Black Developer Plans Mall Of MS
HATTIESBURG, MS -- In a commercial development move that will change the landscape of the American Outlet Mall, Visionary Entrepreneur and Charity Director Dr. Michael L. Gilmore is planning to build a new luxury edifice THE MALL OF MISSISSIPPI GILMO GILMONI GALLERIA, the world's largest luxury outlet mall complex, which will feature a 3-level enclosed shopping center with indoor Ice Skating Rink encompassing over 200 stores and restaurants, a 5* star, all-suite, 20 story Hotel with Residences and Rolls Royce Phantom service, an adjacent Civic Center, both an indoor and outdoor Movie Theater, an adult Water Park, an indoor and outdoor Amusement Park, and a state-of-the-art educational Aquarium - all of which will attract visitors from around the world, surpassing the current largest outlet center Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in Central Valley, N.Y.
Designed by Baer, a renowned New York architectural firm, the $329,500,850 facility will create over 1,100 permanent jobs not including construction jobs. Quotes Dr. Gilmore, a Morehouse College and William Carey University Graduate, "As a visionary visualizing God's visions via this vessel visitation, I want to create an oasis of luxury showcasing Mississippi and the South at its finest by creating a place where one can shop, snack, stay, live, play, work, slide, ride, be entertained, and spoiled in one convenient place." The Mall of Mississippi has just begun pre-leasing. Construction plans to begin in late 2011 for Phase I (Mall, Hotel, and Civic Center), once 50% pre-leased, 30% of the required capital is raised, and/or permits in place after city council approval. Six months thereafter, Phase II (Aquarium, Amusement Park, Water Park, and Fee Based $1.00 Paid Customer Parking Decks) will begin in 2012. Lands have been identified off of Hwy 98 West (1st option) or the Lincoln Road extension (2nd option). The development will transform Hattiesburg, Mississippi, (population 140,781), the second largest city in the state, the fastest growing county in the state, and the recently nationally ranked "#9 Best Small City for Business" according to Fortune Small Business magazine, from a great American city to a world class International city being a university town and less than 100 miles from New Orleans, Jackson, Mobile, the Gulf Coast, and Memphis being a regional hub. The Mall of Mississippi is to be built in close proximity to Turtle Creek Mall liken to Lenox Square mall and Phipps Plaza in Atlanta, which are across the street from each other. Quotes Dr. Gilmore, "No stores will be duplicated. The Mall of MS will be a mixture of luxury outlets, luxury designers, and ultra luxury boutiques including GILMO GILMONI Department Store, the world's first African American Luxury Department Store." "Thrice," according to Dr. Gilmore, "Macy's, Bloomingdale's, both Neiman Marcus and Last Call Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Off 5th Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom's and Nordstrom's Rack, Louis Vuitton, Burlington Coat Factory, and others, have turned down the development including real estate firm CBRE for mall owner representation, and SIMON, the world's largest mall developer, as a potential financial partner." "As I set out to become the first and only African American in the world to build from the ground-up, a world class luxury mall complex, I do not have to tell you the concessions I have made to the aforementioned tenants including offering free rent, no rent in exchange for coming to Mississippi, and other incentives. In my opinion, I strongly believe it is RACISM and not ECONOMICS. I cannot begin to tell you the doors that have been slammed in my face. This development is not about Black or White but about Green as my company set out to put Americans back to work," states Dr. Gilmore. The super regional mega complex will be a jointly owned venture between the MLG Company, and the Hattiesburg University Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity. Deemed "Shopping for a Cause," American consumers will have the opportunity to purchase commerative plaques named in one's honor for $100.00 to be carved inside the galleria mall interior to aid in fundraising. 100% of the net income will go toward the H.U. Foundation goals in eradicating poverty through higher education, job creation, hunger, community development, and affordable housing. Future plans under the MLG Company umbrella call for a "NBA" Basketball Franchise for the state of Mississippi, the establishment of a new HBCU Hattiesburg University and the Hattiesburg University School of Law, the launch of GILMO GILMONI LUXURY AUTOMOBILES (America's newest luxury manufactured car company) in addition to a BMW, Lexus, Mercedes Benz, Bentley, and Rolls Royce Dealership in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and the construction of the University of Atlanta, the University of Atlanta School of Law, and THE MALL OF ATLANTA, in Atlanta, Georgia. The Hattiesburg University Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, tax-exempt, public charity, founded in 2003, governed by a Board of Directors, in serving humanity through human philanthropy via making social investments in human education and economics.
ABOUT THE MLG COMPANY & THE H.U. FOUNDATION
The Michael L Company is a private, small business proprietorship, founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1993, and re-established in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 2003, engaged in designing, developing, and distributing shoes, apparel, electronics, luxury gifts, commercial and residential real estate.
