[Johnny Ryall]

World Overcomers Church resurrects Hickory Ridge Mall
the Commercial Appeal | By Toby Sells

Bruce Rylant, Hickory Ridge Mall operations manager, checks out the refurbished double-decker Venetian Carousel, the mall's centerpiece. "(The tornado) struck right at the heart of this property," he said, pointing at pictures of the damage.

Two years ago, Patrick Jacobs looked to the ceiling of the Hickory Ridge Mall and saw the night sky. A tornado had sucked out a large chunk of the roof. Rain streamed through the hole. Mass confusion ensued, said Jacobs, the mall's manager, but no one was hurt.
But now, just behind the photos is the same space -- clean and fully mended, like before and after photos. "The mall has been made whole," said Jimmie Haley of World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church, the mall's owner. Haley is the church's director of economic development and has been overseeing the mall project since the church bought the property for $1.4 million in 2008. His title defines the church's mission with the mall project. "Our interest in buying the mall was to make sure we did not have another place that would be closed or inactive," Haley said. "The mall is an integral part of this community, and we want to see economic development here not just sustain itself, but to grow."

Since the purchase, the church, known for its large sculpture, Statue of Liberation Through Christ, has spent $5 million renovating the property. But shoppers won't notice any dramatic differences in the mall, Haley said. The mall's signature double-decker carousel has been cleaned and repaired. Its steel entryway is getting a paint job. The parking lot will be restriped. But Haley said the mall will offer a wider array of services, like a proposed medical wing that will possibly offer everything from dental to mammography services.

The mall now has letters of intent from many prospective tenants -- some old, some new -- but neither Haley nor Jacobs could give details. Both expect a vibrant mix of stores. Despite all of the time and money spent on the Hickory Ridge Mall, Haley said the church is not looking for a financial return on the investment. "We're not looking to have the mall be a profit center for the church," Haley said. "There is not any interest from the church's perspective on a profit from the mall. "We made a huge investment, and hopefully we'll feel satisfied that we've done the right thing." The mall is scheduled to reopen Easter weekend.

Hickory Ridge Mall
Occupancy: 70 percent at the time of the February 2008 tornado
Previous owner: Sold to church by Carlyle Development Group
Size: 856,000 feet