JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – A Country music superstar is planning to invest some $5 million in a portion of Metrocenter Mall.

On Thursday, Randy Travis was in Jackson, where he and his wife visited the former Highway 80 shopping center, met with developers, state leaders, and a Jackson City Councilman.

J.R. Durham, spokesman for the Randy Travis Foundation, said the group recently purchased the old Burlington Coat Factory at the Metrocenter, with plans to transform it into the Randy Travis Country Store and Randy Travis Travel Center.

The foundation also is going to use part of the facility for its work. According to the foundation’s website, the charity is “dedicated to raising awareness for viral cardiomyopathy and providing arts and music enrichment for children.”

Durham said plans were still being finalized, but work could begin in the next 30 days.

“This is getting ready to jump off real fast. We’re looking to be done October 1 on the first phase here.”

Durham said the project should take 120 days to complete, and that the development is just a portion of the $25 million to $30 million in investments coming to the more than 1.2 million-square-foot facility.

Another owner, meanwhile, is planning to develop the former Sears building, while the foundation is in talks with the Walker Group to bring a new hotel to the former Belk building.

“They’re going to redo the roads. We’re going to blacktop this. It’s going to be a nice thing going on out here.”

Ward Five Councilman Vernon Hartley was still at the mall Thursday afternoon when WLBT arrived.

“This Metrocenter is ripe for business. We’ve got entrances all around. We’ve got two interstates right here within a few minutes of the mall itself, but we have to make sure ownership is maintaining the place. The grass cut, taking care of the water, and other things, so this place can be appealing to potential buyers.”

At one time, Metrocenter was a premier shopping destination in Central Mississippi. In addition to housing multiple big-name retailers, it also had numerous restaurants, smaller stores, and a movie theater.

However, the mall has been on a steady decline for years, with the last anchor store, the Burlington, closing there in 2022.

Efforts to revitalize the center have fallen flat. Retro Metro is currently suing the city for breach of contract after developers say the council backed out of a long-term lease for a portion of the Belk building. The city argued it moved out of the facility due to its poor condition.

In 2004, the council approved selling the old Dillard’s building to Curtis Nichouls, the founder of Sweet Unknown South, who is planning to use that 172,000-square-foot portion for a film studio.

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