Retailers in Vicksburg’s downtown business district were surprised to get a new neighbor Wednesday as the Mississippi Department of Corrections moved its local staff into a building at Clay and Washington streets.

None expressed fear or thought danger exists, but said it didn’t seem to be the best use for the building that has been empty, but formerly housed Central Mississippi Legal Services and, earlier, United Cleaners.

&#8220I think it’s a bizarre place to locate – in the central business district,” said Christi Bounds, owner of Twigs, a gardening-oriented gift shop. &#8220That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. You’d want to save that area for parking for customers and tourists. This is just bizarre.”

The MDOC operations office here had been at 3202 Wisconsin Ave., serving as a base for local staff and a check-in point for people on probation or parole.

Jo Burton of the MDOC staff said the move to the 1222 Washington St. building, now owned by contractor John Barnes, was necessary to save money. &#8220It’s a result of budget cuts,” she said.

But another Washington Street business owner, Regina Gailani of Art & Soul, was also skeptical. &#8220That comes as a big surprise,” she said. &#8220We’ll just have to see what happens.”

Vicksburg Mayor Laurence Leyens, who made a downtown makeover the key emphasis of his first term, said he wasn’t bothered by the move.

&#8220Anybody can have a business anywhere they want in the community,” he said. &#8220The more traffic in the downtown area is better for commerce. I don’t expect problems with this.”

Paper Plus owner Alice Hebler agreed.

&#8220I don’t have a problem with it at all,” she said. &#8220I think if there’s a problem, our Vicksburg Police Department will take care of us.”

Vicksburg Main Street Director Rosalie Theobald said she prefers retailers and other businesses in the downtown area, but didn’t anticipate any problems.

&#8220We’d really like to see more retail stores and attractions and museums” on Washington Street, Theobald said. &#8220But we hope that everyone will be a good neighbor and will work together. There’s no sense in really getting upset about it.”

Leyens was elected in June 2001 and that November, the City of Vicksburg authorized up to $17.5 million in bonds, much of which has been spent, to renovate the business district and encourage more private development.

The area has been thriving, with several new businesses, restaurants and conversion of upper levels of old buildings into residential spaces.