Moving back home (Jackson, Meridian: real estate, how much, hotel)

[jb39301]

I'm originally from Mississippi. I was born in Jackson and raised in Meridian. I left about 10 years ago to join the Army and now I am considering moving back to Mississippi in the next few years. My toss up is moving to Jackson (I have my reasons why I won't move back to Meridian) or moving to Atlanta, GA (originally my first choice). If anything, Jackson would be a temporary stop until I am adjusted enough to move to the ATL. I just have a few questions about Jackson that I hope anyone who lives there could answer.

First question: Is Jackson a good place for starting businesses? I want to open a business. This was my number one reason for wanting to move to Atlanta.

Second: I know Jackson is known for its arts but I want to start a publishing company and write and produce plays. Is Jackson a good place to start staging such work? My plays will probably focus in more on urban life or good old Mississippi like drama.

Third: I am currently dating someone who I might bring along with me if things work out right. She is in the medical field and is studying to become a nurse. She has one degree already. How good is the job market for her career field as a nurse or in community health?

Fourth: I got a little sample of the nightlife in Jackson whenever I go back to Meridian, which is about twice a year. Just how good is the nightlife there? I like clubs but I especially like the jazz lounges and blues and just good old chill spots.

Last then I'll shut up for now: To me, Mississippi is known for good food (I'm biased of course) but just reaffirm it to me. Does Jackson got some good eating spots? The kind of spots that would make you slap somebody...lol.

I would appreciate it any info that anybody could give. Thanks.

[poptones]

Jackson has some great eats, and your partner should have no trouble landing a job at one of the medical centers. I dunno how much of a nightlife there is right now, but one thing I am pretty sure of is you're not going to find a lot of market for a playwrite. That's a difficult life in New York, let alone Jackson MS. I have been a supporter of the MS Opera company and the last few years I've ntoiced the "season" has shrunken to one or two performances. Where there used to be a few performances around the state, the opera company can now barely manage two productions a year.

Who is going to fund you to produce the plays? It sounds very cool, and maybe you could even work out an arangement with someone to produce your own plays in a recovered theatre. There's not too much of that sort of thing going on anywhere in this state so maybe you'd have a captive audience, but I cannot imagine it being an easy road.

[jb39301]

Well, my first and foremost thing is my book publishing company because I self-published a book and I would like to get it mainstream. I never really expected a play to hit it off big nowadays unless I develop a great marketing scheme because people around the nation period are just not into plays anymore. But I love writing and I would really like to get a play into production, especially in Mississippi where there is not really a whole lot of competition. But I at least want to get into book publishing.

As far as any backers, I don't have any as of yet. If you have any connects that would be great. I haven't wrote my play yet because I have many ideas and I am trying to narrow them down. But if you know anyone who is willing to support my ideas financially and through public relations that would be wonderful. This is even to help out my book publishing company.

I probably won't physically move into Jackson until 2011 but I am trying to get as much as I can now besides what I have seen when I was growing up and in recent years.

Thanks for the info and keep me posted on anything you hear out there. Also, how's the real estate?

[jacksonian]

There is a great venue here in Jackson called the New Stage Theatre (New Stage Theatre). I'm not sure how their production business works, but I'm sure someone there could provide you with some information.

As for starting a business, there are lots of locally owned businesses that I know of, mostly owners in the late 20's to 40's range, especially around Fondren and Downtown. There are print shops, thrift stores, tatoo shops, art galleries, coffee shops, restaurants, and more. A lot of them revolve around art and music, especially blues/jazz/funk.

Your significant other should have no problem finding a position in the medical field. There are so many hospitals here with education opportunities as well, and it makes for a large part of the local economy.

The nightlife in Jackson is great if you find the right place(s) that you just "click" with, but the future looks even better for the city. The Farish Street Entertainment District will be breaking ground very soon and will bring the Subway Lounge, Big Apple Inn, a sports club, The Juke Joint, Red Rooster, B.B. King Blues Club, McEwen's, Chucky B's, Wet Willie's daiquiri bar, and Funny Bones Improv Club. There will be some downtown housing here as well as some retail shops and other storefront stores. It's a $100 million dollar project and I can't wait for it to come to fruition. There are plans for a future hotel, gospel music museum and art studio as well.

Don't get me started on Jackson's great food establishments - it makes my mouth start watering just thinking about it.

The housing market is great right now for buyers. You're looking at interest rates below 5% right now, which makes me wish I had waited a year to buy, but I'm happy nonetheless. You can get a great house in a great area of Jackson for under $100/sq ft. I'm not sure what it will be like in 2011 though, it's just so unpredictable right now.

Jackson and Atlanta are both great cities, and we would love to have you here, but I can see the pluses to both cities. For me, this is where I want to be.

[jb39301]

Thank you. See I like what you are talking about. When I was growing up in Meridian, I used to always think fo Jackson as the big city; that is until I joined the Army and went to some of the best and worst places in my life. I'm currently in El Paso, TX and this place has it good points but it made me miss the South, especially Mississippi that much more. Funny because three years ago the thought of me moving back to Mississippi made me laugh because I said I would never move back there. Now...well as you can see things have changed.

The last time I went to Jackson, I wasn't as impressed with the nightlife (Washington, DC spoiled me) but I enjoyed it and I am glad to hear that Jackson is trying to come up. I am looking forward to checking out these new spots when they all come together. When I was there I could see that new things were coming. I'm excited already.

Hopefully, my girl and I will stay together long enough. I know she is hesitant about it because she is a big ATL buff anyway but I'm trying to convince her that if we move there we won't be that far a way and we could go there for the weekend. And I know she would be excited with the food joints.

Enough with me rambling. I will definitely check out that link that you sent to me. Be looking forward to one of my pieces of work lol. As far as starting a business, like I said I would like to start a small publishing company to publish books and plays (besides producing them) and maybe a magazine as things progress. Do you know anyone I could talk to that could help me as far as who to go to for funding or just anyone with ideas?

Final note, I know the housing market is a little wierd. I know Mississippi has always had fairly cheap property as compared to the rest of the nation. I would like to build. Where are some places in and around Jackson for buying property to build on or just move into? I don't want to commute too far away from the city itself but I don't have to live dead in the middle of the city either. And what about appartments?

Thanks,
JB

[jacksonian]

If you're wanting to start a business and interested in publishing/plays, I would recommend looking at buying a home in Fondren or Belhaven. Both these areas are great for families, but they are also close to everything which makes it nice if you're trying to meet people and become part of the local working/social community. These places make up the more creative/inspiring residential areas of the city. You can find a fixer upper and renovate (can be lucrative) or you can buy a house that is already renovated, or something in between. I would encourage you not to build when you first get here, because you're going to want to find out where you want to ultimately live before making a decision like that, and only you will be able to tell where that will be in the end.

As for your business, I know someone you can talk to that may be able to give you some advice, if nothing else. He has started a couple of businesses here and knows much more about it than I do. I will message you with his contact information.

[jb39301]

Thanks again for that bit of information. You can send the contact info to my address, jb39301@gmail.com,