Reflections of An Uncommon Common Man

In 2016 it was announced that Stones River Mall was getting a new movie theater. The mall had a theater named the Stones River 10. It was operated by the Litchfield Theaters Limited. The theater opened on May 18, 1990 and was sold to Carmike on December 7, 1990. Stones River 10 was closed in 2000 however. Carmike opened a theater called the Wynsong 16 on Cason Lane to replace the Stones River theater. The only movie that I can remember going to see at the Stones River was the twentieth anniversary re-release of the Star Wars Trilogy. The Stones River 10 theater opened even before the mall did. The mall didn't open until 1992. Sears was the first retailer to open there in 1990. When the mall opened Wal-Mart, Goody's and J.C. Penny's were the anchor stores. Wal Mart moved out in 1995 and a locally owned department store chain named Castner-Knott moved into that location. In 1998 Dillards bought out Castner-Knott. The original layout of the mall included a large central fountain, Aladdin's Castle, a carousel and a small food court. From 2006 through 2008 the mall went through a major renovation. J.C.Penny and Dillards were demolished. In order to make room for outdoor shops that we now call the Lifestyle area Dillards moved farther back. They rebuilt and the Dillards store now has two floors. J.C. Penny's moved from the south side of the mall to the north side. The old food court was torn down and moved to the south side of the mall where Penny's was and it was expanded. A Books A Million was next door to the new Food Court. The carousel and Alladin's Castle were removed and the center court fountain was moved to the Lifestyle area. I retired from Bridgestone-Firestone in Lavergne Tennessee on April 1, 2010 as a tire builder. After 22 years I grew to despise Bridgestone-Firestone and it's management. I took a buyout and was so bummed out from my last few years at Bridgestone that I didn't look for a job for three months. This was unusual for me because I had not been without a job for more than two weeks in my whole life. Finally in June I decided that I wanted to work a job like security or work a courier job. In other words a job that would not involve physical work. After 21 years as a Air Force Security Policeman I knew how boring security can be. I knew that Dynamic Security had the contracts for the National Guard bases in the area and I thought that I would like working at one of the military bases. When I walked into Dynamic's office, near the Nashville International Airport, the HR man was eager to get me because of my experience. He threw me a curve ball however when he asked me if I would like to work in a mall. I said sure. A mall sounded like interesting work to me. At least I would not be confined to a gate shack or a desk. Since coming to the mall in June 2010 I have enjoyed this job immensely. I could write a book on my experiences. Not since my time at NORAD have I enjoyed a job so much. After three security companies in the last 8 years I have worked myself into the site supervisors job. It has been challenging at times but the job keeps me young. Supposedly Confucius said "Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life". The new AMC movie theater opens a new era for us at Stones River Mall. From demolition of the old Food Court and Books A Million in the Spring of 2017 until its completion in June 2018 I have taken pictures during the various stages of demolition and construction. It is just the historian in me I guess. Including a crane mishap that occurred on March 1, 2018. A long day for security because I worked 12 hours that day. I hope that you enjoy the pictures.