Neighbors Encourage By Potential Indian Mall Deal
KAIT Jonesboro
Brett Garrett
8/7/2007
JONESBORO, AR--For shoppers across Region 8, the thought of new stores going into the Indian Mall site is good news.
Monday, Bruce Burrow and MBC Holdings announced plans to possibly buy the mall.
It's also good news for Indian Mall's neighbors who say the area has taken a turn for the worse.
When Harry Hendricks opened up Follicles Hair Salon two and half years ago, one of the biggest factors was location, location, location.
"The traffic and the mall, it was easy to get in and out of here and you are still in the busy part of town without really having to fight the traffic," said Hendricks.
Today the mall is almost empty and the traffic has dropped significantly. While the number of walk in customers has dropped a little, other factors have made the location less prime.
"We noticed there have started to be some vandalism and we have had some gas siphoned out of vehicles, so it makes a big difference to have the empty buildings," said Hendricks.
Surrounding businesses aren't the only one who has seen the neighborhood around the Indian Mall go downhill. Residents who live just a few streets over say they seen an increasing number of break-ins and unwanted foot traffic.
"At night something wakes me up and it's kids walking. What they are doing out I have no idea," said Indian Mall neighbor Sue Pyle.
Pyle lives one street over from the mall and says her home and others neighbors homes have had several attempted break-ins since the mall became a ghost town.
"We don't go out at night. After we come in, we're in," said Pyle.
She remembers when the Indian Mall was just a cattle field and still feels the site has the potential for great things. Surrounding businesses and residents are encouraged by Monday's news that a facelift of the mall could soon be on the horizon.
"Just having the parking lots lit up and the people being out. I think having the people around here again will make all the difference," said Hendricks.
With the new businesses should come better security so that the location on the corner of Highland and Caraway will once again thrive.
Besides the potential mall deal, surrounding businesses are also encouraged about Cavanaugh Hyundai moving into the former Blackwell Baldwin Cadillac building on Wilkins just across from the mall.
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