There is exciting news for the shoppers of Starkville, as construction has begun on a brand new shopping center containing well-known commercial businesses.
Triangle Crossing, developed by Rise Partners and Castle Properties, plans to house nine new shopping options. The retail, grocery and service center is scheduled to be 95,000 square feet and is an anticipated upgrade of choices for the Starkville community. 
Rise and Castle purchased the property from Garan in 2018. Garan plans to relocate to the industrial district, which Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill describes as “a perfect fit.”
After the initial purchase in 2018, construction is finally underway near the intersection of Highway 12 and Industrial Park Road. Highway 12 is one of the most commercialized areas in Starkville and is a hotspot for shopping and business. The intersection chosen for construction is in close quarters with other shopping centers such as Walmart, Kroger and multiple other local stores and restaurants.
This project will include Marshall’s, Ulta Beauty Supply, Sports Clips, Aspen Dental, Rack Room Shoes, Five Below, Aldi Grocery and PetSmart. Spruill said these popular stores will be an exciting addition to Starkville.
“The new retail will be a wonderful benefit to the shopping opportunities along Highway 12 as it expands the options and keeps our residents in town to shop, as well as attracts those from surrounding areas to shop in Starkville,” Spruill said.
The mayor explained the benefits she is expecting to see after the construction is complete.
“I fully expect other growth to come with time and with the other initiatives that are underway,” Spruill said. “Our new sports tournament facility will, I believe, attract hotels and more development on the west side of town, as the east is expanding from added interest in being close to the campus and the magic that the excitement of athletics fosters.” 
Residents of Starkville said this kind of growth is something the community has been anticipating. Starkville has previously focused on local business growth rather than commercial growth. However, along with Triangle Crossing, Starkville has announced the construction of a Chipotle and has brought in similar projects such as Smoothie King and Academy Sports and Outdoors. These kinds of expansions promote benefits in many areas of the Starkville community.
Starkville native Grant Peterson, a sophomore at Mississippi State University, expressed his enthusiasm for the new shopping center.
“My family actually lives in Green Oaks, which is right across from where they’re building the new stores, so it’d be pretty convenient and fresh to have some different options available,” Peterson said. “I also appreciate bringing in new businesses as Starkville grows, even as the pandemic is causing lots of businesses to struggle.”
Peterson also predicts an issue with the center’s location. Although it is convenient for his family, it is inconveniently far from the MSU campus.
“The placement of the new shopping center is inconvenient for most students, which alienates a significant portion of Starkville area’s customer base,” Peterson said. 
Students unfamiliar with Starkville share the same excitement despite the location’s distance from campus. 
“I am especially excited for the Five Below because it is one of my mom’s favorite stores,” said Josh Cohran, a freshman at MSU from Byram, Mississippi.
Cohran expressed that the new upgrades to this community will hopefully attract family members to visit their children. He agreed with Mayor Spruill and said he believes the surrounding, more rural areas around Starkville will likely benefit just as much as the residents.
With a rise in the tourism industry due to MSU’s recent baseball National Championship win, the city can now support visiting family, friends and athletic teams with developments like Triangle Crossing. New stores and renowned businesses are a way the community can attract new residents in addition to travelers.