A new catfish restaurant is opening in Columbus.
Catfish & Chords Fish House will be located at 2222 Military Rd — the old home of Rub’s Pub, which closed last year. Ryan Koehn is the owner. His family operates A Touch of Home Restaurant & Bakery in West Point.
Asked where the name “Catfish & Chords” came from, Koehn referenced the long, mingling history of blues music and catfish. Plus, he plays a little guitar himself.
The building that will house the restaurant is roughly 7,000 square feet, not counting the upstairs area. Once Koehn obtains a liquor license from the state, there will be a full bar. Sometimes, on weekend evenings, there will be live acoustic music.
The restaurant will be open by the end of September, according to Koehn.
Since we’re on the subject, August is National Catfish Month.
Ninety-four percent of all U.S. farm-raised catfish comes from Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Louisiana. The U.S. industry employs nearly 10,000 people and contributes more than $4 billion to each state’s economy, according to uscatfish.com
Two facts: It takes about 18 months to two years to grow a one-pound catfish. A full-grown catfish averages between one and two pounds.
One myth: Japanese lore is that a huge catfish named Namazu was to blame for the world’s earthquakes. The story goes that Namazu would shake the earth by slinging his fins around, according to food.com.
In Mississippi, everyone seems to have a catfish restaurant they like. There is a place called LTs Fish House in Lamar County, Mississippi, I used to prefer. More recently, Country Catfish over in Yalobusha County has been a favorite for me.
In the Golden Triangle, who serves your favorite?
Lastly, people have been contacting The Dispatch asking when the Dick’s Sporting Goods on Highway 45 North will open its doors. Earlier this month, the company said the Columbus location will open “in fall 2014.” They could not offer a more specific date.
Browning on Business is a weekly column that runs each Thursday. We want your input. Send items and tips to [email protected] or [email protected].
William Browning was managing editor for The Dispatch until June 2016.
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