NewsRelease

Village Green marks decade of revitalization

CLEVELAND, Tenn. --- A decade after businessman Allan Jones purchased the former Village Shopping Center mall in downtown Cleveland, the sprawling 19-acre complex has fulfilled promises of blossoming into a town center complete with a mix of retail and office space.

Today, The Village Green Town Center houses nearly a thousand employees in a variety of businesses, including the national headquarters for Check into Cash, a deferred deposit and full-service financial services company founded by Jones in 1993 that now has 1,100 centers in 30 states. The Village Green Town Center has also become a magnet for downtown Cleveland with top restaurants, a fitness center, banks and other businesses.

This marks a revival for the town center complex, which had fallen into disrepair after its previous owner went bankrupt. Jones purchased the former mall for $2.7 million in August 1998 and immediately launched plans to transform the Village into a modern office and retail facility to rival a new wave of commerce centers such as Eastgate Town Center in nearby Chattanooga.

At the time, Jones promised to covert the town center into a community showpiece by sprucing up the landscape with trees and greenery as a continuation of his passion for planting trees in his hometown of Cleveland, Tennessee.

“The transformation of this property over the past decade into The Village Green Town Center is truly remarkable and something I take pride in being a part of, particularly because of the historic role this center has played in Cleveland’s history,” Jones said. “This town center has once again become a front door for downtown Cleveland, and I have long said that a key part of any city is its downtown. You never really truly see a city until you see its downtown.”

Originally built in early 1960 as The Village Shopping Center, it once housed major retail outlets including Parks-Belk retailers and a bowling alley. It was built and promoted for years by Jimmy Corn and his father Col. James Corn. The Village was Cleveland’s first shopping center and was the centerpiece of commerce for decades until businesses began migrating toward Interstate 75 in northern Cleveland.

The mall not only set a new standard in commerce but was also noted for its unique construction, which includes a remarkably sturdy concrete roof and beam system.

“There has never been anything built like this and there never will be again,” Jones said. “This complex was built to stand the test of time.”

Today, the 19.5 acre campus is a high-tech business and professional center with specialty retail and service-oriented businesses. Its scenic landscape, unique lighting and its 48-foot video tower make it a dynamic gateway into historic downtown Cleveland.

Now known as The Village Green Town Center, it is home to one of the best fine dining restaurants in the South, The Bald Headed Bistro, which opened five years ago and boasts a rustic western-theme inspired by Jones’ journeys to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

In addition, the Village Green Town Center has a Starbucks, Fire House Subs, The Rush 24-7 fitness center, Champion Cleaners, Village Barberettes, FSG and BB&T Bank, Check into Cash store and national headquarters, Buy Here Pay Here USA, H&R Block, WOOP 99.9 FM radio station and much more. The Village Bake Shop, one of the earliest staples of the Village, also remains in business and offers its trademark treats to loyal customers.

The Village is also home to the Cleveland-Bradley Chamber of Commerce, which built a modern office space in 2003 to include state-of-the-art conference centers that enhances the economic development draw of Bradley County.

The Village Green Town Center has nearly a 95 percent occupancy rate, with approximately 11,000-square-feet of space left available for lease.

“When I bought the Village I wanted a place where people could come to work and have a world of conveniences at their fingertips,” Jones said. “Now, employees who work at the Village can exercise, enjoy a meal, take care of their banking and dry cleaning, all within this one area.

“The Village Green Town Center has truly lived up to its name and become a town center for Cleveland,” Jones added. “Having grown up coming to this mall, I am proud to see what it has become and the renewed importance it is playing in the Cleveland economy.”

Village Gree Town Center