2019 CMA Awards: Randy Travis on the red carpet
Randy Travis walks the red carpet at the 2019 CMA Awards red carpet.
Nashville Tennessean
- The Randy Travis Foundation purchased the former Burlington Coat Factory building at Jackson’s Metrocenter Mall.
- The foundation’s spokesperson declined to comment on the purchase price or future plans for the site, only stating that there are no current plans related to Randy Travis.
- The Metrocenter Mall, once a symbol of prosperity, has declined over the years and is now largely vacant.
The Randy Travis Foundation, a nonprofit organization inspired by the country music star, has purchased the former Burlington Coat Factory building at Jackson’s shuttered Metrocenter Mall.
According to a copy of the deed obtained by the Clarion Ledger on Monday, the Burlington property was transferred to the foundation on March 14 from MagCor Industries, a Jackson-based nonprofit that provides jobs for former inmates.
But the foundation isn’t offering many details — not even confirming if the Burlington building is the property in question. The Clarion Ledger reached out to attempt to set up an interview with Travis and the foundation, but spokesperson Zach Farnum provided only the following statement:
“The Travises were involved in the purchase of a commercial property in Mississippi with a group of people. Currently there are no active plans to develop anything related to Randy Travis on the site.”
Asked why the foundation was interested in the building, Farnum said: “No comment.”
Key questions remain unanswered, including how much the foundation paid, what — if anything — is planned for the site and when it might open. Published reports state that a Randy Travis country store and travel center were possible options for the site, but Farnum said that’s not true.
Who is Randy Travis?
Randy Travis is an award-winning country music star who rose to fame in the late 1980s with hit songs such as “On the Other Hand,” “Forever and Ever, Amen” and “Diggin’ Up Bones.” Travis remained popular into the 1990s.
However, on July 7, 2013, Travis was hospitalized in critical condition in Dallas with viral cardiomyopathy, following a viral upper respiratory infection, according to the foundation’s website.
Three days later, he suffered a massive stroke and underwent brain surgery to relieve pressure. He spent more than five months in intensive care and still has difficulty speaking, is unable to walk or care for himself without help.
Travis’ story “inspired” the foundation, which raises awareness for viral cardiomyopathy, while also “providing arts and music enrichment for children.”
“The two-part purpose connects a diverse group of people to support and find a cure for viral cardiomyopathy along with providing opportunities for at-risk children to participate in arts and music programs,” the website states. “The foundation mission is to serve those affected by viral cardiomyopathy by facilitating research and support for individuals affected by the condition along with creating opportunities for involvement in enrichment programs for children.”
From mall to mess: The rise and fall of the Metrocenter
The Metrocenter Mall, which opened in 1978, could be seen as a reflection of Jackson itself. Once bustling with restaurants and major department stores such as Sears, D.H. Holmes, and Gayfers, which would later become Burlington, the mall stood as a symbol of growth and prosperity.
But, like the city, it began to decline in the late 1990s, as shifting demographics and rising suburban competition took their toll. By 2012, Sears — the last original anchor — had pulled out.
In 2018, the mall portion of Metrocenter, once the largest shopping center in Mississippi, officially closed its doors. Only Burlington and the section housing city offices remained open. Burlington closed in 2022, and the city vacated the former Belk building in 2023 after the Jackson City Council voted to terminate its lease, citing employees’ complaints of “inhumane” conditions. Those complaints included mold, plumbing issues, rodents and structural problems.
Since then, the city has been locked in a legal battle with Retro Metro LLC, the group that owns the former Belk building. Retro Metro, a minority-owned company, claims the city violated a 20-year lease agreement when it ended the deal early.
The developers filed a federal lawsuit alleging breach of contract and racial discrimination, claiming the city favored white-owned properties when relocating offices. They are seeking more than $4.5 million in damages.
But in August 2024, U.S. District Judge Tom Lee dismissed the breach of contract claims, ruling that the lease had not been properly documented in city records. The racial discrimination claims were also dismissed in November, with the court finding no evidence to support them.
Despite the setbacks, Retro Metro has appealed the ruling to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Who owns what in the Metrocenter?
While Retro Metro owns the old Belk building, the mall portion of the building is owned by the state, according to Hinds County records.
What was once the Dillard’s building is owned by filmmaker Curtis Nichouls and his production company Sweet Unknown South. In April 2024, the Jackson City Council unanimously approved the sale of the building to Nichouls for $360,000. Nichouls said he wants to renovate the building into a studio to mentor the youth and those interested in filmmaking.
The former Sears building is owned by a Houston-based company called SBAS Investments II LLC, according to Hinds County records.
Gov. Reeves meets Travis and his wife in Jackson
Last week, on Thursday, May 29, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Travis and his wife, Mary, visited the Governor’s Mansion.
