by Joel Addington
Staff Writer
As a child, Bishop Vaughn McLaughlin often sat by the fountain in the old Normandy Mall and sipped soda while his mother shopped around.
Today McLaughlin sits in the same mall greeting patrons and chatting with store owners — only now he runs the place under a new name: Kingdom Plaza at Normandy Mall.
“Who would’ve thought I’d be back in here as CEO of the operation,” said the 50-year-old founder of Potter’s House Christian Fellowship, a non-denominational church on the Westside.
Kingdom Plaza, a for-profit enterprise owned by Potter’s House, is the first mall of its kind in Northeast Florida, and possibly the nation.
“This is a church-owned and church-operated mall,” said McLaughlin. “I’ve traveled the nation and not found anything like it.”
Typically, he said, church-owned businesses are not so closely tied to the church itself.
Kingdom Plaza, located at 5119 Normandy Blvd., sits just feet from the doors of the Potter’s House church, which houses church offices, a 4,000-seat congregation hall, television studio and recording studio.
Potter’s House uses three of the largest spaces in the mall to operate its 30-lane bowling alley, soul food bistro and fitness center featuring a heated pool, massage area and Direct TV on each treadmill.
According to the Potter’s House Web site, the church has “responded to our Lord’s command in Luke 19:13 to ‘occupy till I come,’ which literally means to ‘do the work of a banker, to barter or to trade.’”
“It’s all about empowering and employing people,” said McLaughlin.
Potter’s House bought the dilapidated Normandy Mall property in 2002 for $4 million and spent another $7.5 million refurbishing the 139,000-square-foot church and 177,000-square-foot Kingdom Plaza.
“It’s been wonderful,” said McLaughlin. “I’m quite pleased.”
And although the mall sells more than just Christian-themed merchandise, the heavenly atmosphere is hard to miss with stores like Glorious Tees and Totes and the Rite 2 Life nutrition shop.
For Jonette Pollard, the big draw is being able to shop and bowl in one place.
“I love it,” said Pollard, 23, before browsing for cell phone accessories Thursday morning. “I’m too young to remember the Normandy Mall but they really did something good with this old place.”
Bistro waitress Iris Meyer does remember the old facility and said, “This place was empty for 17 years and its been brought back to life. This is a blessing from God.”
Billy Hewcarter comes to Kingdom Plaza to use the fitness center with his son.
“It’s fantastic,” said the Georgia native. “It’s clean and neat and people here are very polite and friendly.”
Kingdom Plaza held its grand opening earlier this month with all but three of its tenants ready for business.
The most popular destination Thursday seemed to be the soul food bistro, where a line began to form out the door just before noon.
“It brings out a good mix of people in the Westside community and models the demographics here,” McLaughlin said of Kingdom Plaza. “It’s done a great job of promoting racial unity by bringing the community together.”
Businesses at Kingdom Plaza:
The Potter’s House Soul Food Bistro
Temple Builders Fitness Center
King Pins Bowling Center
Joe’s Pro Shop
4 Lyfe Casual and Dress Wear
Just a Bow Florist
Kingdom Kutts Barber
It’s My Party
Melia’s Bridal Shop and Tuxedo Rental
LA Styles Ladies Shoes
Clear Talk Communications
Dark Cave Jewelry
Glorious Tees and Totes
Kingdom Realty
Lang’s Little Lambs Daycare
Medical Wear and Supplies
Zion Insurance Group
The Jewelry Mine
Creative Minds Enterprise
Rite 2 Life Nutrition
Coming Soon:
CamiCakes
Eden Salons and Spa