HubCitySPOKES, publisher of The PineBelt NEWS, Signature Magazine, and other affiliated publications, is relocating its offices next month to the historical center of the Hub City.
David Gustafson, who recently began his 10th year at the helm of the Hattiesburg operation, said he expects the move to further strengthen the newspaper’s position as the most-read paid newspaper product in the Pine Belt.
“A community newspaper like ours belongs downtown at the city’s center,” he said. “That’s the way it was here for more than 100 years. In fact, it was that way until 2014 when the parent company of The Hattiesburg American made the decision to move their offices to Lamar County.”
Gustafson said he knew then that he would eventually move the newspaper’s offices downtown.
“What I didn’t know at the time, however, was that we would ultimately find such a historic – and meaningful – location to call our new home.”
The publishing operation’s new headquarters will be in the historic Montague Building at 525 N. Main Street.
“That intersection of Main and Pine was literally the first intersection in the city of Hattiesburg,” he said. “It’s only fitting that our community’s newspaper be located in such a historical building.”
Built more than 100 years ago, the three-story Montague Building is owned by Hattiesburg attorney Doug Montague and currently houses the law firm of Montague Pittman & Varnado on the second and third floors.
Montague said he was gratified that the largest regional print news enterprise has chosen the heart of downtown for its business headquarters.
“I am very pleased to welcome HubCitySPOKES to the building as a highly regarded member of our business and civic community,” he said. “Simply put, downtown is a geographically ideal location for a news organization named HubCity SPOKES.”
In addition to the newspaper offices, the first floor also houses the offices of the office of local attorney Anna Rush, who also serves as the City of Hattiesburg’s assistant municipal prosecutor.
The newspaper’s offices will face Pine Street and will consist of more than 1,500 square feet of newly-renovated office space.
Andrea Saffle, executive director of the Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association said the organization is thrilled to have the newspaper relocating downtown.
“For several years, we have had a strong working partnership with their team and we are excited to welcome them as our newest neighbors,” she said. “Thriving communities have engaged leaders that champion their efforts. The downtown association is grateful that The PineBelt NEWS has helped us share our successes and vision for all that downtown can become.”
Print and digital copies of The PineBelt NEWS are distributed weekly to more than 6,000 homes and businesses in Forrest and Lamar counties. Signature Magazine is distributed monthly to more than 200 locations throughout the Pine Belt and boasts a monthly readership of more than 40,000 people.
In addition to its new downtown offices, Gustafson said HubCitySPOKES will continue to have a physical presence in Petal, Midtown Hattiesburg, and Oak Grove, where readers can drop off press releases, photographs, and subscription payments to three convenient dropbox locations – including one at 3904 Hardy Street in the Midtown Market development.
