Clay Bailey

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Chick-fil-A confirms opening of Bartlett location in spring 2018

Germantown High mock trial team successful under student leadership

We have Breaking News out of Bartlett that accomplishes a long-time pursuit by the suburb. (Cue that clicking wire machine, send up the balloons and ring that Bulletin Bell).

DATELINE: BARTLETT, TENN.(From the OTL Breaking News. We're Here to Tell Ya Right Now Desk):

Chick-fil-A officials confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the company will open a new location in Bartlett a year from now, ending a long pursuit by Bartlett leaders to land the chicken sandwich business.

"It has been a longtime goal of ours to serve communities in the Memphis area, and we can at this time confirm our first location will open in spring of 2018 in Bartlett," Brenda Morrow, manager of external communications for Chick-fil-A, Inc., said in a prepared release. "We look forward to joining the Bartlett community and serving all of our customers delicious food in an environment of genuine hospitality.”

Mayor Keith McDonald's first reaction by text was "Yahoo." He then gathered himself for the diplomatic, statesman-like response. "I am thrilled to have them coming to Bartlett, and I know they will be very successful."

Morrow said the company would announce more details closer to next year's opening, but word around Bartlett indicates the location could be a vacant 2.3-acre lot in front of the shopping center where Kroger sits on Kirby-Whitten north of Stage. There are some stakes on the property indicating someone is thinking about building something there.



There were rumblings in the community to that effect even before Tuesday's announcement. But there is no paperwork filed with the suburb. No planning documents. No items on the upcoming commission agendas. No confirmation from city officials.

In fact, McDonald and others were rather coy about the possibility when asked Monday. Non-committal and non-commental would be the best way to describe their responses to questions regarding whether Chick-fil-A was considering the spot.

Bartlett has wanted a Chick-fil-A for a long time. Officials thought they had one on the hook a year or so ago only to see the deal collapse at the end. That rumored location was near the same Stage and Kirby-Whitten intersection.

The closest one to Bartlett is on Germantown Parkway near Stage across from Wolfchase Galleria. First of all, that is in Memphis, so Bartlett doesn’t benefit from any of the sales tax revenue generated by the location.

Second, that store may be the absolute worst to try and access. But not so bad that the drive-through line doesn’t wrap around the building.

Based on those factors, Bartlett folks contended there is a demand for another Chick-fil-A in the area. If for no other reason, better access and to take the pressure off the Wolfchase restaurant.

There’s nothing associated with the Kirby-Whitten site that says “Chick-fil-A Coming Soon.” There are white stakes marking the corners of the property. Green-tipped posts in some spots. Others topped with pink ribbons. There are tire tracks on the soft turf that – if you use your imagination – could represent drive-through lanes.

But the city now has confirmation that the business is coming to Bartlett.

Now, the race is on. Which will open first -- the Chick-fil-A in Bartlett or the Trader Joe's in Germantown.

I'm betting Chick-fil-A.

GERMANTOWN

CROSS-EXAM: Education reporter Jennifer Pignolet told the story over the weekend about the success of Germantown High’s Mock Trial team despite missing a key component.

A legal mind to advise them on the court process.

Over the past three years, the team has competed without a lawyer to direct their efforts. Most of the leadership was by student-coach Pauline Mireles, now a senior. Brian Bourne, a Millington lawyer and the event's volunteer judge, was impressed at the group’s performance, but even more so when he learned they were under the direction of a student rather than a legal professional.

"It put an entire new perspective on their performance," Bourne told Pignolet. "If I had not sat there as a judge, I would not have believed that a high school senior -- I don’t care if she had been participating three or four years -- could have coached fellow high schoolers to be that good."

So, a tip of the cap to the students for showing the determination to compete at that level on their own.

As an aside, Pignolet says two lawyers are considering helping the students next year.

COLLIERVILLE

SQUARE IN-FILL: Reporter Daniel Connolly outlined another new residential development off the Collierville Town Square – an example of the changing character of the area.

A trip to Collierville last weekend for a little shopping provided a nice, pre-spring look at the square and the new houses on the outskirts of the business district.

The Homewood Place development (above) at the corner of Natchez Street and Mt. Pleasant Road will feature 11 new homes and restoration of an existing residence.

I won’t even start to tell you that I’ve followed the intricate details of development plans for the area. Or even the future vision for the square.

What I can say is that new restaurants, preservation of the district’s character and new houses outside the edge of the area are providing a nice atmosphere.

And when talking about the character of the square, it rekindles memories of a summer Saturday evening last year. A couple of boys – one African-American, one white -- parked their bikes in the parking lot of McGinnis Oil Company on the square’s east side and sat rocking in the swing at the old gas station watching the world go by.

A nice vision about the way things should be.