BILOXI, MS | November 28, 2017 – Edgewater Mall has been the retail hub on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for over fifty years. Today, Edgewater Mall announces a new step to continue its tradition of Embracing the Edge in providing the shopper the cutting edge in fashion, food and entertainment. In late 2018, a new theatre from Texas-based Premiere Cinemas will open featuring eight new auditoriums in a state-of-the-art digital and 100% luxury recliner seat format, and audiences are in for a treat.
Construction of the new facility commences November 2017 with the demolition of the building formerly occupied by Sears. As Edgewater Mall moves ahead, the new footprint for the theatre will include not only the vertical construction, but an adjacent portion of the area will be green space and include a 20,000 square foot landscaped area. Construction is anticipated to ramp up and continue at a rapid pace through the next 11 months, culminating with the Grand Opening of the new Premiere Cinema in November 2018.
Premiere has almost 300 screens in 26 locations across five states in the southeast and southwest United States. CEO, Gary Moore, states, “Edgewater Mall offered the ideal location for our new theatre. Biloxi is an entertainment hub that’s been missing a cinema to call its own for a long time, so we’re thrilled to be coming to the market.” In bringing the theatre to Biloxi and Edgewater Mall, Jim Wilson & Associates, mall developer and property manager, is confident Biloxi residents will love the new cinema, and expect it to be an integral part of the shopping experience at Edgewater Mall.
In addition to the theatre announcement, Edgewater Mall has recently extended the leases with three department stores. Dillard’s, JCPenney and Belk will continue to offer the very best retail shopping to their customers in Biloxi and the vicinity. Together, the three department stores, with over 400,000 square feet, combined, of retail space are featured, full line department stores, offering apparel selections for women, children and men, cosmetics, jewelry and merchandise for the home.
Today’s retail environment remains challenging, but Edgewater Mall, with over fifty years of history, continues to work toward bringing new opportunities to shoppers. In addition to the theatre, Edgewater Mall has added new specialty merchants, City G.E.A.R., Chandeleur Outfitters, Play Live Nation, and Luxe 83 Boutique, all opening within the last year. In December, Barefoot Billy’s, a full-service bar and grill offering traditional entrees as well as some local, southern favorites, will open at the south mall entrance.
Edgewater Mall has committed to make a significant investment in the property and, in addition to the theatre, that investment will include updated mall entrances, food court improvements and improved traffic access from Highway 90. Construction will begin in November with the first step being the demolition of the Sears building. The west entrance renovation, adjacent to the food court, will begin in the summer of 2018. During the renovation, disruption to existing operating stores and parking areas will be minimal.
The developer and leasing agent for this project is Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC (JWA), a Montgomery, Alabama diversified real estate firm that has been a part of Edgewater Mall for over twenty years. JWA’s project development team includes the Birmingham, Alabama based architectural firm of CMH Architects and the general contractor Stewart Perry, Inc.
Edgewater Mall, at nearly 900,000 square feet, is located in Biloxi, MS on the Mississippi Gulf Coast between Gulfport and Ocean Springs on Highway 90. The only enclosed shopping center on the Gulf Coast and the second largest in Mississippi, Edgewater Mall opened in 1963 with one anchor store and, to date, has grown to 3 anchor stores, including Dillard’s, Belk, and JC Penney. Edgewater Mall is also the home of over 100 specialty stores and restaurants. Expansions and renovations, including the department stores, have provided Edgewater Mall with outstanding retail continuity.
Premiere Cinemas is among the largest privately-held motion picture U.S. exhibitors, ranked in the TOP 12 by Box Office Magazine. Premiere operates in Texas, New Mexico, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina. The new Biloxi cinema will feature all reserved-seating, with large luxury reclining electric seats, each having its own USB port and private swivel table for convenient in-theatre dining. The auditoriums feature huge wall-to-wall digital screens and enhanced digital multi-channel sound systems, self-serve all-you-can eat drinks and popcorn, and a full-service adult beverage bar and gourmet Pizza Pub for great dinner and drinks before, after and during the movie. Premiere’s website for showtimes and advanced tickets is www.pccmovies.com.
Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC, based in Montgomery, Alabama, has developed and managed a wide array of properties throughout the eastern United States, including Class A office buildings, hotels, residential communities and millions of square feet of premier shopping space. These experiences have brought knowledge and expertise that have generated new investment opportunities in capital, hospitality and gaming ventures as well. As a result, JWA’s services are expanding through the formation of partnerships and companies, including 42 Equity Partners, A&W Enterprises, LLC and JWA Ventures, LLC. JWA was founded by Jim Wilson, Jr. and today is led by his sons, Jim Wilson, III and Will Wilson, and a well-established team of talented and experienced professionals. For more information about Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC, please visit www.jwamalls.com.
CMH Architects. A national leader in creating award-winning retail and mixed-use projects, CMH Architects in Birmingham, AL is designing the renovation. CMH Architects has an architectural staff of 25 as well as interiors, graphic design and planning departments. The firm has designed projects in 27 states from Florida to Vermont and North Carolina to Nevada. Over the course of 37 years, CMH has been a leader in the design of key trends in retail development. The firm’s list of repeat clients includes many of the regional and national retail/mixed use developers in the country. CMH has designed multiple projects for JWA over the last 30 years to include Mall of Louisiana, The Shoppes of EastChase, renovations to the Riverchase Galleria in Birmingham, The Avenue Carriage Crossing in Collierville, TN and River Crossing in Macon, GA. Retail clients include Saks, Whole Foods, Premiere Theaters, Bed Bath & Beyond, Barnes & Noble and many others. For more information, visit www.cmharch.com.
Stewart Perry Construction is a Birmingham, Alabama based firm offering commercial construction and civil management services. Founded in 1984, the company is licensed in 30 states and provides construction services regionally. Stewart Perry has gained multiple honors including those from Associated Builders and Contractors. For more information, visit www.stewartperry.com or www.plantingacorns.com.
