Year in business includes mall
Jonesboro Sun
Anthony Childress
1/2/2007
JONESBORO — Great fanfare and even a host of “celebrities” graced the red carpet leading into The MALL AT TURTLE CREEK, 3000 East Highland Drive, on March 29.
That’s when the much-anticipated tract of retail space opened its doors with 750,000 square feet for stores previously only as close as Memphis.
The mall sits on about 75 acres of land and features more than 80 specialty shops, including 60 inline stores and 20 on the floor, ranging from kiosks for clothing and sports memorabilia to cell phones and beauty products.
General Manager Jason Whitley said in the fall that Turtle Creek’s impact was immediate.
“The mall just takes your breath away, and that’s something we hear a lot from people when they come in,” he said.
The new mall and other retail projects have been identified as the top story of 2006 by Sun staffers.
Turtle trot
Jonesboro developer Bruce Burrow of MBC Holdings announced plans to build the $100-million-plus mall in March 2004 at a media event attended by business leaders and other dignitaries. The building is managed by David Hocker & Associates, a real estate development company based in Owensboro, Ky.
Stores have filled the mall’s walkway and adjoining acreage, including Chick-fil-A, Bath Junkie, Lane Bryant Cocique, Radio Shack, Build A Bear Workshop, Body Central, Earth Bound Trading, Aldo Shoes and Cinnabon, along with Target and J.C. Penney, the first two stores to open in 2005.
Sbarro, an Italian eatery, and Sportsman Trail are new additions.
The mall touches a sales market of 450,000 people across Northeast Arkansas, southeast Missouri and other places in the region.
City and county officials have lauded Turtle Creek’s sales prowess and overall impact in creating jobs and generating sales tax revenue.
Whitley pointed to the mall’s sales thus far as a clear sign it is meeting and surpassing already high expectations.
“Sales were unbelievable in April, then slowed a bit from May-July,” he said. “We projected sales between $200-225 million for the first full year, and I believe we will surpass that total when all is said and done.”
Whitley pointed out that the mall estimates at least $100 million in retail dollars has and will remain in the local economy rather than traveling into Memphis.
The mall employs 1,500 people, representing 900 new jobs. Whitley recalled the outpouring of interest when more than 5,000 applicants sought employment during a February job fair.
The general manager also noted how many stores are experiencing higher-than-anticipated productivity and sales, citing that as more proof that Turtle Creek is doing well.
“Quite a few are 50 to 100 percent above what they projected,” Whitley said this fall. “Examples would be stores like American Eagle, Journeys and Lids. The places doing so well are the stores that cater to the younger market-demographic.”
Five stores set grand opening records, Whitley noted, lending more credence to the mall’s potential as it closes in on its first-year anniversary.
Kohl’s arrives
In early October the city welcomed another retail staple when Kohl’s christened its 62,000-square-foot location at 2117 Fair Park Blvd.
“A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this store, literally,” store manager Trent Rachel said on grand opening morning. “We got in here five weeks ago with nothing in the building. You look around now and see how great the store looks. Our employees deserve the credit for that.”
Construction on the building started in May. Rachel said the building is one of the chain’s “innovation stores” — it features one entrance, compared with dual entrances in other locations. It also has glass frontage, a Bose radio system, touchscreen registers and dressing areas, and way-finding areas that direct customers to where they want to go.
Jonesboro’s store opening brought 153 new jobs to the area, Rachel noted during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The new location means that Kohl’s now has seven stores in Arkansas, including Bryant, Sherwood and stores in the state’s booming northwest corner.
Rachel pointed out that Kohl’s has partnered with Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock to raise money for its work through the Kohl’s Cares for Kids program. Customers contribute to the cause by making purchases of things such as Dr. Seuss books and Ray Charles compact discs and other items, with all sales going directly to the hospital.
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