The Clarion-Ledger reported Sam's Wholesale Club may leave the County Line Road location and move to Madison. Here are some interesting quotes from the story:
"The Sam’s Club near County Line Road in Jackson is considering a move to Madison because of structural problems with its existing building, according to local leaders familiar with the talks. Article
Officials with Sam’s Club, parent company Wal-Mart, and the mayor of Madison all are mum on the move, so it’s not clear how soon a move is envisioned or whether one will happen at all. But Jerry Cook, Madison’s economic development director, confirmed last week that talks have taken place.....
The speculation is that a move would be more cost-effective for Wal-Mart than renovating the existing building, and it would mesh with Wal-Mart’s business model, as well. Wal-Mart recently has favored developing stores on its own land, then leasing outparcels to other retailers and restaurants through its real estate arm, Walmart Realty.....
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. said the city has not heard from Sam’s Club officials in several months.
“It seems to me several months ago there was some talk about (a move) due to the condition of the building or something like that, but I haven’t heard anything since then,” Johnson said. “I believe we had gotten in touch with Sam’s and there was no reason for us to put any credence in that at that time, so I don’t know what has happened since then.”....
KF note: I was told Harvey's attitude when this first came up was "ho-hum". Same attitude about Puckett's, Crechales, etc. Try something new, Harvey. Actually call up Sam's. I bet they have talked to the Madison Mayor much more than they have talked to you. I bet the Madison Mayor actually calls them too. But I digress.
Ward 1 City Councilman Quentin Whitwell, who represents that area where Sam’s Club is currently located, said he has heard rumors of a move and complained about the lack of communication between Wal-Mart and the city.
“To me, it would only be right for a company of that magnitude to reach out to me as a council person, to the mayor or his office to see what accommodations we might could potentially make to keep them there or what their future needs are,” Whitwell said. “To pull the plug on the city of Jackson without having conversations with the city of Jackson officials would be a PR nightmare for them.”
Oh really? Well if you took time from Twittering, you might realize it will be a PR nightmare for them just as it was for Puckett, Crechales, Broadmoor Baptist Church, Colonial Heights Baptist Church, Barnes & Noble, and Belks. Did I leave out any others? Here's another "rumor" for ya. Haverty's.
and Jonathon Lee, that is the best you could do? Throw some punches man, throw some punches. Remember Dave Dennis? If you want to replace the King, you have to actually hit the King.
45 comments:
The comments from the empty suit Whitwell are hilarious.
Moving without contacting you Whitwell will be a "PR nightmare" for Sam's?
What planet are you living on Whitwell?
I don't believe anyone in the Walton empire is concerned about a PR nightmare with Jackson. Probably be a nightmare if they called the Council and LaRita picked up the phone......unless they had a sale on hats.
A pregay prettyboy who can't put down his smartphone. Twitterwell.
To me, it seems that what would be MUCH MORE of a PR nightmare is if knowing (which he just admitted he did) that there is a chance of Sam's moving and HE DIDN'T REACH OUT TO THEM!!!
These idiots running Jackson think that businesses OWE them something. Wake up and realize you have to be agressive and progressive in your attempt to sustain and bring economic development to your city.
Newsflash Jacksonites, what you have been doing (and are doing now) is not working.
Has Harvey Johnson somehow taken over Quentin's brain?
Whitwell is an idiot. His Two Dollar General quip from a couple of years ago also shows what he thinks about Jackson's business climate.
Can't help but agree on Whitwell. For him to think that Sams should call him is ostrich in the sand mentality. Tell him to go check the record - this attitude has been the downfall of Jackson starting way back in King Harvey's first term. WorldCom, then located in downtown Jackson was going to remodel their headquarters and stay downtown, but Harvey thought it only appropriate for the execs to "come see him" rather than him get into his CrownVic and travel the three or so blocks to talk with WC about what Jackson could do to keep them on Amite Street.
(Granted, Worldcom is no more, but still Jackson should have tried to keep the headquarters in the city.)
Quentin - Walton kids don't see PR in Jackson as a nightmare. Their new store will be a PR boom for them, while their customers go to Pearl or Madison.
But that's ok, you can probably still find somewhere to purchase tennis balls in Jackson.
Over a million square feet of EMPTY downtown office space is but one example of the number of people who are pretty sure they owe NOTHING to Jackson.
Don't forget that the only thing Harve ever did prior to 'governing' was grant-writing. Other than employing friends of friends, it's all he can do.
He sees vacancies as an opportunity to milk D.C. for more grant money for studies and revitalization initiatives.
One man's empty store is another man's pipe dream.
Why cut off a big chunk of the empty white elephant Convention Center downtown and offer it up to Sam's. Then, because they would be moving downtown, lavish on them a Watkins' sweatheart deal by kicking back the city's portion of the sales taxes they generate for the next 10 years.
As we enter Municipal election season let's all reflect on Whitwell's signature achievement.
The cessation of roadside puppy sales.
Man, has the dude advanced the ball or what?
I have to say, I saw Sam's leaving when the product selection began to be limited some time back last summer. I mean, there was no truffle cheese! Oh, wait, does anyone in Jackson eat that?
It would be nice if instead of all the tweets he would do something useful like post the agenda and minutes online which Harvey quit doing when he assumed office. Embarrassing that the largest city in Mississippi doesn't do that when its common practice.
They are probably moving because they do not want their customers to be used for target practice in the parking lot!
Jackson is a joke, Quentin Whitwell is an ultra right wing conservative freak, the city counsel is a clown show and the Stokesupes are brain dead idiots. Way to Jackson!!
I remember when that shopping area was as new and shiny as all the ones in Madison.
I believe Sam's when they say the building has problems.
It hasn't taken long for many of the subdivisions in Madison and Rankin counties to start deteriorating and these pretty facade/bad bones shopping areas won't be far behind. The areas are still developers wet dreams with poor building codes and little enforcement of the few that exist.
If you don't build to last with good bones and as in downtown Jackson, don't hold building owners responsible for maintenance eventually the buildings fall apart and just a few that are decayed or abandoned will destroy the value of the entire area.
Then you have the infrastructure problems of bad sewer and water systems and subdivision roads done on the cheap...some of which are beginning to show...in Jackson from age and in Rankin and Madison from cheap development. Jackson's at least lasted a long time.
Just like in the northeast and California, people will keep moving out until there's no " out" left and then the most expensive square footage will again be " inside the beltways" or they will move to another state where things haven't been screwed up yet.
The big money is still in Eastover and CCJ for that very reason. New homes are being built on the few lots left and the old homes being bought and renovated. Many of those folks own homes in other states so they actually " get it".
( humming " little houses, little houses, little houses made of ticky tacky")
Wal-Mart real estate supposedly helps find tenants for the properties they've moved from. Maybe they can set up a Blues Club or use it for Chokwe Labamba's campaign HQ....a staging location for the annual Kenny Stokes school supply give away, the possibilities are endless.
I also believe the building is history, but the new president of Sam's division was hired to increase profits, which have slipped. Jackson begging for legislative approval for a sales take increase also has to be a factor. No business wants its tab to run higher because the government has its hand in the till. I am a business member of Sam's and have moved from the Jackson store to Pearl. Much better selection and easy, safe parking.
I also remember when all that was new and it seemed in a blink of an eye stores closed and moved on.
The pace of the decline in Jackson will take your breath away.
If only we could have built that $150 million dollar downtown arena that we don't need with money that we don't have so we could get all the concerts that pass through the area on weekdays.
Damn, we could have turned this city around already.
Has David Watkins paid his property taxes yet?
I agree with the comments from 7:38. Every builder that could get a loan has thrown up a spec house in Madison. The cheap construction is already beginning to show. At some point *gasp* there will be black people around and sinc e Canton is there those folks will have no where to go. The trend is for urban revitalization. I live in NE Jackson and there is always a new home under quality construction. But the folks here will still get their nickel for posting on behalf of Madison/Rankin chamber.
You think all the new construction is "quality construction". You don't have a clue.
The surface sewage piping system on Crane is a wonderful addition to the charm and ambiance of the Fondren community.
Should you be looking to buy into Fondren you better do it quick because property values are about to skyrocket as Jackson extends the green surface sewage pipes to the rest of Fondren.
Harvey is displaying the "mayor for life" mentality in a big way. He seems to be completely unconcerned that another revenue source is fleeing, despite all the new homes under quality construction in NE Jackson.
No worries, there will be businesses to replace them. Just look to Old Canton, where the former Blockbuster is now housing a shiny new wig shop that advertises "humen hair" (sic). Or drive along County Line where one may find three separate African hair braiding establishments.
Who needs high profile, large volume retailers when you've got wig shops and blues clubs?
The notion that there is a veritable wave of new homes being built in NE Jax is a large exaggeration.
We can only HOPE that WHOLE FOODS will open their SECOND STORE in the old Sam's location. Whole Foods is going to CHANGE EVERYTHING.
Whole Foods, Whole Foods, Whole Foods.
'...always a quality home under new construction' going on in NE Jackson'? Wow! Looks like after a hundred years of 'always construction' the place would be about built-out. Where are all these newly constructed NE Jxn homes? There's one teetering on the high banks of a ditch over near Colonial Drive on Old Canton. I hope it's quality cause if it ain't, it's going in the ditch in a year.
I missed the memo on Whole Foods. Why is this a big topic, see it come up all the time. I know its some place opening in Highland Village's parking lot but that's all I know.
11:54: I think it's touted as some sort of salvation for Jacktown. I actually saw the plans and it's being built on 25 foot skid sections so it can be totally removed from town in the middle of the night when necessary. Just like the last Grocery-Miracle that came to town.
Delchamps or Brookshires anyone?
I miss Jitney Jungle!
Thanks, 2:11. That's so strange...Its not in some underserved area where folks don't have to drive for miles to get milk. haha on the plans
I miss the Jackson Mets, Gayfers, and Woodie Asaf.
Jackson's population will easily increase by 25,000 people over the next 10 years solely because of Whole Foods locating in the city.
1035. Drive around NE jackson and you'll see plenty under construction or renovation. Like was said above....old money knows where the future lies.
Old money and old fools.
Well, I'm convinced. I'm going to sell my house on 1.2 acres in Rankin County and move back to Jackson where I'll pay higher taxes, higher car tag, have higher crime, be governed by Hovvy and LaRita Koopathtoke, protected by Tyrawn, and supervised by Kenny, all so I can have a shorter drive to Whole Foods, the grand savior of the city.
Whole Foods! Whole Foods! Whole Foods!
Between Whole Foods and the new highly engineered surface based sewage piping system (now proudly on display in Fondren) you'd better get here in a damn hurry because housing prices are about to skyrocket. If you dawdle and wait until the daiquiri bars get opened on Farish then just forget it. They'll be changing the name of this place to Boom Town and there is no way you'll be able to afford anything in Boom Town.
This will make you Whole Foods fans jump with joy. The Hill newspaper reported this today:
The CEO of Whole Foods Market said President Obama's healthcare law is more like "fascism" than "socialism," a parallel he drew in 2009, to some backlash.
John Mackey made the remark in an interview Wednesday with NPR.
"Technically speaking, it's more like fascism," Mackey said of the Affordable Care Act. "Socialism is where the government owns the means of production. In fascism, the government doesn't own the means of production, but they do control it, and that's what's happening with our healthcare programs and these reforms."
The term "fascism" was first used to describe the right-wing regime of Italian leader Benito Mussolini, and was later applied to the Nazis and the authoritarian leadership of Francisco Franco in Spain.
Mackey made headlines in 2009 for a Wall Street Journal op-ed that compared healthcare reform to socialism.
He co-founded Whole Foods, the popular chain of natural-foods supermarkets, in 1980.
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/277459-whole-foods-ceo-obama-health-law-is-fascism-#ixzz2IFCWlVUB
5:47. Your racism is clearly showing through your post. At least Jackson has something surely missing in Rankin county, in addition to teeth, dentists. If Whole Foods went to burbs you bet this group of clowns would have commented on it.
Real heady 9:18 AM. Rankin County doesn't have any dentists but Jackson does. That is deep.
This seems like the same comments over and over again. I suggest an open thread for the Jackson haters in JJ. They can post to their hearts content....let me get started....Jackson is full of black thugs, people trying to help like Ben Allen and Leland Speed are suckers and not as smart as we are, There will never be a movie theatre, I like my trailer on 1.2 acres, Insert other racial descriptions here.......
2:19; Just moved here from Bovina didja? When you get ready to build that pen for your pit bull, let me suggest the Home Depot in either Madison or Brandon. You can leave your doors unlocked.
We could do quite the same for delusional Jackson cheerleaders...let me get started...everyone who lives outside Jackson is a racist...people will flock from miles to go to BB King's on Farish Street...I have black neighbors...Whole Foods!...it's the PERCEPTION of crime...if you live in Rankin County you're a redneck/toothless/trailer trash...everyone is moving downtown...egg and olive sandwiches...EVERYONE in Madison and Rankin County is a racist...Whole Foods! Insert a heaping helping of smug sanctimony here......
This thread started with someone implying that convention visitors would be killed. I think the point was correctly made, despite Shadowfaxs inability to understand, that the vast majority of murders are committed by people engaged in criminal activity or who knew their attacker. Hence, a convention visitor is statistically safe. But don't let those facts interfere with those who want to write a certain narrative for Jackson.
@2:45PM - Are you sure you are posting in the correct thread? I see no intimation that convention visitors would be shot, and certainly nothing regarding who normally commits murders. Perhaps you are thinking of another post.
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