By Staff
HUDSON'S TREASURE HUNT Patsy Valentine loads Christmas wreaths into her car Wednesday at Hudson's Treasure Hunt. The store, with 45 employees, could close as early as Dec. 24 if store officials don't find a new location. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
Nov. 21, 2002
Officials with Hudson's Treasure Hunt said Wednesday they have made offers to buy or lease space for a new store after their current lease at Village Fair Mall ends next month.
If unsuccessful, they said, plans call for closing the 22nd Avenue Village Fair location and leaving Meridian as early as Dec. 24 a move that could put the store's 45 employees out of work.
Hudson's is one of the last tenants in the Village Fair Mall, a once-bustling retail complex that housed McRae's, J.C. Penney, a movie theater and other national chain stores.
The mall fell on hard times and lost all of its tenants after the Bonita Lakes Mall opened in 1997.
Hudson's leases space in Village Fair from its longtime owner Paul Broadhead. Hudson's sells discounted, name-brand merchandise that includes clothing and electronics.
Broadhead was not in his Meridian office Wednesday and could not be reached for comment.
Shadix wouldn't identify the buildings in Meridian his company is considering. But he said the company had made offers to buy one building and possibly lease others.
Hudson's Treasure Hunt first opened in Meridian about five years ago. It is one of about 30 stores owned by Hudson's Salvage Inc. in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
Ken Mayfield, manager of the Meridian store, said some of the store's employees could transfer to other Hudson's stores. Mayfield said the company told employees of the closing about two weeks ago.