Jackson Medical Mall welcomes businesses and retailers during open house

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s departure to Ridgeland gives local mom and pops and established businesses new space to occupy. On Wednesday, the Jackson Medical Mall held an open house showing off thousands of square feet for new ventures.

“As of right now, we’re looking to expand,” said Mikel Bolden.

She toured the Jackson Medical Mall during its open house. The founder of The Humble Change Inc. needs room for the tutorial programs and will soon start its summer reading program.

“We need more space, so right now The Humble Change does not have an actual facility that we report to, and to make it a safer space as well as more where we’re involved, more community people, we would like a larger space,” said Bolden.

Shaughny Rickmon was also looking for the non-profit One Voice. The first part of the tour took them to the second floor of the medical mall.

The largest tenant, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, is vacating much of its leased area, leaving about 200,000 square feet of clinical and health care space. Entrepreneurs, companies, and businesses are searching for locations for retail and offices.

“We have folks who are looking at opportunities to do some catering kinds of programs,” said Jackson Medical Mall Foundation executive director Primus Wheeler. “It’s a little bit of anything available now that may not have been available back in the past because those big boxes were occupied by one large single tenant.”

UMMC recently released its conference center to the mall. It features a 500-seat theater currently undergoing renovations. Rickmon is interested in large areas for hosting.

“We do a lot of events. So, looking at event space as well as a partnership with the medical center,” said Rickmon. “So just trying to build a relationship with them, as well as just get space so for people in the community to also attend.”

Those touring were looking for large and small locations. Jackson-Hinds Ambulatory Services will leave medical and office space. More spots will be open by the end of November.

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