Whenever I’m sitting in front of a basket of hot chips and homemade salsa, I always find myself saying “one more” after each bite.
That is the premise behind the new restaurant Uno Mas Tacos and Tequila, which plans to open in Starkville early in 2021.
Jose Garcia, owner and founder of Uno Mas in Oxford and Madison, said he hopes for the Starkville location to open by March. He also said he hopes the Starkville community cheers “uno mas” after each chip, taco and margarita.
Taking advantage of a prime vacancy, Uno Mas will open at 106 Maxwell St., the former location of STAGgerIN Sports Bar.
“I like college towns. I’m originally from Oxford,” Garcia said. “It’s going to be a modern taqueria that will hopefully attract the younger crowd.”
Uno Mas locations opened in Madison in 2015 and Oxford in 2019.
The restaurant specializes with fresh “elevated street tacos” and homemade tortillas.
If your taste buds are watering and you don’t think you can wait until March 2021, Garcia said he’s sending a food truck out each home game day weekend to give the Starkville crowd a sneak peek of the Mexican cuisine.
“We’re definitely excited to go to another college town,” Garcia said. “We hope people find the quality in our food and fresh-squeezed margaritas.”
For a University of Mississippi graduate and an Oxford boy, I can tell you that there was barely any reluctance in his voice when he added, “Go Dawgs.”
Be sure to check out Uno Mas’ food truck on Maxwell Street from noon-midnight when the Bulldogs take the field at Davis Wade on Saturdays.
Businesses are expanding to Starkville from the north and the south.
Magically Perfect, founded by Laura Antoon, is offering the Starkville area a chance to hire princesses, superheroes and more for parties.
Antoon, a theater graduate from Loyola University in New Orleans, opened the character look-a-like company in Madison in 2016. Though Antoon said that she serves all over, anywhere 30 miles outside of Jackson she charges a mileage fee.
With one of Antoon’s actresses moving to Starkville for college, Antoon is now looking to recruit actors and actresses to expand in the Starkville area. Right now, Magically Perfect has more than 20 actors and 50 options to bring a character appearance to make your child’s birthday party extra special.
“We have superheroes, princesses, fairy tale characters (and) Christmas elves,” Antoon said. “We do character appearances. All of our princesses sing. We try to go as close to movie and TV as possible. We are really trying to bring these characters that children look up to to life.”
Prices start at $99, and if you’re interested in booking or auditioning in the Starkville area feel free to reach out to Antoon on the Magically Perfect Facebook page.
Moving to Columbus, we’re getting closer and closer to having a bookstore again.
Friendly City Books, which just launched its online bookstore, has found its brick-and-mortar home at 118 Fifth St. N. near downtown.
Owner Emily Liner said her shop is under renovations but she can’t wait to share the store with local book lovers in the area.
“There has been an incredible amount of support from the community to have a bookstore in this town again,” Liner said. “We are trying to move quickly so we can be open by the holidays.”
Liner added she’s renovating the building to add more floor space, which means more books, and hopes to add a conference room for book clubs and community groups.
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the new bookstore online at friendlycitybooks.com.
Also in Columbus, Janet Jennings has a lot to celebrate when it comes to her beauty salon.
Janet’s Unlimited Salon, 3722 Hwy 69 S., officially marked its 25th year on Monday. In the same shop she opened in the mid-90s, Jennings said it’s her customers that have kept her going all these years. And she has no plans of retiring anytime soon.
“I guess my personality is what’s kept me in business,” Jennings said. “I’ve just got a lot of loyal customers.”
Jennings primarily styles African American women’s hair and offers relaxers, extensions and hair treatments. Due to COVID-19, Jennings said she’s only open by appointment for now, but if you’re in need of a trip to the beauty salon, give Jennings a call at 662-241-4001 Monday through Saturday.
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