FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 6/4/2009) Hundreds packed the Raleigh United Methodist Church Thursday night to discover what the future holds for their mall.
Marilyn Peterson says she hasn't set foot inside the Raleigh Springs Mall in four years.
"There's nothing there that anyone would be interested in," she said.
Sears is still there. There's also a movie theater. But the fear is that the empty stores will stay empty and the mall will eventually close its doors.
"They need to do something with it that will help the community," said Debra Nesbit.
About 350 residents packed into a meeting organized by the Raleigh Community Council, to voice their own suggestions. One woman asked Councilman Bill Morrison if they could get a Macy's or Dillard's.
"We want retail," said Morrison. "But we don't control the financial decisions they make."
The crowd also learned plans to put a Wal-Mart at the mall are now at a standstill. Development Director Robert Lipscomb says they've been working on this deal for four years.
"We're still talking to them," said Lipscomb. "They have not said no, they have not said yes."
He says the roadblock in the plan is another Wal-Mart store about a mile away.
"What's held us up is the existing building," he said. "They can't sell it."
While the talks with the retail giant will continue, he says they won't ignore other offers either.
- Raleigh Springs Mall struggling to survive
- 350 residents gathered to give input on mall's future
- Plans for Wal-mart are on hold
(Memphis 6/4/2009) Hundreds packed the Raleigh United Methodist Church Thursday night to discover what the future holds for their mall.
Marilyn Peterson says she hasn't set foot inside the Raleigh Springs Mall in four years.
"There's nothing there that anyone would be interested in," she said.
Sears is still there. There's also a movie theater. But the fear is that the empty stores will stay empty and the mall will eventually close its doors.
"They need to do something with it that will help the community," said Debra Nesbit.
About 350 residents packed into a meeting organized by the Raleigh Community Council, to voice their own suggestions. One woman asked Councilman Bill Morrison if they could get a Macy's or Dillard's.
"We want retail," said Morrison. "But we don't control the financial decisions they make."
The crowd also learned plans to put a Wal-Mart at the mall are now at a standstill. Development Director Robert Lipscomb says they've been working on this deal for four years.
"We're still talking to them," said Lipscomb. "They have not said no, they have not said yes."
He says the roadblock in the plan is another Wal-Mart store about a mile away.
"What's held us up is the existing building," he said. "They can't sell it."
While the talks with the retail giant will continue, he says they won't ignore other offers either.
