Video: North Gloster Area Experiencing A Boom In Business

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – A stronger national and state economy definitely has an impact in Northeast Mississippi.

The lunch rush is on at Which Wich Superior Sandwiches.

It has been busy since the restaurant opened at the intersection of Barnes Crossing Extended and North Gloster two months ago.

“I think we impressed our franchise business consultant, I think this was one of the biggest openings he had ever been a part of, ” said Craig Gregory, who could have opened the restaurant anywhere in Tupelo, but he chose the North Gloster business district because the area is a people magnet.

“It attracts people from other areas, being a regional shopping area, and so you encounter people from different towns and cities to come, especially with our concept, it’s a new concept, people aren’t aware of it, especially with this spot here in Tupelo it brings people we might not have encountered or have had a chance to try Which Wich before,”Gregory said.

As director of development services for the city of Tupelo, Shane Hooper wants to see all parts of the All America City bring in commercial development, but he understands there are unique qualities for the North Gloster area.

“First of all, the sheer number of cars that pass by this location on a daily basis, that’s one of the primary things a developer is going to look for, is traffic count,” Hooper said.

Latest figures show 22,000 vehicles a day travel on North Gloster.  Those numbers have also helped spark commercial development near Which Wich.   Aldi Grocery store is going in across the street,  around the corner, a Zaxby’s is being built and next door,  a second location for Bank Plus.

Another factor driving economic development is a business friendly attitude at City Hall.

“We have rules and regulations that we have to follow but we do everything that we can and that’s part of what the mayor has instilled in our department in development services, is the ability to get to yes, how do we make this work for business owners, what do we need to do to make it easier for them to open a new shop,” Hooper said.

Craig Gregory and his business partners also operate the Papa John’s Pizza on West Main Street,   by Labor Day they plan to have a vacant space converted into a second Papa John’s location, right off of North Gloster.

The new businesses in the North Gloster area mean hundreds of jobs for locals.