I am a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin, which is in a small town with little opportunities for myself and other students (along with the rest of the community).
Martin does not have very many manufacturing opportunities but MTD/Club Cadet, Greenball, and newly, Dong USA. Loss of manufacturing jobs causes economic decline including retail and restaurant closures. UT Martin is also an economic driver with faculty and staff employed (along with visiting students who attend school). College students are looking for shopping and retail opportunities that would make them feel more like home. However, Martin does not provide the opportunities that these students typically find in a big city.
Many brick and mortar retailers are suffering because more people are shopping online without traveling long distances to find items. Many online shoppers are from small towns/rural communities. I would like to suggest some ideas to help turn the retail industry around.
There are new local eateries that have opened up in 2019 along with more in the works. Burkes Outlet is being constructed on Commons Drive between the two strip malls. However, more work needs to be done.
I should ask if anyone is going to move any businesses to the abandoned Weldon Plaza shopping center soon and it should be a good starting point to rehabilitate the shopping center if the structure is in good condition (remodeling is needed). My first idea is that Martin needs a second laundromat (besides Len Haven next to the motel where drug dealers and registered sex offenders commonly reside) where it is safe. The new laundromat is a great idea for Weldon Plaza because it is in close proximity to the Martin Police Department in case if there are any problems and a very good neighborhood. I would like to suggest Murray, Kentucky’s, iWash idea (benefits used on Murray State University students) to cater to UTM students (a wash, dry, and fold service that is paid by parents per semester up to 20 pounds per week).The entire laundromat idea should be self-service, and paid laundry and dry cleaning services under one roof. I also should recommend wi-fi and TV services while customers wait on their laundry. There is also a shopping center on Lindell (the area around the Hearth Restaurant) that also needs rehabilitation. There has not been a business since Warehouse Foods went out of business (probably vacant since the 1980s when I first came to Weakley County).
Now, I need to brainstorm retailer ideas since not very many people in Weakley County (especially UTM students) can afford high-end items. Here are some ideas for discounted clothing retailers besides Factory Connection and the future Burkes Outlet if the community wants to consider: TJ Maxx, Ross Stores (also known as Ross Dress for Less) with opportunities for loss prevention specialists, Marshall’s, Cato (for women), Plato’s Closet (where young people can buy and sell their gently used brand-name clothing), Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off Fifth Avenue (not Saks Fifth Avenue with expensive prices), Old Navy, Gordman’s (one is opening in Dyersburg in September in place of Peebles), Burlington, even a Tanger Outlets mall. I don’t think that Aeropostale is doing well as a business entirely, but we can use one of their stores for polo shirts and khakis/twill pants for school as well as other stylish tee-shirts for UTM students as well as everyone else.
Now with other discounted retailer ideas: I think that Martin needs a shopping competitor besides Walmart since it is a college town and Target (even a SuperTarget) should be considered so we would take advantage of the Cartwheel app and REDCard. Walmart does not have a rewards program since they’ve done away with the Savings Catcher and transitioned to Walmart Pay. Martin also needs another drugstore besides Walmart and CVS–let’s try Walgreens along with a locally owned pharmacy with delivery and charge accounts. Oh, by the way, CVS needs to build on an expansion so it would have the items that other CVS stores have (including photo, greeting cards, household, cosmetics, and grocery items). Dollar Tree should be relocated away from E.W. James on Commons Drive into a bigger retail space so it would have refrigerated/frozen foods (has Dresden ever thought about its Dollar Tree location being a few doors down from E.W. James?), probably another rehabilitation thought for Weldon Plaza. What about Lowes Home Improvement (or a Home Depot in Northwest Tennessee)? Now, here are a few more suggestions for discounted retail: Big Lots, Bargain Hunt, HomeGoods, Five Below, Family Dollar (if management and security requirements are met because the one in Murray, Kentucky, gets shoplifted all the time), Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Harbor Freight Tools, Gabe’s, and Tuesday Morning. Forgot to mention about Hobby Lobby since we have not had a Christian bookstore in years (with access to crafting and décor projects). Someone asked me a few years ago where the Hobby Lobby store here in town is and I told him, “there isn’t one here.” We will avoid warehouse clubs since memberships are very expensive. Here’s a hint, if CVS in Martin does not want to expand, then putting a Target in Martin will have a CVS Pharmacy inside along with Starbucks and Pizza Hut Express (or generic snack bar alone).
As far as grocery stores, Aldi would be a good pick along with Trader Joe’s. Let’s not mention Kroger for now since we are already satisfied with its sister store, Ruler Foods, but it can offer another pharmacy opportunity along with a gas station using points on the Kroger Plus Card. If Martin improves economically, then Ruler would be upgraded to a regular Kroger store (and get Save-A-Lot back, move Ruler to Union City). Save-A-Lot just went out of business so we won’t bring that up for several years. Food Giant has good deli chicken if they want to expand. West Tennessee does not have much of a national supermarket chain competition like Middle and East Tennessee does. Ask Food Lion, Publix, and Harris Teeter if they are willing to move into a few places in West Tennessee. We can also use a Whole Foods store as we are in need of more healthier and organic foods for our pantries.
Now, we are shifting gears to restaurants and the number 1 pick for a college community is Cracker Barrel. Other ideas: Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) that went out of business years ago and we need it back only if a different franchise owner would maintain order (along with Long John Silvers), Steak N’ Shake (which is coming to Murray State’s Sodexo this fall), Hardee’s (if only opened for breakfast), Arby’s, Applebee’s (thought that I saw a rumor about one coming to Martin fairly recently), Popeye’s, Five Guys, Jimmy John’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, IHOP, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Waffle House (instead of the current Huddle House that we’ve heard complaints about), and Golden Corral. I probably left other possibilities out. Burger King should be relocated to a different part of town since their new competitor next door, Cook Out, is grilling burgers at lower prices. We need another pizza restaurant that is more locally-owned (not Papa John’s since it went out of business and hate their green peppers, Snappy Tomato Pizza also went out of business in Martin as well). Fazoli’s might also be a good idea. I may need to collaborate with someone to open a local pizzeria called “Politics and Pizza” where politics are always welcome to be discussed in the building (not on social media) with larger pizza sizes for groups and by the slice, wings, salads, subs, calzones, have occasional political guest speakers, concerts with protest music as long as it’s peaceful, other civic engagement activities and voter registration drives, a political science tutoring afternoon session five days a week for all UTM political science classes (by me), TV monitors turned on the news, no alcoholic beverages served because we do not want disorderly conduct in a politically motivated environment, and add a separate family room for families with kids without the discussion of politics. The main dining area would be for those who want politics at the table. I’m open to anyone who would teach me to open a business.
How about reasonable cosmetics and fragrances in the area. We might do with a stand-alone Sephora (no JCPenney since they’re in big financial trouble) store so we can score free samples with purchases. Someplace in Northwest Tennessee needs a retailer where men and women can test fragrances on a card or get free sample vials prior to purchase but do not want to mention a very high end store unless Martin wants to take a gamble by putting a Macy’s, Dillard’s, or Belk somewhere (but not another Stage Store like Peebles and Goody’s). I’m not much on Sally Beauty Supply.
Sears Holdings will not turn itself around until the company is completely rid of Eddie Lampert. Since Lampert was CEO when Sears and Kmart merged in 2005, the company’s profits have declined significantly until it’s bankruptcy filing. Sears Holdings needs a CEO with retail experience, not a financier. If Sears Holdings turns itself around, I rather stick to small Kmart stores without pharmacies and keep the Blue Light specials and Shop Your Way rewards program (my personal recommendation is for another major retail company to buy out Kmart and reopen stores to turn it around). According to the Sears Holdings website, Sebastian Spering Kresge started Kmart in an effort to always be there with affordable prices to families during times of war and financial depression. Kresge is rolling in his grave right now because his store is terribly messed up. Here is an excerpt of the letter I sent to Sears Holdings last fall (mentioning some of the details that I have already mentioned).
![](https://elysiaduke.politics.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/sears-holdings-letter-excerpt.jpg)
Other specialty retailers: A UPS Store might be beneficial to UTM faculty and staff as well as other local businesses and residents. We might also take a Kohl’s store if anyone needs to return Amazon items.
Maybe Weakley Countians should answer to a survey of what they would like to see in Martin. Well, I think that I have enough suggestions for now.