SOON TO BE MUCH MORE: What is just a pile of red clay across the street from the Pearl River Community College Campus in Poplarville will soon be a nearly 50,000 square foot shopping center. Photo by Mrudvi Bakshi

Construction of a new shopping center in Poplarville is now underway, and when complete will bring a supermarket complete with pharmacy, deli and gas station services to the town.

Jimmy Pickering of James Properties LLC, said construction of the new shopping center began several weeks ago, and dirt work and footings are complete.

Pickering expects the project to be complete in the next eight months or so, weather permitting. If all goes well, he said the project may be complete by July.

The anchor business for the development will be a Ramey’s supermarket, and there will be space for a small gas station, some retail outlets and even some fast food restaurants, Pickering said.  While Pickering could confirm that Ramey’s will occupy the center, he said information about the restaurants will be released at a later date because he is still in negotiations with those businesses.    

The entire project will entail between 45,000 to 50,000 square feet, of which the supermarket will occupy about 26,000, Pickering said.