Jackson Plaza to be redeveloped after 20 years
Mayor Scott Conger announced on social media Wednesday the city’s acquisition of land of what was once the Jackson Plaza shopping center.
Previously the location of Service Merchandise and other businesses, the buildings are set to be demolished and redeveloped due to the expedited termination of the land’s lease, formerly scheduled to end on Feb. 28, 2026.
The plaza first opened in 1967 as a result of the partnership between the city of Jackson and the Rosenblum family. Conger noted in the announcement that Bill Rosenblum, a civic and business leader who worked alongside Conger’s grandfather Mayor Bob Conger, was the president of the Madison Community Chest and a prominent forerunner in establishing United Way of West Tennessee.
The announcement noted the current ownership of the land is under the Rosenblum Family trust.
“I am very appreciative to Bradley Snyder, the grandson of Bill and Ann Rosenblum, for his dedication to this project, and to moving Jackson forward by working with us to expedite this process three and a half years early,” Conger said.
After declaring bankruptcy in 1999, Service Merchandise — a retail store of catalog showrooms originating in Tennessee — closed all of its locations by 2002. Local blogs, Youtube videos, and Redditt forums have kept the conversation about the future of Jackson’s abandoned Service Merchandise for the last two decades.
Jackson Plaza has been a plan for 10 months in the making, according to Conger. In conjunction with the Fire Marshall and Codes Department, Aranov Realty — of who the lease was with — has been terminated.
While working with an Architectural and Engineering firm, Conger eluded to the city’s plan for the property to be developed into a convention center and an area in the heart of Jackson.
“The budget committee will meet Dec. 8 to discuss the budget amendment,” Conger wrote. “After budget committee approval, it will go before the Jackson City Council for two readings.”
This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Jackson Plaza to be redeveloped after 20 years
