Leigh Mall is losing another store.
Kirkland’s, a retailer selling home-decor items and gifts, has plans to close its doors on Jan. 28, according to store manager Michelle Gray.
Leigh Mall property manager Gail Culpepper confirmed the store’s closing, though she said she didn’t know the reason. Gray said there were several reasons but did not offer specifics.
Culpepper said Kirkland’s has been at Leigh Mall since February 2008.
Representatives of Kirkland’s corporate offices did not return calls from The Dispatch by press time.
Kirkland’s also operates stores in Tupelo and Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Kirkland’s is the third store to announce its closing since November, following The Cookie Store and Payless ShoeSource. The three are added to a growing list of retailers departing the mall, including Radio Shack, J.C. Penney, Sears and Reed’s Jewelry, all of which closed within the last two years.
In September, Leigh Mall was included in a group of properties put up for public auction after its owner, Security National Properties, defaulted on a $34.7 million dollar loan. Since then, the mall has come under management by Chicago-based real estate management company Jones Lang LaSalle Americas (JLL), one of the secured creditors for the loan in the sale notice. The auction is scheduled for Tuesday.
An attorney with JLL speaking on background said that while Security National Properties is still part of the auction, the mall’s owner, management company and tenants should not change as a result of Tuesday’s auction.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.