Hinesville Mayor Allen Brown said the city is on its way to becoming a regional shopping destination, thanks in large part to the opening of Oglethorpe Square. Brown, speaking at the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce’s annual “state of the city” address Thursday at the Liberty County Performing Arts Center, said he and County Commission Chairman Donald Lovette “have cut so many ribbons lately we’ve been getting dizzy, and we’re looking forward to many more.” Brown said the growth in retail business is helping fill local tax coffers, especially with the renewal of SPLOST. “A low estimate is that as much as 30 percent of our SPLOST will be paid by people not from Liberty County and that should go up,” he said, estimating that Oglethorpe Square alone is expected to generate about $55 million in retail sales annually while also adding $17 million in payroll and $300,000 in property taxes.