The Louisiana Shrimp Shack, 6188 Hwy. 45 N., in Columbus closed Saturday.
Owner Kenneth Helmer said he was forced to close his restaurant after opening in November 2020.
“A lot of people coming in were sad, some crying that we were closing,” Helmer said. “There’s nothing I can do when I don’t have workers. We had 16 working for me and only three of them at the end.”
He’s selling the restaurant and his entire Cajun set-up turn-key for $295,000.
“I got it for sale right now,” Helmer said. “First one comes with the money, they can have it.”
Helmer said he’s moving home to Barataria, Louisiana, to get back to his shrimp boat.
“It’s about time I sit back and try to enjoy this little bit of life I got left,” Helmer said. “… That’s a wrap for me.”
Moving downtown, there’s a new face on an old building.
Tom Velek, owner of Columbus-based TGV Properties, said there’s nothing worse than a building with potential sitting vacant.
For the past decade, Velek has eyed and even offered to purchase the vacant building next to the former Fred’s at 322 Fifth St. S.
According to city directories, the 1953 building last had a tenant on the first floor in 2013, but the upstairs portion has sat empty since 1989.
“For me as a small business owner, I don’t know how you could have a building like this sit empty for two decades,” Velek said.
He purchased the building a little more than a year ago, and his largest project to date is finally complete. He opened Free Hart Flats, which has two 1,400 two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments upstairs and a 1,400-square-foot studio in the back of the first floor.
On the bottom floor, Velek remodeled another 1,400 square feet for commercial retail space. As of now, he said he’s garnered interest from various potential tenants, but nothing is set in stone yet.
Throughout the renovation process, Velek used local vendors for the funding, lighting, flooring, plumbing, electric work, paint, appliances and more.
“I didn’t set out to do it that way, but I am really happy with the fact that all the money we borrowed went right back (into the community),” he added.
For Velek, the project took longer than anticipated, but he’s happy with the end result.
“I’m really happy with it,” he said. “I live around the corner, so this is my neighborhood. Cities like Columbus have to come to grips with the reality that buildings like this, if they’re going to be renovated and be beneficial, it’s going to have to be local people who do it and there has to be support.”
Moving to Starkville, Arepa’s has found its new location. The Venezuelan restaurant on Main Street will move to the Cotton District by September. Owner Jose Elarba announced in January his plans to relocate.
By June, the Main Street location will close until he reopens at 102 Ru Du Grand Fromage, the former Commodore Bob’s location.
“We’ll wait for everyone at the new location,” Elarba said.
In West Point, the former Kellogg Hardware and Appliance store is turning into something “sew” different.
Selina Tabet purchased the former hardware store at 620 Commerce St. and plans to open Sew, Sister, Sew by this fall.
Sew, Sister, Sew will have fabric and supplies for sewing, quilting and embroidery.
“More than that I would like to pass on knowledge and a love of these things,” Tabet said. “I want a place where all us sisters can sit around laughing and working on our projects together. Misters too.”
Tabet started sewing when she was six years old, learning primarily from her grandmother and aunt. For the past year and a half, she worked at a quilt shop in Maryland before coming back to her hometown of West Point.
“I just loved being (in the quilt shop),” Tabet said. “I wanted to own my own shop here where I grew up. …I can’t wait to be a part of the Prairie Arts Festival, the Christmas Parade, and all the other cool stuff happening in West Point. I love how my hometown is flourishing these days.”
Former Dispatch reporter Mary Pollitz writes about business openings and closings, as well as other unique business news. Send tips to [email protected]
