Plans for former Mall of Memphis site on hold - WMC Action News 5 - Memphis, Tennessee

Plans for former Mall of Memphis site on hold

Plans for retail development at the site of the former Mall of Memphis are once again up in the air, and nearby businesses are disappointed, after Wal-Mart said it will not build a store at the mall's former location.

Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, was slow for businesses near the location where the mall once stood.

Instead of shopping there, Memphians Arletha Williams and Rodreques Nelson had to go elsewhere.

"We hit the Wolfchase Mall," Williams said. "It was really crowded."

Crowds once filled the Mall of Memphis before it was torn down. The property sits empty now.  Next door, the old Toys R Us is vacant, just like the old Just For Feet and several other old retail spaces.

City officials landed a Wal-Mart for the Mall of Memphis site--a project they hoped would revitalize the entire retail area.

But Wal-mart recently announced it was no longer planning to build on this land.

By phone, Director of Community Development Robert Lipscomb said the city hasn't given up and is working with developers to find a new retail anchor for this location.

"It's very important," Lipscomb said. "It's strategically located. It's all about property taxes. We could generate a lot of property taxes. If we re-build this area, it will have a positive impact on the rest of the neighborhood."

Lipscomb said citizens should be patient.  He added the site will eventually find a developer, but it could take some time.