Starkville recently lost two restaurants: Bojangles and Three Little Pigs. The buildings that housed them won’t stay empty long, though.
Michael Penn confirmed to The Dispatch on Wednesday that in coming months a Penns Restaurant will open at 106 Avenue of Patriots St., the former location of Three Little Pigs. Before a firm opening date can be announced, renovations, as well as employee training, must take place. Penn guessed, however, that the doors — and drive-thru — would open in September. The business will have roughly 15 employees.
The first Penns opened in Canton in 1967. The restaurant specializes in chicken and seafood.
The old Bojangles, meanwhile, which was located at 500 Hwy. 12 and closed several weeks ago, will likely be home to a Denny’s. Starkville officials have received a permit application for the diner chain to move into the spot.
Messages left with Denny’s corporate offices were not returned this week. However, the Denny’s website currently has a job listing for a manager position at a Starkville location.
The first Denny’s opened in California in the 1950s. There are more than 1,600 around the globe today. The closest one to the Golden Triangle is in Birmingham, Alabama, according to the restaurant’s website.
In Columbus, Michaels will open for business Sunday, Aug. 31.
Doors will open at 10 a.m. Gift cards and prizes will be given away, according to store officials. The arts and crafts retailer is located in a 21,000-plus square foot space beside Belk on Highway 45 North.
The store will employ roughly 60 people.
Michaels is based in Texas. There are more than 1,135 of the stores in the U.S. The Columbus location is the seventh in Mississippi.
Columbus Orthopaedic Clinic is expanding.
The clinic, which opened in the 1970s, is at 670 Leigh Drive. It is 18,000 square feet today, but after a new physical therapy facility totaling 8,000 square feet is added, it will be 26,000 square feet. Judy Bumgardner, marketing representative with the business, said construction will begin in early September. It is slated to be complete early next year.
The clinic has roughly 100 employees and six physicians, two nurse practitioners, one physician assistant, four physical therapists and a physical therapist assistant.
The parking lot is also being expanded by 100 spaces, Bumgardner said.
Lastly, in Caledonia, the new Dollar General will open Saturday. It is located at 9723 Wolfe Road — right across from what is now the “old” Dollar General. The doors open at 8 a.m. and Jaclyn Dees, a spokesperson for the retail chain, said the first 50 adult shoppers will receive a $10 gift card.
William Browning was managing editor for The Dispatch until June 2016.
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