Jim Wilson & Associates (JWA) is celebrating forty-five years in the business world this month.  What started in the mid 1970’s with Jim Wilson, Jr. as a shopping center development company has grown to a successful, well-known, diversified entrepreneurial company now managed by his two sons, Jim Wilson, III and Will Wilson.  Like any other successful business, JWA has survived, changed and pivoted to new ideas and ventures. The footprints of JWA deals are found all around from real estate transactions to the buying and selling of operating companies. All projects are unique.  Some are really special.  The following is a brief look at some special JWA projects and the dates each began:

Residential:

• New Park – A 1,100 acre master planned development, Montgomery, AL-2007.
• Wynlakes – A 1,000 home residential community and country club, Montgomery, AL-1984.
• In New York City – High rise condominiums on Central Park South-2007.

                                                    New Park                                                         Wynlakes Golf & Country Club

Retail:

• In Alabama: Riverchase Galleria, Hoover-1986, Montgomery Mall redevelopment, Montgomery-1989, Wiregrass Commons, Dothan-1986, EastChase-a 300 acre mixed-use development, Montgomery-2002.
• In Texas:  Sunrise Mall, Corpus Christie-1980.
• In Mississippi:  Metrocenter Mall, Jackson-1978.
• In Florida: Santa Rosa Mall, Ft. Walton-1975, Redevelopment of Ft. Lauderdale Galleria, Ft. Lauderdale-1993.
• In Georgia:  Peachtree Mall, Columbus-1976, Redevelopment of Cumberland Mall, Atlanta-1992, Shoppes at River Crossing, Macon-2009.
• In Tennessee:  The Shoppes at Carriage Crossing, Collierville-2008, Carriage Crossing MarketPlace, Collierville-2008.

                                           Riverchase Galleria                                        Peachtree Mall

                                                    The Shoppes at EastChase                           The Shoppes at River Crossing 

Mixed Use:

• Hotels:  Wynfrey (now Hyatt Regency at Wynfrey)-1986, Hilton at Rialto Place, Melbourne, FL-1987, Hilton at Peachtree Corners, Atlanta, GA-1988
• Office:  Sterling Centre, Montgomery-1988, The Offices at 3000 RiverChase, Birmingham-1987, Lakeview Center, Montgomery-2005, Rialto Place, Melbourne, FL-1987, Redstone Gateway, Huntsville, AL-2009.

                                                     The Wynfrey Hotel                                          Lakeview Center

                                                  Redstone Gateway                                        The Offices at 3000 RiverChase

Operating Companies:

• A&W Enterprises, an entry into the gaming business.
• 42 Equity Partners, investing in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) world and providing a tax credit syndication vehicle.
• Big 10 Tires: Developed from the 1980’s through 2005, this company had over 100 tire store locations across the Southeastern U.S. when sold to Pep Boys.
• Diversified Products: Buying, operating and selling of Diversified Products during the 1980’s, an international company that, using sophisticated robotics, made exercise equipment such as stationary bikes and treadmills for sale by national retailers such as Sears, Wal-Mart and K-Mart.

And then, in 1995, there was the Mall of Louisiana, a five-department store enclosed mall in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that some say was the “last, great Grand Opening of an enclosed mall in the U.S.”  A Grand Opening where people came from all over the world, people were thanked, saluted and honored for jobs well done as the project opened on-time, on budget and fully leased.  What started as the company’s “Louisiana Purchase,” opened with the LSU Marching Band, with balloons, streamers and confetti cannons erupting amid the singing of God Bless America.

                        Will Wilson, Jim Wilson, Jr. & Jim Wilson, III at the Mall of Louisiana Grand Opening

For Jim Wilson & Associates, as we turn the page on 45 years, we offer the perspective highlighted 15 years ago as we “turned thirty”:

Through the years times changed; times were tough, difficult, tragic, hopeful, energizing, unexpected, fortunate, bountiful, wonderful and both sad and happy.  And…we all got a little older.

Many people have been touched, many deals have been completed and many friends have been made.  Through it all we have tried to have fun and laugh as we planned our work and worked our plan, and sometimes made it up as we traveled along.

As we celebrate 45 years and look forward to the future JWA salutes the thousands of associates from all the years for jobs well done and we thank all the people, investors, partners and contractors who bought in to our concepts and projects to help make JWA a success.

   

   

The legacy lives on…we especially thank Jim Wilson, Jr. who left behind far more than a business — he left behind a legacy of hard work, integrity and generosity. His insistence on doing things the right way every day continues to guide JWA, just as his love and enthusiasm for the work — and the people who worked with him — continues to inspire us. He exemplified character, commitment and friendship. It was our privilege to work with him, to know him, and to learn from him.