Jackson’s U.S. 80 shopping corridor was a major draw from the 1950s through the 1970s, when it produced much of the city’s sales tax revenue. But crime, prostitution, middle-class flight and new shopping centers in other parts of the metro area took their toll. Land values dropped, and businesses closed.
Holbrook in 1998 became regional manager for the company that formerly owned Metrocenter and two other Mississippi malls.
“When we bought the mall, we could see the area was declining. I had done something similar with a business coalition in Chattanooga. So I introduced myself to Al East, who was the biggest businessman at the time, and explained what we’d done to stop the bleeding,” she said.
The group focused on beautification, cleanup, prying police presence into the area. It’s had its successes; recruiting Burlington Coat Factory to the mall, pressuring the cleanup of Battlefield Park and winning a $1.3 million federal grant for landscaping.
Holbrook’s persistence got the city to demolish a burned-out bus-repair garage at U.S. 80 and Valley Street. Longtime resident Puckett Machinery spent $10 million to expand, and Bell Fence Co. moved into a vacant 84 Lumber location by I-220.
“What the city needs to understand is that if Metrocenter goes by the wayside, Jackson will never have another mall. (U.S. 80 is) the largest sales tax base they have, and they won’t concentrate on it. The person that’s helped us the most is (Hinds County Sheriff and Jackson Police Chief) Malcolm McMillin.”
Clarion Ledger
4/29/8
Magnolia Tribune
