Wes Harris, State Farm Insurance Agent – home, auto, life & banking – 319 Vann Drive, sponsors Strictly Business, a weekly column that takes a look at a few of this week’s business highlights.
Spotlight on Business – Jackson Chamber’s Vicki Bunch graduates from Complete TN Leadership Institute
Vicki Bunch, the Jackson Chamber’s vice president, talent development, graduated from the Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute in Nashville.
Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute provides programming to build higher education advocates in Tennessee.
Bunch was one of 25 graduates of the program, now in its third year.
The institute is a product of Complete Tennessee, an education advocacy organization that concentrates on increasing postsecondary access and completion in Tennessee, and Leadership Tennessee that connects a diverse group of leaders across the state.
“I am thrilled that Vicki was invited to participate in this worthwhile program,” said Mandy White, Jackson Chamber’s senior vice president, economic development, “Opportunities like this allow education leaders and business leaders to come together and learn from each other and share their varied perspectives.
“I am proud of Vicki’s involvement and look for great things out of this program in years to come.”
CTLI is designed to inspire and encourage more local higher education champions, foster innovation, and promote statewide collaboration. Over the course of several months, CTLI engages participants in five working sessions designed to enhance their understanding of the current postsecondary and workforce development landscape.
For more information, email Vicki Bunch at [email protected] or (731) 423-2200.
Fred’s closing additional stores in West Tennessee
One month after announcing it was closing 159 stores in 13 states, Fred’s is closing an additional 104 stores nationwide, and the list includes 15 from the state of Tennessee – five in rural West Tennessee.
Humboldt, Huntingdon, Milan, Savannah and Union City will begin liquidation sales.
The company announced it was closing six stores in April – 1688 South Highland Avenue in Jackson, Brownsville, Dyersburg, Medina, Paris and Selmer.
The 263 total closings represent 46 percent of the 557 stores Fred’s had in 13 states.
Fred’s will have 294 stores remaining.
Discounts during the liquidation sales are expected to range from five percent to 20 percent on most items with some exclusions. The stores are expected to close by the end of May.
Berry Plastics Corporation in Jackson adding 141,000 square foot warehouse
Company officials could not be reached for comment, but Berry Plastics Corporation, 1005 Lower Brownsville Road, is expanding its operation by 141,000 square feet.
The new warehouse will be located at 45 Whalley Drive, adjacent to its Lower Brownsville Road facility.
The expansion will be the second for the manufacturer of food containers, and bottles for the health care market since December 2015.
An internal expansion incorporated about 40,000 square feet of warehouse space at the 190,000-square-foot facility on Lower Brownsville Road.
Fresh from the Gulf to Jackson – Paradise Seafood into 8th year at 6 Channing Way
About eight years ago, Don Willadsen, an owner of Paradise Seafood, began selling fresh seafood on the parking lot at Regional Express Exxon, 6 Channing Way at the U.S. Highway 45 Bypass – and the process continues from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., each Friday.
Don said a Jackson resident sold him on the idea of bringing his business to town.
“Debbie Ferguson stopped in at our location at the Ag Center in Memphis,” Don said, “She told Buster (Debbie’s husband and Jackson businessman) who hooked up with us.
“We sell all fresh seafood from the Gulf of Mexico. Some of the items we offer here are tripletail, triggerfish, Mahi Elephant Tuna, oysters, crab meat, Chilean Sea Bass, cobia, grouper, crab cakes and shrimp.”
Paradise Seafood can also be found in Collierville at the Farmers’ Market, the Memphis Farmers’ Market and Cooper Young Farmers’ Market on South Cooper Street in Memphis.
Rock N Roll Sushi opens on Pleasant Plains Extension
Rock N Roll Sushi, 2046 Pleasant Plains Extension, opened Tuesday.
Located between Jackson Energy Authority and Foundation Bank in The Columns, the restaurant occupies 2,409-square-feet, and offers seating for about 98 people.
Music is the theme, and business hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays.
Craig Estes, a software engineer with First Tennessee Bank, owns the franchise, which was founded in Mobile, Alabama, in 2010.
Estes also owns two Rock N Roll Sushi franchises in the Memphis area – 2886 Wolf Chase Parkway in Bartlett and Germantown.
Rock N Roll Sushi has restaurants in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee.
Spotlight on Business – Julie Holt joins Town & Country REALTORS
Town & Country REALTORS has grown their team by welcoming a new real estate agent, Julie Holt. A lifetime Jackson native, Julie chose to join Town & Country to contribute to the city’s growth.
“Jackson is my family’s home,” Julie said. “I have watched it evolve from a small town to a booming and blooming city. I am personally vested in Jackson and want to see it continue to grow.”
“We are delighted to welcome Julie to the family,” Town & Country REALTORS owner Joey Hale said. “She will bring great enthusiasm and spirit to our team as she puts her previous experience to work for our community.”
According to a press release from B3 Creative Agency, Julie graduated from Bethel University in McKenzie with an accounting degree. Her passion for real estate started in childhood as she watched her mother manage investment properties. The wisdom she learned from her mother’s investments encouraged her to pursue real estate for herself in a local, Jackson-oriented
company.
“I am excited to be a part of Town & Country’s long history of service in our community,” she said. “Town & Country is tried and true in Jackson, and I look forward to being a part of our next 50 years of service!”
Julie also brings with her a love of interior design, which she plans to use to help her clients stage and decorate their homes.
“I love taking the time to individualize every home,” Julie said. “It’s all about helping clients create a place they can belong.”
For over 50 years, Town & Country REALTORS has been serving the West Tennessee community with excellence and integrity. For more information about Town & Country and the services they provide, please call (731) 668-7000, visit their website at TownAndCountryRealtors.com, or drop by their office at 1944 U.S. Highway 45 Bypass.
To contact Julie Holt, please call (731) 693-1943 or email [email protected].
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