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New Route 27 shopping center hopes to draw Wal-Mart traffic

Verizon, Great Clips, and a men and women's clothing store will be among the businesses housed in the strip mall.
Verizon, Great Clips, and a men and women's clothing store will be among the businesses housed in the strip mall.

Ashley Doyle, Senior Staff Writer

Verizon, Great Clips, and a men and women's clothing store will be among the businesses housed in the strip mall. (Amanda Baker)

The Super Wal-Mart on U.S. Route 27 in Oxford is getting some new neighbors, including a clothing store, a Great Clips and a Verizon Wireless store.

Robert Mattingly & Sons, Inc., began building a small strip mall on the land next to Wal-Mart in June 2006 and construction is expected to be completed within the next two weeks.

"We do a lot of strip centers on the Super Wal-Mart out lots," said Brad Curl, a job superintendent with Robert Mattingly & Sons. "Wherever there's a Super Wal-Mart and an out lot, we try to buy (the lot) and build on it."

The new strip mall will become home to Maurice's; a men and women's clothing store that has locations across the country; Great Clips; and Moorehead Communications, which will be opening a Verizon Wireless store. Many other businesses have inquired about the three remaining spots in the strip mall, but no decisions have been made at this time.

"(Businesses) know they will get foot traffic and car traffic that Wal-Mart brings," said Darius Bobo, economic development director for Oxford.

Bobo is currently weighing options in regards to the old Wal-Mart as well, which has been sitting vacant for more than a year. According to Bobo, several national developers have found the lot to be ideal for additional student housing. The land sits in a commercial zone, so using the land as mixed-use development also is an option, with apartments on the top and businesses on the bottom.

"I take suggestions and observe the community," Bobo said. "In actuality, our town has everything we need. It's a matter of what we want to add to our economy."

Bobo has explored the option of building an outlet mall in place of the former Wal-Mart as well, which could bring larger stores to the Oxford area, such as Gap and Bath and Body Works.

"Our market has a lot of disposable income," Bobo said. "We can support stores."


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