Jackson Free Press

Retail development firm WS Development and officials at Highland Village recently announced a series of renovations to take place at the shopping center, along with the opening of the first Mississippi locations for international brands Kate Spade New York and Lululemon Athletica. Remodeling is also in the works for high-fashion retailer Maison Weiss; jewelry and home gift stores Turkoyz and Turkoyz@Home; a second Red Square Clothing location will open at the shopping center in August.

Highland Village expects the first phase of the renovations to be complete by late Fall 2014. Developers ASD out of Atlanta and Cooke Douglass Farr Lemons Architects & Engineers of Jackson will join WS on leading the renovation efforts. The renovations will maintain the original brick structure while brightening the facades, refining greenery and resurfacing hardscapes. WS Development is particularly focused on redesigning the center courtyard to highlight unique landscaping features and outdoor furniture.

Kate Spade New York will move into an 1,800-square-foot space next to A Daisy A Day. The brand offers handbags, clothing, jewelry, shoes, stationery, eyewear, baby clothing, fragrances, tabletop decorations, bedding and assorted other gifts.

Lululemon Athletica is set to open in winter 2014 or 2015 in a 3,000-square-foot space near Maison Weiss. Lululemon offers technical yoga and running clothes, and hosts in-store events ranging from self-defense and goal-setting workshops to free yoga classes. For specific details on store events, classes and community programs at the Highland Village store, go to lululemon.com or follow lululemon on Facebook.

Maison Weiss will relocate and expand its cosmetic and skincare departments over the summer, as well as increase the size of the jewelry and apparel departments. Maison Weiss has been at Highland Village since Nell and Bernie Weiss founded the store in August 1975.

Additional changes at Highland Village include the relocation and expansion of Turkoyz and Turkoyz@ Home, which offer silver and semi-precious jewelry, home accessories and gift items. Red Square Clothing is also scheduled to open its second store in the metro in August. Red Square offers a full line of unisex clothing and offers premium denim brands such as 7 For All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, True Religion, Hudson and Joe's.

For more information visit highlandvillagems.com.

Cherokee Brick & Tile Co.

Last week, Mayor Tony Yarber and the Jackson City Council welcomed a new business to the capital city after the Council passed a resolution declaring the city's intent to grant an abatement to family-owned and Georgia-based Cherokee Brick & Tile Co.

Cherokee is opening a manufacturing facility at 2050 Forest Ave. in northwest Jackson in the former location of Tri-State Brick & Tile. The company's investment in the project will be at least $13 million.

Pate Rowell, Cherokee Brick & Tile's commercial sales representative, said in a release that the company initially will create 20 to 50 jobs, eventually growing to about 100 jobs once the new facility is fully operational.

The council passed the resolution on Thursday, June 26. The actual order for the abatement will go before the Council at a later date.

Jobs for Jacksonians Recruiting Session Set for July 2

The Jobs for Jacksonians program, an initiative created to provide accessible information on employment opportunities for Jackson residents, will hold a recruiting session Wednesday, July 2, at 10 a.m. in the conference room of the Department of Human and Cultural Services at Metrocenter Mall (3645 Highway 80, 601-969-7633).

These sessions provide participants in the program with immediate access to job opportunities. Each month, Jobs for Jacksonians invites major companies to host these sessions to interview and potentially hire prospective candidates.

The recruiter for the July session is Lowe's. Job openings include an electrical pro, plumbing specialist, loader, cashier, load puller, ride-along associate, Class A delivery driver, stocker and unloader.

In addition to the recruiting sessions, the Jobs for Jacksonians offers job readiness workshops, job search and placement assistance, an annual job fair, assistance with writing professional resumes, leadership and professional development, and tips on improving job interviews.

For more information call Jonathan Barnett at 601-960-0377.