By Staff
MAKING WAY Jerry Wooten uses a back hoe to dig a trench, while David Cochran, center, and Samuel Hillie, all of Wooten Construction Co., work on the site of a new strip center at Bonita Lakes Mall. Phase 1 of The Landing at Bonita Lakes Mall is expected to be completed this summer and will house Cici's Pizza and Sprint Cellular. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
June 11, 2002
Construction is under way on the newest strip shopping center near Bonita Lakes Mall.
Phase I of The Landing at Bonita Lakes Mall is expected to be complete some time this summer. The new shopping complex initially will house Cici's Pizza and Sprint cellular.
Tommy White, marketing director at Bonita Lakes Mall, said the new strip center will be a good addition to the mall.
The Landing is the third strip center developed by CBL &Associates Properties Inc., owner of Bonita Lakes Mall. The Landing is next to O'Charley's Restaurant &Lounge on Bonita Lakes Drive.
Bonita Lakes Crossing was the first and largest strip shopping center built next to the mall. It features Old Navy, Books-A-Million, T. J. Max, Shoe Carnival and Office Max.
Bonita Lakes Plaza was the second strip shopping center at the mall. The strip, next to The Landing, houses Cellular South and American General Finance offices.
The Landing will be built in two phases, with Phase I containing 8,000 square feet of space and Phase II containing 9,000 square feet.
The Cici's Pizza will be the chain's sixth store in Mississippi. Cici's has more than 400 all-you-can-eat pizza buffet restaurants across the Southeast with the closest in Jackson and Hattiesburg.
Restaurants and Institutions magazine said that Cici's Pizza was the highest rated pizza chain overall in its annual nationwide consumer survey for both 2001 and 2002.
Besides the new strip shopping center, White also announced Monday that a new store, 579, will open Friday near center court. The store will replace M &L Gifts.