A Bealls and Burkes Outlet store will open Nov. 17 in the former JCPenney building in Starkville, according to the company website.
Bealls and Burkes is a clothing and home goods store located in 13 states with 17 locations in Mississippi, including one in Columbus at the Leigh Mall on Old Aberdeen Road. Its Starkville location, 864 Highway 12 W., was home to JCPenney from 1993 to June 2020, when it was one of 154 locations in 38 states shuttered that year.
The company acquired a building permit to renovate the space in April. When I tried to speak with company leadership about the new location, no one overseeing the project was available.
The old JCPenney building isn’t the only thing experiencing a revival in Starkville. The once annual tradition of a citywide tailgate returns Friday, beginning at 11 a.m. The event is sponsored by the Greater Starkville Development Partnership.
The tailgate was last held in 2019 but was canceled the following two years due to COVID-19.
GSDP representatives told me 40 businesses across the city will participate by setting up tailgate tents with food, games and fanfare as Mississippi State welcomes back many of its alums during this weekend’s homecoming celebration. As part of the event, shoppers will also receive various discounts and prizes at participating businesses.
“We’re encouraging them (the businesses) to set up a tailgate,” said Hunter Harrington, GSDP’s director of development. “You’ll see tables and food. Many stores are also doing specials, discount tables and decorations, Mississippi State decorations. We’re encouraging them to get as creative as possible.”
Paige Watson, Starkville Main Street director, said it was high time for the tailgate’s return.
“This is really just a rebrand of an old event, a citywide tailgate that we started and a couple of nonprofits carried throughout the years,” Watson said. “We thought this was the perfect thing to bring back post-pandemic.”
If those exciting updates don’t do it for you, maybe this will.
Jose Elarba has reopened his Venezuelan cafe and bar Arepas at their brand new location at 102 Rue Du Grande Fromage on Oct. 1.
Elarba told me in mid September he was waiting for a health inspection before opening. I’m glad to see he got it all nailed down just in time for MSU to kick some Razorbacks back to Arkansas this weekend.
Moving on to The Friendly City, Cassie’s Closeouts and Couture, a discount women’s and children’s clothing store, opened on Sept. 7 at 1920 Military Road in the old Spirit Shoppe liquor store.
Owner Cassie Gee told me she decided to open the store to give the community what she didn’t have growing up: affordable options for clothing and accessories.
“We didn’t have a lot of money when I was growing up and I never got to have cute clothes or cute shoes,” Gee said. “So, I actually started the store with the heart of wanting every young mom to be able to afford cute boutique clothing, to wear things that I couldn’t have.”
Gee said business has been great since she opened.
“It is amazing,” She said. “I am blown away by the support of the community already.”
Finally, Fish Basket located the old Little Dooey restaurant at 928 Alabama St. in East Columbus swung its door open on Wednesday, according to a Facebook post by owner Lamont Paige.
Paige told me back in August he was hoping to be open by this time, and I’m delighted to see the seafood restaurant has begun its journey here in Columbus.
As my friend Porky the Pig might say, that’s all, folks! Make sure to check back in next week for more goings on in business.
Dispatch reporter Grant McLaughlin writes about business openings and closings, as well as other unique business news. Send business tips to [email protected].
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