Jackson Free Press

Metrocenter Mall will soon be the home for a new Big Apple Inn, Stamps Superburger and several other local restaurants. Scott Overby, Tyler Oliver, Tom Boyd and Mike Boyd of Jackson Commons LLC, the entity that owns the mall, plan to bring five new dining options into the food court by early 2017.

Overby told the Jackson Free Press that the project is one element of the "Support Jackson. Shop Jackson. Metrocenter." campaign that they're launching next year. In part, the campaign is focused on the idea of transforming the mall from a once-a-month shopping destination to a provider of goods and services that neighborhoods need regularly.

"We looked around and saw the need to turn Metrocenter into a more frequent destination with a local focus," Overby said. "A lot of local food options have been lost lately, and we want to focus on and promote the best of the best locally owned and operated places like Stamps and Big Apple Inn that the local neighborhoods want to see, and will get people coming back to the mall once or twice a week."

Jackson Commons hopes to bring in at least five new tenants to the mall by the end of 2016, including new clothes retailers and a technology-repair and -retail business. In addition to Stamps and Big Apple Inn, Kingfish Grill, Griffin's Fish House and Jefferson's Grill will also be opening locations at Metrocenter by January 2017.

Baker Donelson Receives Recognition for LGBT Equality

The Human Rights Foundation's Corporate Equality Index, a national survey and report in regards to LGBT workplace equality, recently gave Baker Donelson law firm a perfect score for 2017 and designated the company among the "Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality."

The firm, which also received a perfect score for 2016, was one of 517 major U.S. businesses that earned top marks this year. The 2017 CEI rated 1,043 businesses, evaluating LGBT-related policies and practices, including nondiscrimination protections, domestic-partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health-care benefits, competency programs and public engagement with the LGBT community.

Baker Donelson also stands out for the recent launch of "Baker Affinitas," an affinity group for LGBT interests, such as the establishing an LGBT pro bono initiative.
 The law firm also received several major distinctions for its diversity earlier this year. Fortune named Baker Donelson as one of its "100 Best Workplaces for Women" in 2016, and Vault, Inc. ranked it among the top 10 firms in the country in its "Best Law Firms for Diversity" list.

TrustCare Opens New Facility in Jackson

TrustCare Express Medical Clinics held a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of a fifth urgent-care and walk-in clinic on Dec. 7, located next door to Jos. A. Bank men's clothing store.

TrustCare Northeast Jackson (4880 Interstate 55 N. Frontage Road) is the third clinic that the organization has opened this year. TrustCare also has locations at The Township at Colony Park in Ridgeland, the Crossgates neighborhood in Brandon, Lake Harbour Drive in Ridgeland and Old Fannin Road in Flowood. TrustCare facilities offer urgent care, occupational medicine, allergy testing, employee-wellness programs and physicals, among other services.

The new clinic is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 7 p.m. For more information, call 601-487-9199 or visit feelbetterfaster.com.