The Mall at Turtle Creek to hold grand opening March 28-April 8
Memphis Business Journal
Carolyne Park
3/24/2006
JONESBORO, Ark. -- On March 28, Jonesboro will get its grand new mall.
At 750,000 square feet, The Mall at Turtle Creek is not only the largest, but the only enclosed mall opening in the U.S. this year, says Philip Purdom, director of leasing for David Hocker & Associates. The $100 million project is a joint venture by David Hocker & Associates of Owensboro, Ky., and MBC Holdings, Inc., a partnership between Bruce Burrow of Jonesboro and Marty Belz of Memphis.
After two years of construction, grand opening celebrations will begin with a red carpet gala March 28, and a Preview Night Party at the new Barnes & Noble store from 6-9 p.m., with a portion of sales to benefit the local Literacy League. The mall's ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. March 28, with the doors opening at 10 a.m. Celebrations will continue through April 8, with animated characters for the kids and prizes including a new car from Central Auto Group, a 42-inch plasma television and a $1,000 shopping spree.
"We are absolutely thrilled," says Cari White, executive vice president of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce.
With a long list of national tenants including Dillard's, JCPenney, Target, Barnes & Noble, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Circuit City, Chico's and Coldwater Creek, the development has attracted retailers that typically are not found in markets such as Jonesboro. But Purdom, who is handling leasing for the mall, says the strong demographics and opportunity to serve an under-served market were a strong draw.
"Jonesboro's very retail-naked now," Purdom says. "Anybody that has to do major shopping has to go to Memphis or Little Rock."
Burrow says traveling to Memphis has gotten increasingly difficult as the city continues to move east. A pent-up demand for more retail in Jonesboro and surrounding communities was the impetus for the new mall, which will serve 18 counties in Northeast Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel.
"Memphis is moving away from us," Burrow says. "What was once an hour and 15 minute-drive now takes an hour and 45 minutes."
White, with the Chamber of Commerce, says projections are the mall will allow Jonesboro to retain $500,000-$1 million in retail sales annually that now goes to Memphis. The development is already spurring additional retail growth in the area, including a new Kohl's, Chik-Fil-A and Hardee's.
"We hope this will really open up Northeast Arkansas," she says.
CMH Architects, Inc., of Birmingham, Ala., designed the center, which combines an indoor mall with abundant exterior access and landscaping found in modern lifestyle centers. Hoar Construction, also of Birmingham, was the general contractor.
The Mall at Turtle Creek broke ground in September 2004. Target and JCPenney opened in October 2005. The new 27,000-square-foot Barnes & Noble will feature a Starbucks coffee counter, wireless Internet service and 200,000 book, music, DVD and magazine titles, says Lindsey Moore, community relations manager for the new store.
Additional tenants include Aeropostale, American Eagle, Ann Taylor Loft, Buckle, Chao Prya, Charlotte Russe, Chili's, Christopher & Bank, Chuck E. Cheese's, Claire's, Dress Barn, Gap, Hallmark, Hibbet Sports, Jos. A. Bank, Journeys, Kay Jewelers, Limited Too, MasterCuts, New York & Co., Sbarro, Spencers, Sportsman's Trail, Victoria's Secret and Zales.
Burrow says the center is 95% leased and will serve a trade area of 350,000-400,000 people.
back to top