Creek is beginning to
resemble the shopping mecca that has been promised by the
developers and because the business district that surrounds it is showing signs of new financial life.
You can't help but feel good about these developments. During the dinner it occurred to me that in a couple of years the chamber crowd could be gathering at a new convention center. That prospect isn't especially good for Arkansas State University, which must do well by serving such a big meal (for $27 a head -- at least that was the ticket price), but maybe the Convocation Center can find a suitable replacement.
And the day before the chamber dinner, Jonesboro residents were buzzing about the announcement of more than 50 future tenants of the new Jonesboro mall -- many of them stores that will be locating for the first time in Northeast Arkansas.
Although we generally avoid grand opening crowds, Pat and I decided to check out the new Target store after church and dinner Sunday. We got there a little early, but it was immediately obvious that the high cost of gasoline wasn't keeping the huge parking lot in front of Target
and J.C. Penney from filling up.
I expect it will be that way for months to come, especially since we'll soon be in the Christmas shopping season (or perhaps we already are for some people).
The Target stores in Little Rock have been favorite stops for us for many years -- since Target opened its first store in the small mall at the Mabelvale exit -- so Jonesboro's newest discount center holds special appeal.
This one is much more impressive than the others, though, because of its location in what will obviously be a classy setting. Although much work remains to be done before the Mall at Turtle Creek is completed, the landscaping, walkways and building design done so far are distinctive and attractive.
Generally, the "big-box stores" are just that -- boxy warehouse-type buildings, sparsely decorated, filled with stacks of merchandise with narrow aisles in between.
But as you walk toward this store, you see those big red balls in front, the target designs in the sidewalks and a welcoming storefront. Inside, you're greeted by splashes of red, good lighting and the smell of coffee -- Starbucks is by the entrance. Although there were lots of other shoppers there, the store didn't seem crowded -- that will change, of
course, maybe did later Sunday. Helpful sales personnel were
everywhere, which may change, too. Checking out was quick and easy.
I don't do enough shopping to compare merchandise and prices in general so I won't suggest that this Target is better than the local Wal-Mart or Kmart stores, or even better than other Target stores. But its location in what will be an upscale mall makes for an interesting marketing study and surely will increase competition, which is good for
shoppers. Bringing more people to Jonesboro to shop, and keeping more Jonesboro area residents in town to shop, can't be bad for other stores either.
We didn't make it to J.C. Penney -- that will have to wait for another day -- but we saw enough to expect a similar experience.
Now, about that convention center ...
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