Well, y’all. There isn’t any other way to put it, everybody likes a good piece of meat.
It would appear that Caledonia resident Mitch Bulley certainly got the message and is now opening Bulley’s Lodge, a fresh produce and meat market at 771 Main St., on Friday to the public.
Bulley told me he decided to open the market after operating his catering business under the same name since 2020. Early this year, he decided to take the company into a brick-and-mortar location so he could offer Caledonians more options on cuts of beef from locally raised cattle, as well as bison, elk and other animals. Bulley’s will also offer fresh seafood like oysters, shrimp and salmon.
“There wasn’t a whole lot being offered as far as some of your high-end cuts of meat,” Bulley said. “I just saw that as a niche and decided that would be a good thing to fill, I think it would be a good concept that would do well, as something that Caledonia needed.”
Bulley started working on the building for the market in February, converting what was once a doctors’ office into several rooms catering to the meat market, a deli and other rooms for produce and other products.
Next up in West Point, Alexandria Thompson opened She’s Lovely and Co., a beauty salon at 6108 Hwy. 45 Alt. S. on March 6 and began seeing new clients on March 9.
Thompson said she had started leasing the business space in 2020 but held off the renovations and eventual opening when she had her child, Asher.
She decided to finally open the business after restarting her profession as a hairstylist in December.
She said she thinks of her salon as not just a place for people to come and have their hair done, but also as a place to let it down and talk, to feel comfortable and open in the space.
“I’m not only a hairstylist, but I’m also like a therapist,” she said. “Some people look at their hairstylist as a type of therapy. So people can come relax, talk to me and lay down their hair, and I just like that.”
For those needing a good cut, you can visit her Facebook page for a link to her scheduling book.
Moving to Highway 45, Triangle Federal Credit Union is renovating its West Point branch at 7290 Hwy. 45 Alt. N.
Executive Vice President Kimberly Guyton said the location was previously a New Horizons Federal Credit Union in 2021 before the two credit unions merged and that the location has remained open since the merger.
Renovation work began in late January and the branch is still undergoing some work, but it remains open through the process to serve its West Point members, Guyton said.
Moving to Starkville, the Coffee Depot in the old BJ’s Family Pharmacy location at 223 S. Jackson St. is coming up on its grand opening.
Owner Sarah Morgan Pellum said the business is now shooting to open in mid-April while it awaits some equipment it needs to do business, though the renovation work is now being wrapped up.
“Once construction is done, we will start installing equipment and preparing to open,” she said. “Hopefully, we will be able to open in mid-April. We are so excited and ready to serve the Starkville community.”
In other news, Parker-McGill Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, located at 105 Parker-McGill Drive is taking point on a March Madness Food Drive to benefit food pantries operated by Starkville Strong.
Director of Business Development Mac Smith said he came up with the name, but that General Manager Kristi Snyder came up with the idea to start the fundraiser this year after hearing some food pantries were running low on supplies.
So far, Parker-McGill CDJR has collected more than $1,000 worth of non-perishable foods, toothbrushes, soaps, lotion and toilet paper, as well as other goods to help those in need in Starkville. The donations began on March 1 and will run until March 31.
“When you’re serving the community, and people are coming out and buying your product, you always want to find a way to give back,” Smith said. “It makes you more invested in the community and then the community feels like they’re invested in you as well.”
People who donate more than two non-perishables will be in a raffle to win $200. Three winners will be announced on March 31. For those interested, all you have to do is swing by the dealership and drop off your goods.
Elsewhere, Take 5 Carwash at 813 Hwy. 12 W., across the street from Applebees, will close on Monday for renovations. Work will include the addition of a new washing tunnel and improving the vacuuming area, site manager John Cummings said in a Facebook post, Tuesday night.
Renovations are expected to take between two and three weeks.
Finally, my friends. In Columbus, Slim Chickens, located at 1923 Hwy. 45 N. is now hiring and expects to open by mid-April.
Manager Chris Wooley said the company wants to hire at least 100 employees before opening, and since starting the process on March 15, he has already hired 53 workers.
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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