The headline in Wednesday’s Vicksburg Post read: “Sandwich shop planned for old Maxwell’s site.”

Great news! New business coming to Vicksburg, albeit a proposed business that already has four locations in Vicksburg, but a business nonetheless.

Read through the story at www.vicksburgpost.com. At the bottom, under “related articles” the first account to appear is “Quiznos deal dies after developer cuts out,” dated April 23, 2007.

Underneath that is the headline “City makes move toward golf course off Warrenton” dated May 24, 2008.

One month and a day ago, this headline appeared, “Developer in deal to buy mall, former Kroger.”

Stories long and short have been written about the fancy new recreation complex that will replace the outdated Halls Ferry Park, but youth ball teams are still playing at Halls Ferry.

Vicksburg is the land of grand plans that, like the New York Jets, often end with disappointment.

Residents are still playing golf at Clear Creek in Bovina and the closest Quiznos is in Clinton.

Any investment in the community would be a boon, especially those with national name appeal. Further plans on the East Clay Street site, under a different developer with different plans, is to put a Wendy’s — yes, there are already two of those here — next to the Subway.

Stores may open, but choices certainly will not be expanded if the latest round of plans comes to fruition.

Those who have lived here for an extended time have heard this song and dance before. Our appetites are whetted with calls for this attraction or that restaurant only to continue to look at empty parking lots and barren earth where a local eatery once stood.

Here’s hoping the most current set of plans becomes a reality.

No one, though, should be surprised if five years from now the city’s fifth Subway sandwich shop is nothing more than a link at the bottom of an online story with the headline, “Developer in deal to build downtown amphitheater.”

We’ve been down this road before — many, many times.

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Sean P. Murphy is web editor. He can be reached at smurphy@vicksburgpost.com