Strictly Business - In case you missed it, here's a look at last week's highlights

Strictly Business – In case you missed it, here’s a look at last week’s highlights

In case you missed it, here’s a look back at a few business highlights for the past week.

New laundromat downtown Jackson

In about one week, a former convenience store is scheduled to become Airways Coin and Laundry at 239 Airways Boulevard.

“The building has been empty for a while, so we had to do something with it,” Abel Kadr said.
Abel co-owns Airways Coin and Laundry and a Shell Convenience Store across Hollywood Drive from the laundromat.

Abel said the former home of J&A Food Mart will offer 16 washers and dryers and will be open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Sunday.

Los Portales opens in Thomsen Farms

Los Portales North LLC, has opened its newest restaurant in Jackson, at 1461 Union University Drive in Thomsen Farms.

The restaurant is open seven days a week – 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays.

Besides the Thomsen Farms location, Los Portales Mexican Restaurant has three other restaurants in Jackson – 127 Old Hickory Blvd., 6 South Creek Drive and 234 Parkstone Place.

Before the move to Thomsen Farms, Los Portales was located at 19 Stonebrook Place.

There are 16 Los Portales restaurants, 11 in West Tennessee.

City Council denies request to rezone property near Willow Green subdivision

A first reading of a consideration of an Ordinance to rezone property located at the 940 block of Ashport Road from Single Family Residential/Flood Hazard to Single Family Residential/Planned Residential Development/Flood Hazard was denied when the Jackson City Council held its monthly meeting at City Hall, Tuesday.

The development is east of of the entrance of Willow Green Subdivision.

“Based on the City having previously designated the area for Conservation Development (via the City approved One Jackson Civic Master Plan) we can not imagine this area now being approved for dense Residential Development,” Cary Henson said. “There are existing water problems in Willow Green and in Traditions that we believe would have been worse if this development was approved.”

Cary Henson is the owner and president of Henson Construction Services.

David Cisco requested the consideration be denied before the reading.

Seven council members voted to deny the consideration and one – Randy Wallace – abstained.

City Council rezones property

The council voted 8-0 to approve the consideration of an Ordinance to rezone property located at 1926 South Highland Ave., from Single Family Residential to Planned Unit Commercial Development comprising of 2.60-plus acres, and Single Family Residential to Highway Business, comprising of 5.02-plus acres, submitted by Eric Rowland.

The council also voted unanimously to rezone property located north of 1775 Vann Drive – west of the intersection of Rushmeade Road and Boyd Drive – from Planned Unit Commercial Development to General Residential, containing 18.27-plus acres.

City borrows $9 million

New business – at the council meeting – included the consideration of an Initial Resolution authorizing the incurrence of indebtedness by the City of Jackson not to exceed $9 million, by the execution with the Public Building Authority of the City of Clarksville, of a loan agreement to provide certain public works projects and to fund the incidental and necessary expenses related thereto.

“We approved a loan for capital expenditures next fiscal year, beginning in July,” said Jerry Gist, mayor of Jackson, “We’re a little bit early, but we’re trying to beat the potential rise in interest rates, which are looming on the horizon.

“I think it was a good move on behalf of the council to go ahead and schedule the loan, because we don’t have to draw it down and pay interest on it until we need it.”

Bruce Dorris – Banking on a new career

Following a 30-year career at Jackson Energy Authority, Bruce Dorris has accepted a position with Commercial Bank and Trust.

“I enjoyed my career and being a part of the excellent customer service that Jackson Energy Authority is … in both the Marketing and Commercial Business sector,” Bruce said. “But, after a 30-year career with JEA working in the Marketing and Commercial Business side I retired.”

Originallly from Jackson, Bruce said he wanted to look for a new role using these strengths and learning new things, and joining the team at Commercial Bank and Trust was the right choice.

“It has been the perfect fit,” Bruce said. “I started with Commercial Bank on January 17, and I will be working as a Client Services Representative and assisting in Business Development.”

Commercial Bank and Trust has two locations in Jackson – 3093 North Highland Ave., and 79 Stonebridge Blvd.

Bruce, who began working with Commercial Bank and Trust at its Stonebridge Boulevard location, said the bank specializes in providing exceptional service in a relaxed environment.

“Commercial Bank has a wide range of personal clients along with an emphasis on small to medium size businesses,” Bruce said. “With a strong team of banking professionals, Commercial Bank delivers services surpassing larger banks in our area.”

Chick-fil-A not looking to add new restaurant outside Old Hickory Mall

When a former bank building was demolished at the corner of North Highland Avenue and Old Hickory Boulevard near the Old Hickory Mall, 2021 North Highland Ave., officials at the Mall said the activity was for new development.

According to Chick-fil-A management, whatever the new development is – it will not be a new Chick-fil-A.

The word on the street is – Chick-fil-A is looking at the possibility of adding a fourth location in Jackson, but where and when has yet to be determined.

Chick-fil-A has restaurants inside the Old Hickory Mall, 3 Stonebridge Place and inside the Jackson-Madison County Hospital.