The City of Andalusia on Thursday announced that five national retailers plan to locate in the Shoppes of Covington in 2023.

The retail center, formerly known as the Covington Mall, is owned by local brothers and businessmen Michael Jackson and Shaun Jackson.

Marshalls, Big Lots, Burkes Outlet, Harbor Freight and Five Below will locate there in the early part of 2023, Mayor Earl Johnson announced in a ceremony Thursday morning. The first retailer, Five Below, is set to open in December. Others will follow with the final retailer, Marshalls, opening in May. Each signed a 10-year lease.

“These are national retailers who analyze markets meticulously before agreeing to open a store,” the mayor said. “ What they know about Andalusia and the people who work and shop here is that we have room in our retail market for expansion, and that thousands of potential customers drive past the entrance to the Shoppes of Covington every single day.”

These five new retailers are expected to generate 150 new retail jobs, and an estimated annual payroll of $3.9 million, as well as $18 million in annual retail sales.

The mayor the path to Thursday’s announcement was a long and winding road.

“This project has fallen apart and been put back together more than once, through no fault on anybody’s part here, but largely due to unforeseen market forces like the pandemic,” Johnson said.

“But the Jacksons believed in this project when they made this initial investment in their hometown. In every project they are involved in – from Fed Ex routes to restaurants to Youth Football -  they are known as people who are not afraid of  hard work, and who will jump in and do whatever it takes to get a job done,” Johnson said. “Their work on this project has been no exception, and the City of Andalusia could not have had better partners. We appreciate what they have done and continue to do for their hometown.” 

Earlier this year, the Andalusia City Council agreed to rebate a portion of the sales taxes collected there in the first five years to help offset the development costs of the project.

On Thursday, the mayor also thanked CCB Community Bank, who has partnered with the Jacksons on this project, and with the city on several other development projects. He also thanked Rep. Mike Jones, Sen. Jimmy Holley, and the Alabama Department of Transportation for working with the city on the bypass entrance to the shopping area, and the city and city utilities workers who have assisted with the project.