Property once home to the Old Hickory Steak House and the Village Inn Pizza Parlor is being converted to an automobile dealership.

Amar Al-Jafari is opening Cars Select at 624 Old Hickory Boulevard.

“I have had numerous positions in Jackson since 1990,” Al-Jafari said, “I knew Old Hickory (Boulevard) and the (U.S. Highway 45) bypass had good, good traffic – a good area. We’re like in the heart of Jackson.”

Al-Jafari also operated a dealership at the former location of Market Fresh Produce at 330 Hollywood Drive.

“We carry from the budget cars to the most expensive cars, and we’ve done very well,” Al-Jafari said, “It was time to upgrade, and we came to this side of town, and we’re going to have a line of trucks, SUVs, and we’re looking to add electric car chargers and bring in some of the electric cars.”

Al-Jafari hopes to open the dealership in December with a grand-opening in January 2024.

Amar Al-Jafari, Siham Al Jafari and Abdelhakim Elayan purchased 624 Old Hickory Boulevard from Tom Ifantis and Robin R. Ifantis, owners of the Old Hickory Steak House, for $300,000.

The Old Hickory Steak House was destroyed by fire in November 2021, and the structure was demolished, July 18, 2022.

Locals will remember when Village Inn Pizza Parlor became a Jackson landmark at the location.

Village Inn – which opened in 1969 – was a fixture at 624 Old Hickory Blvd., until it closed September 30, 2007.

(PHOTO: Cars Select is opening at 624 Old Hickory Boulevard)