After three years in downtown, Steel Forest Furniture Store is closing its doors.
Chip Gerber, owner of the handmade furniture shop at 124 Fifth St. S., announced the Columbus store’s closure on the company’s Facebook page. Gerber said although the physical location is closing, he will continue selling custom furniture for customers who reach him through Facebook.
“I get a tremendous amount of joy doing it,” Gerber said. “…Basically this was a hobby that turned into a business.”
The store will remain open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-3 p.m. likely through the end of November.
“I appreciate the support that the community has given us, I know a lot of people are sad to see the store go,” Gerber said. “We’re not going away forever, we’re going to come back a little different. …We will be back, but we are going to come back in a different fashion. We are going to have a presence somewhere. I know I’m going to change it up, I’m just not sure how yet.”
Over in east Columbus, Kallie Stacy Phillips opened an accounting firm earlier this year. K.S. Phillips PLLC serves any accounting or tax need including business management, bookkeeping, payroll and tax returns.
“If you have an accounting need, we pretty much do it,” Phillips said.
Her office at 105-B Alabama St. is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The four-woman accounting firm is up and ready to help its customers. For all inquiries call 662-328-4919.
In other financial news, the Air Force Federal Credit Union opened its Columbus location at 1908 Hwy 45 N. Suite 1.
The credit union is open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Celebrating its grand opening, a ribbon cutting with refreshments and other festivities will be Friday at 8 a.m.
AFFCU first opened in 1952 at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, with only 10 servicemen pooling together $5 shares. Nearly 70 years later, it has expanded to serving more than 47,000 members worldwide.
Whew, business has been booming while I’ve been gone. In medical news, Rhett Family Dental held its grand opening. Dr. Cali Rhett opened her office at 2102 Fifth St. N. Suite. 2. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Dr. Rhett is accepting new patients with a simple phone call at 662-328-6953.
With football season in full swing and tailgates galore, thank goodness Towne Liquor, 507-1 18th Ave. N., has finally opened shop this week. Drown your tears for the Bulldogs or celebrate the New Orleans Saints miraculous stint without Drew Brees Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Moving to Starkville, one of the Cotton District’s coffee shops has closed and is going mobile. The People’s Cup MicroRoastery has served its final cup of coffee at its 12-1/2 Lummus Dr. shop, and owner Blair Edwards said he will start pushing his ethically sourced product with daily pop-up shops throughout Starkville.
Check Instagram each day to find out where Edwards will be.
Starkville has also added a prosthetics clinic. Methodist Orthotics and Prosthetics opened this month at 101 G.T. Thames Dr. Suite A. The clinic offers braces and artificial limbs to patients of all ages. Methodist Orthotics and Prosthetics first opened in Flowood and has expanded with satellite offices in Meridian, Hattiesburg, Cleveland, Oxford, Monroe, Louisiana and now Starkville. Those in need of care can call 800-223-6672, extension 8899 for a free consultation.
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