I knew I smelled something sweet and savory driving down Highway 45 this morning.
It would appear my nose did not lie. Sweet Peppers Deli, located at 2017 Hwy. 45 N. reopened on Tuesday after a nearly one-month renovation to the 25-year-old business.
The reopening came in an announcement on Facebook featuring the restaurant’s most outwardly noticeable new feature, a drive-thru for customers purchasing to-go orders.
Owner John Bean previously told me it was time to update the aesthetic of the Deli. After all, he and his team have been in that location for a quarter-century. I’m thrilled to see the Columbus staple again open its doors to the public.
Peppers isn’t the only local Columbus business making a comeback.
Tony and Jennifer Hannah are opening Barksdale Catfish Lakes at 130 Hillcrest Drive in East Columbus in the former Public Catfish Lakes location.
Though the business will essentially be the same, Hannah told me he, his wife, and many other Lowndes residents have fond memories of fishing at the lake with grandparents and other family members, a communal tradition he hopes to continue.
“We want to keep the tradition going,” he said. “This is a lake that a lot of kids have come to and had so many stories about, and we wanted to build on those stories and have new stories.”
The Hannahs plan to open the business in March and keep it open until November when the lake will close for the winter. For those willing to put it “on the line,” fishing at the lake costs $2 and an additional $2.85 for every pound of fish caught and taken home. Customers can also pay $3.85 per pound for cut and filet service.
In other news, the Columbus Inns and Suites, located at 506 Hwy. 45 N. — just across from Magnolia Bowl — is now under the new management of Choice Hotels and will be remodeled and renamed Suburban Studios.
I spoke to an employee of the hotel and was told the business is still open at this time, and the new name will go up when the renovations are complete. Other information regarding the new management is not available at this time.
I’ve never been much of a golfer myself, but that isn’t going to stop me from giving it a swing.
The 200 acre Elm Lake Golf Course, located at 1609 Taylor Thurston Road is now up for sale for $1,295,000.
The property, which includes a 5,148-square-foot clubhouse, driving range and practice green, was listed last week by Century 21 Doris Hardy and Associates. Prospective buyers can see full listing details on commercial real estate website crexi.com.
Moving on to the hometown of Howling Wolf, West Point resident Tiara Clayborn held a grand opening for her photography studio business, Journey Into Perspective, on Sunday at 27363 E. Main St. in the former Renasant Bank building.
Clayborn told me she has always had a serious passion for photography that began as a child.
“It started out just as me having a lifelong dream to take pictures, never knowing if I actually could do it,” Clayborn said. “But I picked up a camera during the pandemic and here we are today.”
Clayborn launched the business in November 2021. At the time, she used a mobile home studio for her clients. Now with the new space, she plans to allow other photographers to rent a few rooms so they can kick-start their own creative professions.
“I have about five different rooms that could be used as a space,” she said. “I think I will keep the number about two or three(rented rooms). I want to be able to give people the same opportunity to have a creative space to work in a professional place that people can bring their clients to because that was another thing that I struggled with.”
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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