The Selma Mall was able to secure its largest and arguably most important store. Belk will remain in the shopping center after both sides agreed to a new lease.

Belk, which is the only anchor store remaining at the mall, signed a lease to stay at the shopping center for the foreseeable future.

After J.C. Penney closed in 2014 and Goody’s followed suit earlier this year, many in Selma debated how long the Selma Mall would remain open.

For now, many of those rumors can be put to rest.

The details of the new lease were not released, but no matter what the length of the new contract is, Belk’s commitment makes the mall a more attractive option for other stores.

Perhaps just by having Belk stick around, the mall will be able to lure other anchor stores.

If nothing else, it gives the mall stability after several bumps in the road.

Even more encouraging is that Belk continues to do good business.

Store manager Daniel Scoggins said right now the store would finish the spring season in the top 20 in profitability in its division, which includes stores in Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee.

Obviously, the mall is not what it once was, but Belk’s numbers show good business can still be done there.