The Bartlett Planning Commission isn’t feeling any goodwill for a planned Goodwill.

On Monday, July 7, the commission unanimously voted down a favorable recommendation on a special use permit for a new Collectibles By Goodwill retail and drop-off center.

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Should it ultimately still be approved by the city’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen, the new Goodwill concept would go into what is now Baby Jack’s restaurant at 7610 U.S. Highway 70.

Baby Jack’s owner Will Clem is retiring and plans to close the Highway 70 location of his restaurant after 15 years in business. That site, a 1,800-square-foot freestanding building, will be the last of three Baby Jack’s locations to shut down. Clem plans to sell the building. 

“We worked really hard to find a reputable owner to take over where we left off,” Clem said. “I’m supportive of (Goodwill’s new plan), and I think it would be a great addition to the community.”

Bartlett leadership is not as sure. 

This past April, the Bartlett Board of Zoning Appeals also voted down an application for an attended Goodwill donation center at the Baby Jack’s site.

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“The building official determined that that particular use would be better served in our industrial districts,” said Kim Taylor, the city’s director of planning and economic development.

Since Goodwill added secondhand retail to the proposal, the project could now be allowed with a special-use permit within the suburb’s commercial highway business zoning. 

“The retail concept we’re planning on bringing is the first concept like this we’ve had in the Memphis market,” said Ray Couch, Goodwill business development consultant. Couch said they would sell jewelry, china, glassware, coins, stamps, books, sports memorabilia, art, vintage posters, furniture and one-of-a-kind items.

“These are items that we typically sell only on the internet right now,” Couch said. “It’s not the same merchandise that’s in the other (Bartlett) store.”

Couch also said that Goodwill operates a Collierville bookstore with collectibles alongside a separate, typical Goodwill location.

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During a public hearing, a few residents spoke in favor of the project while many more spoke against it. 

“Unless you’re going to post a guard there from seven at night until it reopens in the morning, people come by and you cannot control what they drop off,” said Roy Stroud, who lives behind the property. “They dump stuff there and leave it piled. It’s garbage.”

Commissioner Greg Easton and other commissioners were also concerned about after-hours drop-offs.

“There’s going to be material laying out, and that’s a busy area,” Easton said. “Even Dollar Tree’s garbage dumpster (next door to Baby Jack’s) is overflowing most of the time.”

Commissioner Jim Lamb agreed.

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“I don’t think that’s the proper place for it. I live right there,” he said. 

If Goodwill decides to proceed despite not having a favorable recommendation from the planning commission, the project would go before the Bartlett Board of Mayor and Aldermen for consideration and another public hearing will be held.