Country music star, wife investing in old shopping mall in Jackson
Updated: 10:49 PM CDT May 30, 2025
>> ALL WE’VE BEEN HEARING ALL DAY. THE METRO CENTER USED TO BE THAT PLACE. IT USED TO BE POPPING, THRIVING, BUSTLING. HERE’S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW. ABANDONED LOTS WITH OVERGROWN VEGETATION. YOU GOT ROCKS IN A COUPLE PLACES. IF YOU’VE DRIVEN PAST IN THESE PAST FEW YEARS, YOU KNOW THAT IT’S ABANDONED AND KIND OF LEFT HERE. WELL, A COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND SAYS IT AIN’T OVER UNTIL THE FAT LADY SINGS, AND HE’S MORE THAN WILLING TO PUT HIS MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS. JACKSON’S METRO CENTER MALL. IT WAS ONCE THE SPOT. IT ECHOED WITH FOOTSTEPS OF LAUGHTER AND LIFE. >> BACK IN THE DAY. YEAH. IT WAS. IT WAS GREAT. >> ONE TIME THE. >> METRO CENTER WAS A POPULAR, VERY VIBRANT PLACE FOR THE SOUTH JACKSON COMMUNITY. >> NOW THAT FORMER CROWN JEWEL OF JACKSON SITS ALONE LIKE A STRAY DOG. >> IT’S GOING TO PUT MONEY INTO IT. I’M QUITE SURE THAT IT WILL HELP THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. AS FAR AS THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, THAT’S AROUND. >> A COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND IS HUMMING A NEW TUNE. RANDY TRAVIS AND HIS WIFE MARY, ARE NOW INVESTING IN ONE OF THE CITY’S BIGGEST. WHAT IFS. >> I BELIEVE IT WILL BE A GREAT, GREAT INVESTMENT FOR THIS SOUTH JACKSON COMMUNITY. >> THEY PLAN TO PUT $5 MILLION INTO THE OLD BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY. IT’S A SECTION THAT SITS ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE MALL. WARD FIVE JACKSON CITY COUNCILMAN VERNON HARTLEY SAYS TRAVIS’S LATEST VISIT WAS PROMISING. >> THEY WANTED TO GET AN IDEA OF THE AREA. TO TAKE A LOOK, LOOK AT OUR ENTRANCES AND EXITS. >> AND THERE’S NO SECRET. >> ROME WASN’T BUILT IN A DAY. WE’RE NOT GOING TO RESTORE THIS PLACE IN ONE DAY. >> BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE HIGHWAY 80 CORRIDOR WOULDN’T MIND SEEING A FEW MORE FACES EITHER. >> YEAH, IT’S GOING TO NEED. THEY’RE GOING TO NEED HIM IN A FEW MORE. OTHER GUYS THAT JUST DON’T HAVE TO INVEST IN THAT. >> FOR PEOPLE IN SOUTH JACKSON, THIS IS MORE THAN DEVELOPMENT. IT COULD BE A SECOND VERSE. >> A GOOD GETAWAY FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION AROUND AND OLDER GENERATION, WITHOUT US HAVING TO GO SO FAR OUT. SO THIS WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD, GOOD INVESTMENT. >> I. >> ALSO ASKED VERNON HARTLEY, WARD FIVE COUNCILMAN. HEY, WHAT EXACTLY WILL THIS OLD BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY BE? HE SAYS THAT’S UP TO THE TRAVIS FAMILY AND THAT ORGANIZATION TO DECIDE. THAT’S ALL WE GOT FOR YOU RIGHT
Country music star, wife investing in old shopping mall in Jackson
Updated: 10:49 PM CDT May 30, 2025
Country music star Randy Travis and his wife Mary are investing in the city of Jackson.The couple is planning a development at the old MetroCenter Mall off Highway 80. “The Travises have made a large commercial real estate purchase in the city of Jackson,” Cory Custer, the deputy chief of Staff for Gov. Tate Reeves’ office said in a statement. “Gov. Reeves and MDA consulted with them on the various ways the state of Mississippi could potentially support the economic development project. Additionally, they discussed which commercial opportunities could potentially be viable.”The couple also visited the Governor’s Mansion. Reeves posted photos of the couple on social media. “Some special visitors dropped by the Governor’s Mansion this afternoon — country music icon Randy Travis and his wife Mary,” Reeves said. “Randy has inspired millions with his music and legendary career. I’m proud to welcome Randy and Mary to the Magnolia State.”MetroCenter Mall opened in 1978 and was once the largest indoor mall in the state of Mississippi. The last store in the mall closed in February 2022.
Country music star Randy Travis and his wife Mary are investing in the city of Jackson.
The couple is planning a development at the old MetroCenter Mall off Highway 80.
“The Travises have made a large commercial real estate purchase in the city of Jackson,” Cory Custer, the deputy chief of Staff for Gov. Tate Reeves’ office said in a statement. “Gov. Reeves and MDA consulted with them on the various ways the state of Mississippi could potentially support the economic development project. Additionally, they discussed which commercial opportunities could potentially be viable.”
The couple also visited the Governor’s Mansion. Reeves posted photos of the couple on social media.
“Some special visitors dropped by the Governor’s Mansion this afternoon — country music icon Randy Travis and his wife Mary,” Reeves said. “Randy has inspired millions with his music and legendary career. I’m proud to welcome Randy and Mary to the Magnolia State.”
MetroCenter Mall opened in 1978 and was once the largest indoor mall in the state of Mississippi. The last store in the mall closed in February 2022.
