Well folks, the sun rises, the sun sets. And just like our solar friend, so too do businesses come and go, even if they last a lifetime.
A West Point Pharmacy and boutique store, Rose Drug Company at 595 Commerce St., will close Jan. 25 and immediately turn over ownership of the pharmacy to CVS, current co-owner Connie Hudson said. All prescriptions will immediately transfer to CVS the next day.
Hudson told me the drugstore has been around for more than 100 years under various owners. Her father, Greely R. Nash, took over the business in the late 1950s, according to an incorporation letter filed with the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office. He passed it on to Hudson about 50 years later.
She said she and the owners decided it was time to close after fighting the good fight of being an independent drug store. This tale hits close to home, reminding me of my own family’s pharmacy, which closed years ago in Indianapolis.
“There’s a lot of factors with insurance that is squeezing independents out,” Hudson said. “You just don’t make as much as you made. It’s really tough, and so it’s a fight. It’s a battle that we didn’t feel like we could continue.”
Elsewhere in West Point, the new Pizza Hut at 7003 Hwy. 45 Alt. opened Tuesday.
Owner Michael Quinn previously said how excited he was for his company to bring Pizza Hut to the West Point market, and I certainly hope all goes well for the fledgling location.
Moving southeast to The Friendly City, Amar Alammari, owner of Exotic Smokerz smoke shop at 1920 Hwy. 45 N., opened the Cozy Camel, an Arabian soul food truck parked right out front of his other business, on Saturday.
Alammari said he decided to open the truck, filled with classic and traditional Middle Eastern style cuisine, to bring a new flavor to Columbus.
“People actually want to experience something that is not like southern soul food,” Alammari said. “A lot of people want to change. You know, we are in 2023. Let’s see what kind of food there is.”
For now, the food truck will continue to operate intermittently until a few kinks are worked out and the recipes are perfected, so keep an eye out for them as they continue to challenge your palettes. Once everything is all set, the truck will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Moving south, the old Ryan’s restaurant building at 1201 Hwy. 45 N. appears to be undergoing renovation after sitting vacant for more than two years following the purchase of the space by NH Property Management Manager Angela Hu in late 2020.
Hu said she had initially tried to sell the property, but after pulling back on the idea, it was finally time to put the building back in shape.
“Right now I just want to fix it up first,” Hu said. “We still have a lot of work in that building. We are going to fix the inside, and we have to do the floor, the ceiling, everything.”
Finally, my friends, in Starkville, Venezuelan cafe Arepas is open again at 102 Rue Du Grande Fromage, after taking a small break for the owners and staff to see family and await the arrival of the spring semester.
Owner Jose Elarba previously said he was excited to bring the cafe back with the coming of the new year, so I am delighted to see the business up and running just in time for college students to return to Starkville from the holidays.
Well, folks, it’s time to close the curtain on this edition of Goings on with Grant. Make sure to check back in next week for more going 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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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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