Commerce developer aims to make town more student friendly

Several developments are being planned along Monroe Street on the south side of the A&M-Commerce campus in order to create a more student-friendly environment.

Commerce developer Mike Oglesby said this week he is in the process of getting approval to develop the property at 1708 Monroe into a sandwich and salad shop.

"We have a lady who's been doing this for 13 years coming out of Sulphur Springs," he said.

Oglesby said he also plans to develop the property next to The East Texas Bookstore at 1600 Lee St. into a restaurant and living establishment. He said he plans to take 20 percent off of the building and turn the downstairs into a burger house. He said the upstairs would be divided into several apartments. He would also like the establishment to be set up for live music.

"I want something so good that when people go in they are going to say, ‘I'm coming back,'" he said.

Oglesby said he plans to create several small housing complexes in the area as well.

President Dan Jones said he fully supports Oglesby in his efforts.

"He is a tremendous asset to this community," Jones said.

Although there is no plan for the university to work with Oglesby, Jones said that what Oglesby is doing helps the university and that there could be some connection between the developer and the school in the future.

Commerce Mayor Quay Throgmorton said he has seen some of the work Oglesby is doing and thinks he is going in the right direction.

"As a city, we are going to have to look at where we want to develop," he said.

Throgmorton said he thinks there is a high likelihood that Monroe Street will be filled with small businesses and multiple family homes over the next 10 years.

Oglesby said no matter what he develops, he has one main goal throughout his work.

"I want to put nice things up around the university for people to go to and hang out at on the weekends," he said.