Suburbs

There was a variety of news out of the suburbs this past week, some a continuation of long-discussed issues, others breaking news, like the closing of IKEA Memphis.

So, let’s take a look at some of the issues that led to stories.

Closing of IKEA Memphis

While technically not in one of the outlying suburbs, IKEA Memphis is close enough to mention here. Sophia Surrett broke the story this week that the store — just west of the Germantown Parkway corridor up toward the Wolfchase area — will close.

That’s a long way from 10 years ago when it was coming to the market. The store’s opening was a big deal. Interesting news. Heck fire, the location was so trend-setting, the address even got the store’s name — Ikea Way.

Ikea U.S. said several factors played into the decision to close the store. Market share, business performance, cost structure and overall asset optimization.

For the non-business folks, that reasoning is about as difficult to translate as putting together some of the company’s products. My very uneducated, non-business perception is they weren’t selling enough.

The Ikea merchandise never was an attraction for me. And, yes, I’m sure someone will say I wasn’t necessarily the target demographic.

But there were other things that were hurdles. The stories of having to travel through the whole store to find the things you wanted to look at. Or go to the restaurant. Then, there was the style of furniture.

That never seemed to mesh with my wife’s home décor direction. Of course, my ideas don’t fit with her style either.

Then there was the reputation for the difficulty in assembling the products. Maybe that was misrepresented. But I do remember at The Commercial Appeal where my long-time colleague Michael Donahue was tasked with trying to put together one of their chairs.

That didn’t do a lot to minimize the “some assembly required.” That chair was kind of a disaster.

So, like some, I never went through the doors of IKEA. Never wandered aimlessly through the store. Never got in there to try the meatballs.

Guess I have until the doors close in May to see if I can keep that streak alive.

Fore!!!

After a lot of discussions, negotiations and city considerations, the terms of reopening Quail Ridge Golf Course cleared the final approval this week.

The closed course in Bartlett is destined to reopen under the management of Mallard Pointe Golf and Chris Sparks. Sparks manages Mallard Pointe in Sardis, so there is some successful history in him resurrecting the course, purchased by the suburb at the same time the Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved Sparks and Mallard Pointe running that show.

Maybe that is what Quail Ridge needed — some new life, some rehabilitation and some updating and some new direction.

Tiff over the TIF

A good number of Germantown residents showed up at City Hall this week for a discussion on the potential tax incentive financing plan for The Standard Germantown, slated to go on the spot of the former Carrefour at Kirby Woods.

There has been quite a bit of social media buzz about the request from CRE Devco, which is behind the project, and seven of the eight speakers at the Industrial Development Board meeting expressed their opposition to the group’s request.

Some of those are regular opponents of the city and just about any ideas that come during Mayor Mike Palazzolo’s administration.

Others wonder why successful developers connected to CRE Devco need help to complete the plan on the southwest corner of Poplar Avenue and Kirby Parkway.

Then there is the question of why clear the site of the old center if the new development hinged on approval of the TIF?

And, if approved, it would be the first TIF in Germantown. Does it set a precedent?

The IDB approved the TIF unanimously and sent the recommendation to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, which will have the final say on the request.

So, the debate over the question has a lot of steam left in it. - Suburbs editor, Clay Bailey

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