Developer transforms Poplar Bluff eyesore - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

Developer transforms Poplar Bluff eyesore

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  • Heartland News

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 1:15 AM EDT2013-05-22 05:15:54 GMT
    Cooks’ BBQ and Catering in Jackson went up in flames Tuesday night.Jackson Fire Chief Jason Mouser tells Heartland News the building is a total loss, but they were able to stop the fire from spreading to the shed just a mere feet away.He said the fire appears to have started in the stove area of the restaurant.Copyright 2013KFVS. All rights reserved.
    Cooks’ BBQ and Catering in Jackson went up in flames Tuesday night.Jackson Fire Chief Jason Mouser tells Heartland News the building is a total loss, but they were able to stop the fire from spreading to the shed just a mere feet away.He said the fire appears to have started in the stove area of the restaurant.Copyright 2013KFVS. All rights reserved.
  • Late Breaking

    Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:05 AM EDT2013-05-22 10:05:10 GMT
    Interstate Crash shuts down southbound lanes

    Traffic in the Southbound lanes of Interstate 55 in Scott County are shut down after a crash.

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  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 5:12 AM EDT2013-05-22 09:12:19 GMT
    Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is weighing whether to sign legislation that would allow children's non-related legal guardians to receive adoption subsidies.
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POPLAR BLUFF, MO (KFVS) -

Steve Halter remembers the glory days of Mansion Mall before it sat relatively vacant for years.

"When I was a kid this was actually a happening place," Halter, the president of the Chamber of Conference, said. "This is where you came to do all your shopping and eating."

That is until Jim Bailey, a local developer, took a chance on the project.

"It was tough at first but once we got some momentum going, it started taking off real good," Bailey said.

"With the improvements of 67 and Highway 60, it created kind of a perfect storm," Halter said.

The Mansion Mall went from Dollar General and Payless to 23 tenants.

"What we do is we pitch the numbers, the volume of traffic, the income level of the surrounding community, and we just put together our package that way," Bailey said.

"This is definitely the central hub of our community right now," Halter said.

Bailey's success led him 2 blocks down the street with more construction.

"Well without naming any names in particular, there will be a lot of the same," Bailey said. "We've got many new retailers coming to poplar bluff that are not here right now."

Copyright 2012 KFVS. All rights reserved.