Jackson Free Press

Regions Plaza Renovations

Regions Plaza downtown is set to begin $1 million in improvements this month. The Hertz Investment Group is updating fixtures and floors in the building to help attract new tenants. Duckworth Realty, which has managed the building for Hertz since late 2009, has brought on four new tenants recently, including Disability Rights Mississippi and Hayes Dent Public Strategies.

"Right now when you go in the mall area, the design is just a little dated," John Michael Holtmann, Duckworth's vice president for brokerage, said. "It's important to these owners to preserve the building and make some capital improvements."

The new tenants bring occupancy for the building to roughly 55 percent, Holtmann said. The building is still recovering from the loss of three major tenants, law firm Butler Snow, accounting firm Horne LLP and an office of Regions Bank, all of which moved operations to Ridgeland.

"We don't expect to change the type of tenants," Holtmann said. "Now, are we going to backfill this building with a law firm the size of Butler Snow, an accounting firm the size of Horne, and another bank? No. That's pretty unrealistic. But what we do expect to do is chop it down by floor and bring similar professional, class-A-type businesses to the building. We feel like these improvements will help us do that."

Steam Room Grille Moving

After 13 years at its original location on the I-55 Frontage Road, the Steam Room Grille is moving. The seafood and steak restaurant is downsizing and relaunching in a smaller space, General Manager Aubrey Norman said. Norman said the restaurant is still finalizing paperwork for the move and cannot reveal the new location yet but said that it would be in Jackson. The new location will be smaller, offering 25 tables rather than the 90 at its current location. The restaurant will also boast a new name: "The Steam Room Grille Presents: The Grille."

The move comes as two of the restaurant's silent investors pursue other projects and as the economic recession has depressed restaurant sales citywide. Norman described the relocation as "a decision being made while were still on the upper hand."

Norman said the move could come as soon as September.

"Due to the size of the kitchen, we won't be able to produce the whole menu," Norman said. "But the items that we're known for, the steamed lobster, the etouffee, will definitely be carried on."

Previous Comments

ID

157993

Comment

I love Steam Room Grill!!! I am pleased that they will still be in the City of Jackson. Far too many businesses are moving out of the City and unless it is something that I just can't help but go to, I am not patronizing any more of those who choose to leave Jackson. I know my $2 won't make much difference to them, but if enough $2s stop following where they are going, the impact will be felt!!

Author

GratefulJTE

Date

2010-06-01T14:21:16-06:00

ID

157996

Comment

Those $2 do add up quickly. Imagine if every Jacksonian who spent $2 outside of the city limits today would've instead spent it in the city. That would have a big impact on revenue here.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2010-06-01T14:51:29-06:00

ID

157997

Comment

That is so true!!

Author

GratefulJTE

Date

2010-06-01T15:28:16-06:00

ID

157998

Comment

I honestly don't get the suburbia hate from jacksonians and city hate from crazy suburbanites. Both groups are huge problems that the Metro area needs to overcome. They don't have these issues in the Memphis, Bham, or Little Rock areas. Or if they do, my friends that live there don't ever see it. I live in Jackson proper and still enjoy consuming both inside and outside the city at places that appreciate my business and provide a quality product. I went to the Rez this weekend. Ate at cock of the walk, Pelican Cove grill, and JYC. But I'm probably a horrible person for stepping foot outside the city limits.

Author

RobbieR

Date

2010-06-01T15:56:33-06:00

ID

158000

Comment

I went to the Metrocenter Saturday. I felt like a ghost. It's kinda fun there now though. It's like I have a whole mall just for myself.

Author

DrumminD21311

Date

2010-06-01T23:11:34-06:00

ID

158003

Comment

It's not about "suburbia hating." My parents always taught us to take care of home first. That mentality just needs to bleed out into the residents of the City of Jackson. Jackson needs to become important to them again. We need to realize what our dollars mean for the City of Jackson. If I'm always spending it in outlaying areas, Jackson never benefits. You have the freedom and choice to shop or eat anywhere you want. No one can take that from you. You also have the option to choose to use your dollars where it benefits your City. That's taking care of home first.

Author

GratefulJTE

Date

2010-06-02T09:12:58-06:00

ID

158157

Comment

So is the current Steam Room Grille location closed until they move?

Author

herman

Date

2010-06-11T09:11:55-06:00

ID

158169

Comment

It may seem to be great if all Jacksonians bought only from Jackson businesses, but there are some holes in that idea. The city of Jackson has not provided new infrastructure which makes it more difficult for the community's businesses to keep their property looking updated (as in suburbs). Also, its more difficult to get chains to locate here for the same reason - Walmart - where are you? With Dogwood shopping so close and with many good discount stores and following fast behind they build Renaissance, it would be hard for a Jacksonian to resist driving across the city lines to shop.

Author

deltabelle

Date

2010-06-11T15:25:44-06:00

ID

158171

Comment

YEP! Didn't know they were moving. But they have closed current location.

Author

Queen601

Date

2010-06-11T15:36:42-06:00