My first job was working at an event venue, where I often had a wonderful time hosting birthday parties and family events. It appears I’m not the only one.
West Point resident and local business owner Helen Reeves of Fastingly Fit, a wellness center for women, opened On Main West Point, a new event venue located at 26381 E. Main St.
Reeves and her husband decided to open the business after she saw a lack of event venue opportunities in town. She wants to use the space for birthday parties, adult functions and even health wellness events.
“It (West Point) didn’t have a lot of opportunities for children’s events that are pre-planned,” Reeves said. “We opened the business for that and to also have a venue for other events. I’d like to do some wellness events there to help people be healthier.”
Reeves also said the event venue opened on Sept. 3 and had more than 100 customers on opening day.
“That was very exciting,” She said. “It’s really nice to see such a welcoming and interesting place.”
Speeding our way to Columbus, Tyshon Miller of the Loud Pack Crew entertainment company opened Loud Pack Lounge at 930 Tuscaloosa Road in the old Dollar General store on Aug. 27. According to a friend present at the opening, the line to get in was long enough to reach the street.
The new business is a hookah lounge and overall chill place to hang out, kick back and enjoy some flavored tobacco.
When I called Miller, he told me the business is mostly ready, but there are a few items left before the company is officially open to the public beyond doing events. He declined to comment further.
“We still have some bits and pieces of what we need to finish before we are 100 percent open,” Miller said.
Tobacco smoke isn’t the only thing going up in Columbus. Josh Read of Edward Jones Financial Advising started renovating a section of the old Fashion Barn Building at 100 Fifth St. S. this week. In June, he moved his business from its original location at 115 Fifth St. N.
When I spoke with the construction workers, they were in the middle of demolishing the front wall to put in an inverted doorway. They were smashing windows and ripping bricks to make way for it. How exciting!
Read was unavailable to comment on whether he found a new tenant for the space but said he would provide updates as soon as possible.
Construction workers aren’t the only ones working with their hands, though. Nicole Huff will host a cat cake decorating class from 2-5 p.m. Sept. 25 at Southern Flour Bakery, located at 1920 Hwy. 45 N.
The new class will be her second at the bakery, but this one will focus on people 15 and older. In the course, students will learn how to dress a cake with icing, do the cute little shapes of a cat’s face, ears, paws and any other image they would like on the cake.
Huff told me that the class is an excellent way for people to learn professional aesthetic skills, especially for at-home bakers looking to get the basics down before selling to customers.
“It’s the whole purpose of doing it,” Huff said. “A lot of people who want to learn cakes will watch YouTube; they need more hands-on training. YouTube will not show them little tricks or how to smooth the cake.”
Sorry to end today on a low note, but owner Dennis Cunningham of Locker Blocker at 6843 Hwy. 45 N. announced he is closing his Columbus location at the end of the month.
Cunningham wouldn’t tell me why he was closing the store or where he would go but did ask folks to be on the lookout for the business’ successor, Hammer Made Furniture Company, which he plans to provide more solid updates as the month comes to a close.
“I’m here until the end of this month,” Cunningham said. “At the end of this month, I’m no longer in this building.”
Well, folks, that’s all for now! Make sure to check back in next week for more goings 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 30 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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