Musselwhite’s Barber Shop, a long-time mainstay of Columbus, has settled in to their new location on 2nd Ave. They still offer the same great service, just at a new place, just down the hill from the original.
They report that their first-ever customer at the original store, was also their first at the new one! You know you must be doing something right to inspire loyalty like that!
Restaurant news in Columbus — Parkside Diner, New & Improved Burger King Coming Very Soon!
William Browning of the Commercial Dispatch brings news to tantalize your tastebuds:
Danny and Wendy Cameron, who once ran the Front Door/Back Door in downtown Columbus have announced their latest venture: Parkside Diner. It will be located at 2625 Main St, in the old Shipley’s Donuts building across from Probst Park, and is expected to open its doors as soon as the end of the month; possibly in early April. The venue is designed to evoke the look and feel of a 50’s-style diner, complete with a jukebox, 45’s on the counter, and – eventually – real rootbeer floats and milkshakes.
They will offer soups, salads, and sandwiches as their primary fare, with Mennonite-baked bread delivered fresh every morning. A breakfast menu is in the works, as well. At first, they plan to be open from Tuesday through Saturday each week, from 10 AM to 3 PM each day, with a small staff.
On the fast food front:
The Burger King at 119 Alabama
St near the Food Giant is currently undergoing extensive renovations –It is expected to reopen in about a week, on March 12, with a brand-new, expanded kitchen, totally re-done dining room, and a modernized exterior.
In addition, a new Burger King will be opening at 604 18th Ave, next to the Cracker Barrel. It is expected to open in mid-June, and will employ 30-40 local workers. It will be built at the former location of Smith’s Landscaping, which has moved into the old Barnhill’s building just down the street, and is open for business as we speak!
For info on these and more: http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=48614
Jackson, Miss. —
The Golden Triangle area is home to all sorts of manufacturing companies that bring new jobs to our area, and another one is on its way! Officials from Sleepmade, manufacturer of advanced sleep products, announced on Wednesday morning that the company will be investing $1.415 million in our economy, and creating 50 jobs by locating manufacturing and distribution operations in Lowndes County. Our region is already a powerhouse, and this is just one more notch in our belt, proving that we have what it takes to compete on the national scene. And that’s Good for Business.
“I am glad to welcome Sleepmade as the newest business partner to the state of Mississippi and appreciate the company for creating new job opportunities for the residents of Lowndes County and the surrounding areas,” Gov. Phil Bryant said. “‘Made in Mississippi’ is a stamp of quality around the world. I know the productivity of the Golden Triangle region’s workforce will help ensure Sleepmade enjoys many years of success in our state.”
Read more here: http://www.wcbi.com/local-news/50-jobs-heading-to-golden-triangle/
New Dealership/Development In Starkville On Track
The new Parker-McGill mega-dealership project on Highway 12 is moving along right on schedule; the investors announced this week that they are ready to open a temporary lot to begin selling vehicles. The group is investing $21 million into the 26-acre parcel, with plans for multiple car dealerships, residential units, and office space in the very near future. The ambitious project was fueled by a $3 million TIF bond, which was used to fund significant infrastructure on the site. All told, the site could eventually bring nearly a half million dollars per year into the local tax base, on top of the impact on the workforce.
The temporary lot should be open for business within the next thirty days or so, and the full dealership complex is planned to be up and running by the end of August.
The Starkville Daily News has more: http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/content/parker-mcgill-dealership-open-temporary-lot
Hardee’s on 45 Gets a Great New Look Inspired by Columbus Itself
The Hardee’s on Hwy 45 recently held their Grand Re-opening, showcasing their newly-expanded and renovated dining room. The Columbus Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the event, which marked the culmination of a several-months-long expansion and complete remodeling of the dining area, which was extended by about ten feet. The interior was completely redesigned, and now includes a curvy seating section with large circular booths for families or other large groups; the addition of new tables in order to handle more customers at a time; and a raised “bar” section with stools, wi-fi, and outlets for laptops/chargers. Long-time patrons of the store will be glad to know that the restrooms have been totally redone, as well, and moved inside the actual main building. Imagery meant to evoke the city of Columbus itself – including a prominent mural representing The W– serves a distinctive feature of the venue.
I’d like to applaud the ownership group for their investment in improving and completely remodeling their property – it helps our community, and our tax base. As with a many other businesses featured on this blog, the ownership is all local. Their food in general – and especially their fresh-made, hot breakfast biscuits, have been a hit with locals for many years, now, as has their friendly, smiling staff. Come on out and give them a try sometime!
Image courtesy of www.hardees.com
Oby’s In Starkville Finishes “Best in State” for Sandwiches, Columbus’ United Deli Near Top
Oby’s Mufellata. Pic credit: Joe R. Bumgardner of eatjackson.com
Best of the best??? The writers at the quirky site “only-in-your-state.com” picked Oby’s as the best sammich shop in Mississippi this past week. As a New Orleans native, I’ve been a big (in the waist) fan of the Cajun eatery for years now. Their hot roast beef, oyster po-boys and gumbo are hard to beat! Another favorite place to chow-down, United Deli in East Columbus, also topped the list. I’m so happy for my main man Mr. John. His Gyros and French Dips are second to none, and I think his french bread is the best you’re gonna find outside of Louisiana.
So proud for both of our local spots – any attention is good attention…and definitely good for business!!
Bulldog Burger Makes Its Mark On Starkville
Let’s all welcome Bulldog Burger to the great city of Starkville!! Starkville’s economy continues to expand with another locally-owned eatery. Go get yourself a burger today, and, if you think you can handle it, ask about their special eating challenge!
Bulldog Burger Company is located at 702 University Drive in the historic Cotton District.
The Grand Opening. Photo courtesy the GSDP
When Big Business is Small Business
The Superbowl has not always been my favorite time of year. You see, I spent a good bit of my formative years in the pizza business, and Superbowl Sunday is traditionally the busiest day of the year, sometimes painfully busy – as the linked story from WCBI will attest, below. The funny part about it then, and about it now, is hearing friend and coworkers laud, ” Papa John must be printing money today – and he ain’t doin’ nuttin!! ”
John Schnatter (AKA Papa John) does indeed make some money off of the local stores. He earned that right 30 years ago when he built the company. However, the lion’s share of the reward is earned by local owners who worked for their money and took a risk on a franchise. Like most towns in Mississippi, Starkville and Columbus have the majority of restaurant chains owned by local folks. A local businessman or manager took the chance to buy into a chain to see if he could defy the odds and make a living.
Schnatter, far right, and his team enjoying the sweet taste of victory. (Graphic courtesy of Business Wire)
Most franchises fail within a few years, often leaving the proprietor in very poor shape for his gamble. There are hundreds of locals who have lost their life savings taking a shot on a cafe, sandwich shop, or fast food joint. Buffalo Wild Wings, The Grill, McDonald’s, Subway, Papa John’s, and others all have local franchisees as their roots. The tax money stays in the state. They participate in the community by sponsoring soccer teams and school functions. The owners, quite often, live in your neighborhood; they might even go to church with you. Many of the chains that we routinely view as giants are, in reality, just as local as our favorite watering hole or dry cleaner.
Ask around, and keep a sharp eye out for locally owned “big businesses.” When you find one, thanks them for investing in our community. Their big, small business is good for our tax base, good for our community and great for business.
CK
http://www.wcbi.com/local-news/pizza-companies-gear-up-for-super-bowl-rush/
Smith’s Landscaping is now open for business at their new location. Please pardon the dust as they create a bigger and better store!
Two cornerstones of the Columbus economy, Renasant Bank & Smith’s Landscaping, have got new locations for their customers to visit. Smith’s moved from their longtime location on 18th Avenue North next to the Cracker Barrel to the former Barnhill’s restaurant site on the corner of 18th and 7th Street North. The family-owned garden shop sold their old lot to a group that plans to build a state-of-the-art Burger King later this year.
The Commercial Dispatch’s William Browning – the preeminent business writer in our region – has a nice piece on Renasant’s new branch attached below:
(It’s worth noting that I ran into Smith’s #1 crew at the nearby bank branch Thursday, they were hustling to get the finishing touches done for a upcoming Grand Opening event. Kudos to Renasant for using a local business for the job!!- CK)
Renasant Bank has opened a new Columbus location.
The branch is at 595 18th Avenue North — that’s beside Logan’s Roadhouse, across from Cracker Barrel.
Renasant Bank’s newest location
“We needed a location that was more convenient to the Highway 45 North corridor and could also serve the medical community,” Bill West, the bank’s president, told The Dispatch this week. “Having access to Sixth Street North, through the Creekside complex, was a big factor in our location decision, as well.” The bank purchased the last parcel available in the Creekside Development from Mark Castleberry, a local developer, to build the 4,900 square foot branch on.
Read more: http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=47975#ixzz3zEBlUEm9
