GameStop is closing in Columbus.
The video game retailer located at 1725 Hwy. 45 will shutter permanently Saturday, according to a sign posted inside the store.
The company, headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, was founded in 1984 as Babbage’s and took the name GameStop in 1999.
With dwindling sales, GameStop has announced various store closures since 2017. The company confirmed an undisclosed number of additional store closures in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission report filed in December.
According to the report, GameStop operates “thousands” of stores in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. As of last year, GameStop operated more than 4,000 stores. I did not hear back from GameStop representatives by press time, but it appears the Starkville location will remain open.
In other news, Friendly City Books is reopening at its new location at 423 Main St. on Saturday. Owner Emily Liner announced the bookstore’s move late last year. I’ve already seen the space and you folks should check it out on Saturday!
FCB’s Grand Opening is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and 10% of all opening day sales will go toward the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society. Liner added their new location includes a space for customers to sit, read and hang out.
“We are excited to start a new chapter of Friendly City Books on Main Street,” she said. “… We couldn’t have done this by ourselves. We had volunteers help us pack up thousands of books for our move, and we had a successful fundraiser online to help us with moving expenses.”
This isn’t the first time a book store set up shop at 423 Main St. In the early 1990s, Steve Pieschel owned and operated Old Main Books.
Liner called it an “amazing coincidence” and Pieschel is glad to see his former stomping grounds filled with books again.
A new business also is on its way to Main Street.
1514 Caffeine, located at 1514 Main St., is preparing to open next month.
Owner Davis Sandahl, a Columbus native and Caldwell High graduate, moved back to the Friendly City after living in Iowa for 20 years.
After moving back, she wanted to invest in her community and open a joint for fellow caffeine addicts.
1514 Caffeine is a drive-thru-only shop offering various caffeinated beverages to keep you awake, including coffees, lattes, energy drinks, customizable sodas and more.
“I’ve had a coffee shop before. … Hospitality service is my dream,” Sandahl said. “… I’m just trying to get back into the community since I’ve been gone for so long.”
Once open, you can check it out 6:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Stay up to date with the company’s Facebook for updated information.
Moving to Starkville, Disc and That reopened at their new location at 1107 Stark Road. The hobby disc golf store is boasting new hours at its new location so check them out 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon-4 p.m. on Sundays.
See y’all next week!
Former Dispatch reporter Mary Pollitz writes weekly about interesting business news. Have a tip? Send it to [email protected].
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 47 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 47 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
