April 2025 | Volume 13 | Issue 7
Sun HOOVER’S COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE HOOVERSUN.COM | STARNESMEDIA.COM
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SERVING HOOVER, THE 280 CORRIDOR, HOMEWOOD, MOUNTAIN BROOK, TRUSSVILLE AND VESTAVIA HILLS
What’s next for the Galleria? By JON ANDERSON
H
oover city leaders and business officials are exploring major redevelopment possibilities for the Riverchase Galleria — including multifamily residential, entertainment, retail and hospitality uses — as part of a $200,000 study.
The study, funded in partnership with four private entities connected to the Galleria campus, comes amid growing uncertainty about the mall’s future. The 147,000-square-foot former Sears store has been without a permanent tenant since 2019, and last summer, Macy’s put its 226,000-square-foot Galleria store up for sale.
The Galleria, which opened in 1986 as Alabama’s largest indoor mall with 1.2 million square feet of retail space, generates hundreds of millions in sales annually. But a shifting retail landscape has led some to question whether it could follow the fate of Brookwood Village and Century Plaza. Several Hoover business leaders say there are multiple options.
“Outside of the beach, there’s not a better piece of real estate in the state of Alabama,” said Alan Paquette, vice president of property management for Jim Wilson & Associates, which manages The Offices at 3000 Riverchase, an office tower adjacent to the shopping mall. “It’s not a matter of if; it’s a matter of when something big is happening here.
See GALLERIA | page A20
An aerial view of the Belk and JCPenney stores at the Riverchase Galleria. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
From child raising to rising Republican star, DuBose leaving mark in Montgomery By TAYLOR BRIGHT State Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, never expected to enter politics. No one recruited her to run, and she challenged an incumbent in her first race. Despite that, she has quickly made a name for herself in Montgomery while sponsoring both archly conservative legislation and bills with bipartisan support.
DuBose, a Mississippi native, and her husband, Dennis, a certified public accountant, moved to Shelby County in 1988, just a month after getting married. She began her career with Compass Bank, but after having their second child, she decided to leave the corporate world to focus on raising their family. “I took a big pay cut, gave up that salary and that job to be a stay-at-home mom, and
INSIDE
Rep. Susan DuBose, left, poses with Sen. April Weaver at the 2025 state-of-the-state address. Photo courtesy of Susan DuBose.
it’s the best decision I ever made in my life,” DuBose said. “It’s the best job I’ve ever had.” Her transition to full-time motherhood led to deeper involvement in her community. She was active in school volunteering, nonprofit organizations and church activities.
See DUBOSE | page A22
Sponsors.......................... A4 City.................................... A7
Schoolhouse.................... A8 Business..........................A10
Community.....................A14 Real Estate...................... B6
Sports............................... B8 facebook.com/hooversunnews
Home & Garden
All-South Metro
Find tips and tricks from area businesses to jump-start any spring project in our guide.
Bucs rack up honors after sweeping boys and girls Class 7A state championships again.
See page B1
See page B8
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