Downtown Development Brings New Business, Apartments to Revitalize Area

COLUMBUS, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch

Main Street Columbus Director Barabara Bigelow recently spoke to the Columbus Rotary Club about the rapidly-filling vacancies – both residential and commercial – in downtown. Among the properties discussed were:
– The former Stone Hotel has been converted into 18 new apartments (almost all filled as of Wednesday) and an open space for use by local businesses and individual workers. Local entrepreneur Chris Chain has been the man behind this project.
– The 322 building on 5th St has been fully-renovated by TGV Properties, LLC, bringing in 3 new apartments and even more space for business to be conducted.
– The Princess Theater has been leased out; once it’s ready, it will serve as a cafe and venue space.
– The Hive, a beauty shop, has a July opening planned. It is located at 422 Main Street.
– Zachary’s Tavern on Fifth Street is under renovation, with the intention to convert it into a fine-dining destination.

“Apartments downtown draw traffic,” Bigelow said. She went on to say that past development has proven that “if people are living on the second floors, it will draw traffic and business downtown and there will be foot traffic and car traffic.”

She went on to say that Market Street has seen renewed interest and success this past year, and that they plan to continue supporting the festival, making it bigger and better: “We had more visitors, arts and crafts vendors and food vendors than we’ve had in the past,” Bigelow said. “It is a great festival. It is enjoyed by many people and we are just so fortunate to have the support of everyone in Lowndes County,” Bigelow said.

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2022-06-02/downtown-developments-bring-apartment-count-to-205/

LINK Plans to Bring Garan New Neighbors

STARKVILLE, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch

LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins has announced that plans and funding are in place to start laying out new structures at the North Star Industrial Park in Starkville. “We’ve got $3.4 million in a grant from the state of Mississippi to do further enhancements to the park,” Higgins said. Materials are already in place to start construction.

Garan, makers of Garanimals children’s clothing, has been resident in the Park since 2021, and in Starkville since the 1960s: “At this building, we are support for all of our manufacturing entities throughout the world,” Garan manufacturing manager Greg Fuller said of the North Star plant.

Howard Linzy, VP for corporate human resources, noted that “Our workforce here is very glad to be in a new building, a very fresh, modern environment. . . [The old building] was very dated. We now have a much more pleasant working environment.”

Higgins went on to say that deals are in the works at various stages to bring in manufacturing businesses of all kinds for the foreseeable future.

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2022-05-22/north-star-industrial-park-prepares-for-new-industries/

LEIGH MALL LOOKING TO HAVE AN OVERHAUL

Columbus, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch

The LC BoS recently approved a contract for financial incentives to improve and rehabilitate Leigh Mall to the tune of about $3 million in tax rebates. The Hull Group, its current owner, is to do the work. The agreement must still go through the Columbus City Council, MDA, and Dept of Revenue before it is actually put into place.

GT LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins has indicated that the intent is to “turn the mall inside-out,” with major storefronts having parking-lot-level entrances as their main entry points. He also stated that “It’s performance-based . . . If they make progress, it rewards them, and it gives them a cap. In a perfect world, they’d do this in five years and be done, but they wanted the 15 years. . . If they don’t make progress and don’t succeed, then they don’t get the reward.”

Hull’s VP for gov’t relations, John Mulherin, elaborated on the program — saying that the renovation simply would not be feasible without such incentives — and went on to explain their plans for the mall going forward. Phase one will involve “a lot of tenants there now [going] to the outside. Phase three will be putting on a new roof, which we’ll really be doing simultaneously with the first phase. We just separated it out because we didn’t want the city and county paying for that because we’re going to have to put a roof on it anyway.” they are also looking into outparcels for new businesses to occupy, based on demand for their products/services; the old Sears building will be torn down.

They hope to have made visible progress on this project by this Fall, pending approval.

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2022-05-17/county-oks-3-million-in-incentives-for-mall-rehab/

2022 Business Woman of the Year

PRESS RELEASE

Columbus, MS – Courtesy of MPB Online

Columbus’ own Angela Crossley Ferraez is an area entrepreneur with several successful businesses under her belt. She has been named “2022 Business Woman of the Year” by the Mississippi Business Journal. She has been working hard all her life to help the local community, and she now serves as the Executive Director of the MPB Foundation. And THAT’S Good for Business!

Please see the link below for the original article.

https://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/press/mississippi-business-journal-names-angela-crossley-ferraez-2022-business-woman-of-the-year/

Coffee and Cheesecakes and Breads, Oh My!

WEST POINT, MS – Courtesy of the Daily Journal

Jubilations Cheesecake Coffee House in West Point — originally founded in Columbus — has a long history of making amazing food and treating both its workers and customers well. They have expanded their offerings in recent years, adding items such as sandwiches, a wide variety of pastries, and sausage cheese balls to the menu. “Everything has got to be as good in its category as our cheesecake is in its category, or we’re not going to sell it,” Owner George Purnell said.

They also work with various groups nationwide, sending out food to help with fundraising efforts: “We have groups from all over the U.S. selling our cheesecakes,” Luann Purnell added. “Everything from cheerleaders, schools, and church youth groups to junior auxiliaries.”

“The people are the most important part of our business, not the cheesecakes,” he said. “We are here to serve each other and our customers.”

They are located on Hwy 45-Alt South in West Point; M~F 6 to 6, Sat 7 to 2.

The good folks at Jubilations work hard and treat you right. Check out their website at this link: https://jubilations.com/

Please click here for the original article: https://www.djournal.com/lifestyle/food/jubilations-cheesecake-in-west-point-more-than-just-a-coffee-house/article_48bf9920-4ad4-53cd-a7ca-3c041aa1bb70.html

Mmmm…Coffee…Er, Caffe’

GTR Region, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch

COLUMBUS

J5 founder Jabari Edwards started the J5 Caffe’ not long ago, and he has now expanded into the business of selling fine coffee beans online. “I started J5 Caffe’ because I love coffee and I saw this as a way to help send kids from economically distressed areas to HBCUs in Mississippi,” Edwards said in a statement to The Dispatch. “This ties into my overall mission of building Black wealth.”
Find him online at https://www.j5caffe.com.

Luxury spa Real Premium Aesthetics will be holding a ribbon cutting this Saturday from 2 to 4, and will be taking clients beginning on Monday. 3504 Bluecutt Road; Mon~Thurs 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Fri~Sat 9 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sunday, 3-6 p.m.

Mignon Isaac recently opened the doors to “Chit Chat” at 2401 Hwy. 45. They offer a private place for people to talk with her: “I decided to open because lots of people would always reach out to me for my advice and my opinion on their life,” Isaac said. “…I am big on communication. I’m a talker and a thinker and I like to help people.” Mon~Fri 9 to 7 “with some flexibility” as needed. Call 662-364-1786 for info.

STARKVILLE

Katelyn Wolfe is offering nutritional counseling services as Wolfe Nutrition, LLC: “Food is not black and white; it’s not good or bad,” Wolfe said. “I’m not here to judge you. I’m here to help you, guide you. …I want to teach you skills, so you have the ability to make healthy choices for your lifetime.” https://www.facebook.com/wolfenutritionllc

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2022-03-03/mary-means-business-j5-caffe-begins-online-sales-pens-nil-deals/

J Broussard’s to Add Bakery to Downtown Landmark Restaurant

GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGION, MS

COLUMBUS

J. Broussard’s, 210 Fifth St. S., is in the final stages of opening up a bakery within their location. “Baked” will offer tasty good such as croissants, danishes, alfajores (dulce de leche sandwich cookies), cinnamon rolls, breads, cupcakes, tarts and more. Chef Beth Broussard Rogers said each delicacy will be made in-house and from scratch. Baked will also sell pimento cheese, chicken salad and take-and-bake entrees. The restaurant itself will continue to operate as normal.

“I think anyone who knows me even a little is not the least bit surprised we are finally bringing this dream into reality,” Rogers said. “I’ve always loved to bake. … I’m really passionate about good bread, and I spent a good portion of 2020 perfecting the crusty loaf that we now serve with our food each night at the restaurant. I want to be able to share that bread with more people, and opening the bakery is a good way to do that. I’ve always hoped to have a bakery one day, and I’m excited to share my dream with the people of Columbus who have wholeheartedly supported us through the pandemic.”

The restaurant is open Tues~Sat 5:30-9pm; the bakery is planned to be open Wed~Sat 10-6; they are shooting for this Spring.

STARKVILLE

Pop Porium owner Rosa Dalomba recently founded Elevate Mixology, a traveling mixology service. “It just makes sense,” Dalomba said. “Our popcorn is known for its service. After the compliments from customers (at sporting events), I realized I had a niche for customer service skills. . .I just loved it. Bartending is really fun and it fits my background in hospitality,” Dalomba said. “I’m excited to be a part of everyone’s special events and I’m ready to elevate everyone’s experience.”
elevatemixology.com is the website; it should be ready to roll in just a few days.

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2022-02-17/mary-means-business-j-broussards-bakery-coming-this-spring/

North Star Industrial Park to Expand thanks to Grant

STARKVILLE, MS — Courtesy of the Dispatch

THE GTR LINK announced that they have obtained a $3.4 million grant from the State of Mississippi to be used for expansion of the North Star Industrial Park.

“This grant is going to allow us to build a pad-ready site. It will be capable of building a 100,000 square-foot building,” LINK CEO Jos Max Higgins said. “The park has really just gotten to where we can market it,” he went on to say. “While we have been working on it for several years, I think this is our year that something good happens out there.”

Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill gave thanks to the Governor for the grant: “I am very excited that Gov. Reeves has provided us this opportunity to expand our park, and I think we are going to be able to use it to make it more attractive to new industries.”

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2022-02-11/link-receives-3-4-million-grant-to-further-develop-north-star/

Incentives for New Businesses in Leigh Mall Could Mean Millions for City and County Infrastructure

COLUMBUS, MS – Courtesy of WCBI

The GT Link is working on a plan that could bring in plenty of cash to both the city and the county as a whole. They are working with Leigh Mall’s owner, the Hull Group, with regards to bringing in new business for the foundering mall while bringing in tax revenue to help fix up our citizenry and the roads they use every day.

“They’re telling us they’re going to invest several million dollars in the mall; Renovating it, making new stores, and relocating some of their other existing tenants,” says Link CEO, Joe Max Higgins. “What we’ve got to do is figure out what impact does that has on the city of Columbus and Lowndes County. . . “We gotta pay for roads. We gotta hire policemen. We gotta do drainage. We gotta do mold. All of the services that we have to deliver at our city and county level -gotta have money to do that.”

The GT Link is working on a plan that could bring in plenty of cash to both the city and the county as a whole. They are working with Leigh Mall’s owner, the Hull Group, with regards to bringing in new business for the foundering mall while bringing in tax revenues to help fix up our citizenry and the roads they use every day.

Higgins stated that an overview of an official plan could be presented by late February or early March.

Please click here for the original article: https://www.wcbi.com/what-leigh-malls-development-project-means-for-lowndes-county-citizens/

(file photo)

OMG! It’s OMG (For Some Good Food)!

GTR AREA, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch

STARKVILLE

West Point’s OMG Grillhouse is opening up a new location in Starkville in the old Smokehouse 1883 location on Hwy 12. They plan to open their doors formally by February, and the renovations and new signage are being implemented. “(Business) has been good, especially during the pandemic with our curbside services,” owner TA Amos said. “The opportunity presented itself to open one in Starkville. We’ve done really well in West Point. In fact, we’d like to start franchising.”

Their offerings will include foods such as rib tips, hamburgers, wings, fried catfish, and more. Their hours will be Monday through Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Spring Street Cigars has taken over the old Mugshot building, and they hope to be open soon; it will be a cigar lounge, shop, and place to just relax with a good stogie and a good drink, or even watch a game on TV. Owner John Higgins said he’s excited to share his passion for hand-rolled cigars with the downtown area: “The city has been just entirely supportive of us. . . I can’t say enough great things about Starkville. We want to make this city proud for letting us come here. They’ve been a great partner to us.”

WEST POINT

Farmhouse Amish Furniture, 11980 Hwy. 45 Alt., has opened its doors. Tues~Sat 9 to 4. Plenty of handmade furniture, pottery, small handicrafts, and more!

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2021-12-23/mary-means-business-new-restaurant-coming-to-starkville/