GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGION, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch
STARKVILLE
Boardtown Pizza and Pints has officially opened its doors at 705 University Drive, Suite C this past Monday. They serve a variety of items such as pizza, hummus, falafel, pita moz, dog bowl nachos (yes, in a dog bowl), and over thirty beers on tap. “It feels great,” owner Tyler Klaas said. “The nerves are still up there because we don’t know what’s going to happen. … We’re really hoping that the people that live here will come out and support us.” They will be holding a Grand Opening on Friday, Nov 13. The venue is open from 11AM ~ 11PM daily.
Two restaurants are in the planning stages. Captain D’s on Hwy 12, which burned down a few months ago, will be moving to the old Payless Shoes building at 812 Hwy 12. Sonic, which is next door to the old D’s, plans to use their combined lots to build a new facility.
COLUMBUS
Cobalt’s Boutique and Little Magnolia Co. will be moving into the former Steel Forest Furniture location on 5th Street S.
Meanwhile, Prestige Event Rentals moved from Second Street to 530 Hwy. 45 S. around a month ago or so. The new location is over triple the size of their prior store, and was made possible due to an uptick in business.
GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGION, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch
COLUMBUS
Local family-owned company Union Climate Control Storage, 106 Yorkville Road E., has announced that they will soon be expanding their storage options, with units being made available for RVs, boats, and trailers. They plan to have them ready in about a month or so. “All of this was in the plan,” owner Andrew Benton said. “We have plans to purchase more properties but have nothing official yet. We have other residential rental places, but this is a pretty solid business. We like it a lot.”
Southern Kneads, 1920 Hwy. 45 N., Suite 5, has opened their doors. Licensed massage therapist Markey Wright-Dillard runs the operation, and is currently taking appointments (no walk-ins for now) for 30- and 90- minute therapeutic massages. The company also offers ear candling and exfoliating body scrubs. “As a licensed massage therapist I always wanted to eventually own my own little place and offer products and services to my clients,” Wright-Dillard said. “My clients’ well-being is my No. 1 priority and I look forward to seeing what’s in store for Southern Kneads LLC.”
Malco on 45 is offering private screenings of both classic and contemporary movies. For $100, you can bring a reasonable crowd to see “Star Wars: ESB”, Raiders of the Lost Ark”, and others. $150 gets you the same deal for a group to see more recent flicks such as “Tenet” or “The Kid Detective.” Please check their Malco website to view the full list of films available via this program.
WEST POINT
Kimberly Chase and Kathy Williams are taking over the Just for Ladies consignment shop over the next few weeks following the original owner’s retirement: “Of course we jumped at the chance to move from customers to owners,” Chase said. “Kathy and I have been best friends for over 30 years and have always dreamed of opening a consignment store. Raising families, we both understand the need a consignment store can fill in our community. Anita passing the torch to us is Heaven sent. We get to fulfill our dream while continuing hers.”
They plan to keep the place mostly as-is, including the embroidery services the shop offers. One notable change will be the name: Point City Consignment will be at 5761 Hwy. 45 Alt. S starting in early November. Their grand opening will be on Nov. 6 from 4-7 p.m. Their regular store hours will be Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGION, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch
COLUMBUS
Realtor Caroline Bromley reports that the former downtown Fred’s building is under contract. While the potential buyer has not yet been announced, it is hoped that a deal can be reached by the end of the year. The prospective buyer says that they want to renovate the Fred’s building in hopes of restoring it to how it looked a century ago, when it hosted Harden’s Bakery: “They have great plans for it,” Bromley said. “It’s going to be a plus for the community. . .The downtown area is a historic area and the new buyer is looking to keep it historically correct.”
Meanwhile, Listing Agent Royce Hudspeth reports that the old Ryan’s restaurant building on Hwy 45 is in a similar situation, and that it is “under contract and in due diligence.”
STARKVILLE
MUW alumnus Hannah Baird has formally opened up her food trailer, Nutrigroove, in the Little Dooey parking lot at the corner of Fellowship and Lampkin streets. They offer items such as acai fruit bowls, smoothies, herbal teas and bagels: “When I was there sitting on the beach I just knew I wanted to do this,” Baird said. “… I wanted to bring acai to Starkville so everyone else can enjoy it the same way I did. I just love it and so far everyone else does too.” Mon~Thurs from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. and Fri~Sat from 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Per the GTR LINK, the Golden Triangle region was recently recognized as a “Rural Certified Community” by the TVA. This is an award granted in honor of the area’s long-term advances in favor of industrial development and investment.
GTR LINK COO Macaulay Whitaker – Courtesy Photo
“Programs like these from TVA help us gather important critiques for our community, make improvements and market successfully to potential investment from employers,” LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins said in the press release.
LINK COO Whitaker remarked that the GTR is exceeding expectations, and that a number of potential new industries are eyeing sites in the area.
GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGION, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch
GTRA Executive Director Mike Hainsey recently addressed the GTRA Board, discussing some hopefully bright news regarding the future of the airport. He foresees an increase in commercial air travel for both business and for pleasure in the next few years: “The air transportation system has been pummeled, so they are going to be doing things differently as they recover,” he said. “They’re going to be looking at markets where there is economic growth. The economic growth here has been huge. The airlines are aware of that. . . The rebound here will be faster than the nation as a whole,” he went on to say. “As far as facilities, you have everything you need for probably 20 years. Overall, you are in better shape than most places in the country.”
Mike Hainsey, GTRA Exec Dir – courtesy photo
He went on to say, that, due to increasing demand for passenger flights, Delta plans to begin using larger, higher-capacity jets in the near future. Also, they are working on adding Westbound flights to the roster.
Military vehicle manufacturer Navistar Defense, LLC has announced that they will be expanding their facilities and their business operations in West Point, where they have had a local presence since 2005. As part of this project, they will be adding five hundred local, full-time jobs by 2024. Navistar is headquartered in Illinois.
“Job creation is critical to building strong economies throughout Mississippi. The addition of 500 new jobs at Navistar Defense’s facility in West Point is reflective of Mississippi’s outstanding capacity and workforce talent within the defense industry,” said MDA Interim Executive Director John Rounsaville. “We appreciate the collaboration between MDA, the Golden Triangle Development LINK, Clay County, the city of West Point and TVA, which has proven invaluable as we’ve worked to bring this project to fruition.”
They are currently accepting applications for these positions. Please click the link below for more information, as well as how to apply:
GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGION, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch
STARKVILLE, MS
Magnolia Hair Studio at 102 S. Lafayette St., recently opened its doors. Owner Sarah Dempsey, a veteran stylist, recently moved back to Starkville from Laurel: “We missed the Starkville atmosphere and moved back to raise our two kids,” Dempsey said. “I came full circle opening my own salon back off Main Street.” Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. -5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Popcorn shop The Pop Porium, 119 E. Main St., is reopening next Wednesday, having been temporarily shuttered due to the Coronavirus.
COLUMBUS, MS
Matt Bogue of Dutch Oil in front of Leigh Mall reports that they are working on repairing the structure in order to try and get it back into shape: “It had giant holes and leaking roof, so we pulled the rotting roof out and stripped the inside,” Bogue said. “We also dug up the big fuel tanks that have out-serviced for years. That’s really all we’ve done. It’s not part of any major, master plan. It’s simply trying to get it back into decent shape because it has fallen into such disrepair.”
Everything old is new again, which means progress for our local entrepreneurs — and THAT’S Good for Business!
The Book Mart & Cafe (and Bully shop, an MSU merch store) on Main Street in Starkville has partnered with the recently-created Thrive Strategy and Consulting, one of whose founders is a Starkville native. While in-person business has been down, the collaborators have been working on ways to expand Book Mart’s online presence, so as to allow people to browse their wares from anywhere they please. Book Mart owner Carolyn Abadie remarked that “People are coming in and buying things…It’s just a lot different.”
The Book Mart & Cafe (and Bully shop, an MSU merch store) on Main Street in Starkville has partnered with the recently-created Thrive Strategy and Consulting, one of whose founders is a Starkville native. While in-person business has been down, the collaborators have been working on ways to expand Book Mart’s online presence, so as to allow people to browse their wares from anywhere they please. Book Mart owner Carolyn Abadie remarked that “People are coming in and buying things. .It’s just a lot different.”
Photo: From left, Carolyn Abadie, the owner of Book Mart & Cafe, and Hannah Jian discuss the details of creating an online platform for Book Mart & Cafe to sell books on Friday in Starkville. Claire Hassler, Dispatch Staff
“We have resources,” Hannah Jian of Thrive said. “We have expertise that we think can actually translate to real help for small businesses in our communities.” The two ladies met up in June to discuss ways to move forward, and they had a solid plan in place in a short time. “Starkville’s close to [Hannah’s] heart,” Abadie said. “She’s wanting to help the town where she lives. It means more when it comes from somebody who grew up here.” They are currently working on setting up an online storefront for the stores.
Currently an on-hiatus Emory University student, Jian had already been working with groups in Atlanta to help local companies shift their focus from their normal products to ones which are needed now — e.g. a clothing company wanted to transition to mostly making facemasks, and a robotics startup wants to help companies looking to implement warehouse automation. Jian and four Emory classmates, all from different cities, are working as a unit to benefit business owners in their respective hometowns. She has also worked with Starkville’s own Glo, which is now a multi-national concern. Jian is working on spreading the word about Thrive so that the pro-bono company can help as many local businesses as they can. “Having people such as Hannah pitch in and offer that assistance is vital for the local economy,” Partnership CEO Mike Tagert said. “The fact that she is from Starkville, certainly that helps small business owners understand that she has a feel for the community and the town…Any additional ways that our small business owners have to interact with their customer base is more important than ever,” he went on to say. “They have to be diverse. They have to have secondary and tertiary ways of selling their products.”
As Emory will be going full-digital/remote learning for the Fall semester, Jian will be staying in Starkville for now, working directly with local entrepreneurs: “We aren’t going to be able to return to normal for a long time,” Jian said. “Businesses are still going to be feeling the impacts of the pandemic on the economy for a long time after now.”
There’s a new app in town — and it was made by locals! Global Outdoors is a free new app that helps people who are looking to get away from it all find outdoor activities to do. Mark Alexander, Mark Alexander Jr., and Wade Leonard developed the app.: “I travel all over the world, and I noticed that it’s easy to find information about hotels or restaurants or just about anything, but it’s extremely difficult to find information on the internet about places to hunt or fish,” Alexander said in a press release. “A handful of people have websites, but many do not, and many outfitters and business owners rely entirely upon word of mouth. I thought it would be great if I could find all outdoor experiences on one platform, similarly to the way I can find information about hotels or airlines.”
Please visit www.globaloutdoors.com for more information.
Sey’s Sports Bar, 2118 Hwy. 45 Suite 5, in Columbus is up for sale. Company rep Josh Hogan says that “It’s been building here and we’re just looking to sell it to someone who can continue on with this business.” The owners are ready to retire, and they’re looking for someone to pick up where they’re leaving off. Interested parties can contact Hogan at 662-251-4887.
Mudd Dobbers Vintage Shop, in Holly Hills Plaza at 3189 Hwy. 45 N. Suite D, will soon open for business. Owner Lisa Halverson said, “This is like a dream come true for me. . .I love to take old vintage pieces and bring them back to life. … God has surely blessed me beyond measure. . .I have tried to add a little bit of everything to this shop so that everyone can find something special,” Halverson said. “I’m so excited to meet new customers and help create their space.” They plan to open officially this August, and will be open Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. STARKVILLE, MS
Having just finished up a stint in Columbus, Fair Treats to Geaux’s set of food trucks has now opened in Starkville. From now until July 26, you can get your fair food fix on Louisville St near Skate Odyssey.
Finally, Pita Pit has re-opened. The downtown eatery is open daily 11 a.m.-11 p.m. for pick up, curbside and delivery.
Eric Hill, director for the Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach at MSU, recently spoke to the Columbus Rotary Club: “I’ve always been interested in business since I was a kid,” Hill said. “My parents encouraged it when I was very young.” He spoke about revitalizing our local and state economy by nurturing youth talent and bringing in capital to help them to develop their own business ideas. His center currently provides anywhere from $500~7,500 each to over a hundred teams of students to help make their ideas into reality. School alumni are the primary source of funding for these projects.
Over time, the idea has grown and flourished. In the past three years alone, it has helped to form a handful of successful companies that are now valued at over $15 million in total. One such company is Starkville’s own Glo, valued at over $5 million. Glo sells glowing plastic cubes which it now sells worldwide, shipping to about three dozen countries.
Photo credit: Eric Hill, the director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach at MSU, speaks about successful student businesses during the Rotary Club of Columbus meeting on Tuesday at Lion Hills Center in Columbus Claire Hassler, the Dispatch
Hill fells that one major hurdle that many young would-be entrepreneurs face — beyond a lack of funds — is simply the support they need to put these things in motion: “When we started that business in high school and sold it, I sort of never doubted that it was possible,” he told The Dispatch. “It struck me that not everybody felt that way, not everybody had been propped up that they were capable.”
“Mississippi is in a perfect position to be a leader in technology,” Hill said Tuesday. “We have so many right ingredients today ready to go, it’s almost silly it hasn’t happened yet…When you are coaching an entrepreneur, it’s about building judgment, mindset that someone in their early 20s doesn’t have yet,” Hill told Rotarians. “Each of you have some sort of skill set and some expertise that’s valuable to an entrepreneur.”
Former Columbus mayor Jeffrey Rupp also spoke on the topic of helping our young minds become tomorrow’s business leaders: “[We need to know:] What’s going to keep the next generation’s entrepreneurs here? Because they are going to be the ones sitting down at this table 10 years from now,” Rupp said.
Rupp was among those who helped launch the GTR area’s “Lemonade Day,” where kids are encouraged to “…do three things with the money: Save some, spend some and share some.”
“Imagine being 25 years old, you got a company that’s worth $1 million. You are going to stay in Starkville?” Rupp said. “But we have had companies stay because they felt the support was there.”
