It's not the end, but it is the beginning of the end for Wilson Mall, a dozen years after its previous owners shut the main building down.

City Manager Rodger Lentz updated City Council Members earlier this month that asbestos removal would begin soon and take 30-45 days. City staff was preparing the bid package for the actual demolition and expected to have a contract ready for approval by February 2026. After demolition is complete, the city can market the 20-acre portion of the property for redevelopment. If these steps continue as planned, the mall should be demolished by Summer 2026.

The city owns the property outlined in blue shown on the map. The portion of the property not outlined in blue is still owned by the mall’s former owner. The portion of the property with the actual mall structure is planned to be redeveloped. The area beyond Parkwood Plaza is planned to be a water quality park in the future.

The mall was a heart of the community for more than 50 years but began to fail in the early 2000s, mostly closed in 2013 and has been an eyesore for a decade. Read more about it here:

The City of Wilson will be closed next Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27-28, for Thanksgiving. Here's how it will affect city services:

Environmental services: Monday and Tuesday routes will be on schedule. People who normally have garbage and recycling service on Thursday will instead be served Tuesday afternoon. Friday routes will be done on Wednesday. There will be no special pickups that Wednesday.

Customer service: Anyone needing to pay a bill can do so online at www.WilsonNC.org; use the automated system at 399-2200; or use the kiosk in the first drive-thru lane at the customer service center, 208 Nash St. NW. Payments through the kiosk apply to City of Wilson utility and Greenlight customer accounts instantly.

Wilson RIDE will operate Thursday and Friday, although the driver pool might be reduced. Use the Via app or call 595-5357 to schedule rides.

Emergency services and utilities will be staffed throughout the holiday.

We hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving weekend!

Thanksgiving is next week, but we are already seeing Christmas decorations going up around town. If you are planning to go big this year, show off your work by joining the City of Wilson's Christmas Cheer Challenge!

The city began the challenge in 2024 as a way to showcase our best holiday decorations and to give you a convenient way to plan your own light-seeking night drives. Last year we had more than 50 people sign up and we hope to double that this year.

We are asking everyone who registers to plan to have their displays up and operating every night from 5-9 p.m., beginning Friday, Dec. 5, and going through at least Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.

We have recruited a team of judges -- we cannot confirm or deny they are elves -- who will be out looking at the entries the week of Dec. 15-19 in five categories (brightest, best business, most spirited, traditional Christmas, and best neighborhood). Then we will announce winners on Monday, Dec. 22. Winners will get a yard sign plus a gift basket from the category sponsors. 

Anyone in Wilson County can put their displays on our list, but only city residents qualify for the contests.

You can see more information at this link. Registrations will go live Monday afternoon and close on Dec. 15 so you have plenty of time to decorate before the judges check their lists twice.

We were excited to see a large crowd turn out Tuesday, Nov. 11, for the Wilson Committee on Patriotism's annual Veterans Day ceremony, despite frigid overnight temperatures and gusty wind. We all bundled up and enjoyed the sunshine, beautiful music and inspiring speeches in honor of all those from Wilson County who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

You can see pictures from the event here and watch a rebroadcast here.