It Starts with a Square

Investing in Tradition

BY Chelsey Handley

We often describe Collierville as “…at the crossroads of tradition and innovation.” With the award winning Town Square, the new state-of-the-art High School, FedEx World Technology Center, an abundance of neighborhoods and churches, miles and miles of trails connecting our stellar park system, and over 3,600 corporate headquarters jobs, Collierville offers a unique blend of yesterday and tomorrow. Home builders, office developers, manufacturing organizations, hoteliers, as well as restaurants and retailers, continue to invest in our community because they fully understand the value and impact of these investments in a premier community like Collierville, Tennessee.

One such visionary investor is John Green & Company Realtors®. John Green & Company ventured into Collierville in 1978, describing it as, “the pot of gold at the end of the Poplar rainbow.” For 40 years, John Green & Company has been providing residential real estate services with over $1B in home sales since they first opened their doors in 1979. Today, John Green’s sons, Allen and Michael, manage the growing and diverse real estate organization, continuing the legacy of customer service and strategic development first established by their father. 

The Washington Square development, emerging off of the Square’s East side, on Washington Street, illustrates the investment and commitment the Green family has made in our community. With over 15,000 square feet of redeveloped space, Washington Square will soon be a key destination for Collierville citizens and visitors. Indianola, Mississippi-based pizza restaurant, Lost Pizza Company will be the anchor tenant at Washington Square, occupying the 3,000 square foot centerpiece building. Lost Pizza manages 14 restaurants, from Jonesboro, Arkansas to Pensacola, Florida, with the majority of the stores located in Mississippi. Collierville will soon be sampling Lost Pizza’s award winning fare, to include pizza products named The Happy Hippie, The Pitt Boss, and The Lucille. In addition to pizza, Lost Pizza also offers sandwiches, pasta, salads, starters, desserts, and a kids menu. Domestic, imported, and craft beers will also be available. The Collierville store will be managed by Tim Gaines, who also runs the Southaven, MS restaurant. Restaurant plans show a party room for larger gatherings. Located next door to Lost Pizza is a multi-tenant, 10,000 square foot building. Michael and Allen Green expect at least 4 tenants in this building, including another restaurant with different products and services compared to Lost Pizza. At the moment, this restaurant announcement is still in process, but all indications suggest another high quality establishment moving to Washington Square. Residential home designer, Jeff Bramlett Designs will occupy 2,000 square feet of this available space, bringing his innovative home design concepts. Mensi’s Dairy Bar, a Collierville tradition off of the Town Square, will continue to provide burgers, dogs, and fries, as well as ice cream, shakes, and malts. The Greens have reinvested in this space, with new lighting, seating, umbrellas, and a decorative iron fence. Since the upgrades, Mensi’s has experienced a nice spike in business. 

On the southeast corner of the Town Square, between the railroad tracks and Highlander Scottish Pub, Michael and Allen Green are developing a multi-story building, which will be the new home of John Green & Company Realtors®. This 6,000 square foot structure will house the offices of the company, providing a comfortable and high-end meeting and work space for clients and employees. “We continue to work hard to differentiate ourselves,” said Allen Green.  “Relationships and connectivity are still vitally important in our business… this new space will allow us to elevate the relational component of our business model,” he shared. In addition to a balcony overlooking the Town Square, the building will have a 2,000 square foot shell available for a restaurant, office, or retail use. 

By: John D. Duncan

September/October 2021 Tour Collierville Magazine