Who doesn’t love petting a cute animal? I know I do.
With that in mind, Michele Griffin will soon open her new petting farm, Patch of Heavens Farm Rescue and Exotic at 1606 Cal Kolola Road, just east of the Kolola Springs Baptist Church in Caledonia.
Griffin told me she hopes to open by May or June as she puts up high fences for some of her more “exotic” animals.
“I just have a lot of requirements that I’ve got to get up before the public can actually come to my property,” Griffin said. “I’ve got some more high fences to put up for my kangaroos. I had to have a double fence. So I’ve got all that taken care of. I’ve got to put up a couple more high fences. Just having people here on my property would be best if I put some higher fences.”
Griffin said she started working to turn her farm into a business in 2021, but her love of animals began much earlier; her first exotic pet on the farm was Clyde, a camel she bought in 2017. Since then, she has added more animals to the property, including water buffalo, African crested porcupines and kangaroos.
“Animals are my life. I love them,” she said. “I’ve always loved them since I was a little girl. I would take every animal and if I could, I would take all the abandoned animals I could find. They are like my sanctuary.”
For now, though, those interested in seeing her exotic friends can reach out to her via Facebook to schedule a birthday party or event that Griffin can bring to you. I even remember her bringing a baby kangaroo by The Dispatch last month.
Moving to Starkville, Planet Fitness at 844 Hwy. 12 by Kroger will open later this month, Manger Rae Hill said.
The alternative fitness center began renovating its current property inside the former Gordmans building in November and is now wrapping up with a few final touches to the interior before opening.
“We’ve really just been telling people mid to late March,” she said. “So we’re right up to the opening. We are doing little final touch-ups on the building, getting everything together, kind of tying up those loose ends.”
Once open, Hill said the business is advertised as a “first timer” gym for those without a huge amount of experience pumping iron and those who just want to feel more relaxed inside the gym.
Elsewhere in Starkville, Chick-Fil-A at 701 Hwy. 12 is closed and undergoing major renovations for the next two weeks to improve its drive-thru experience, though the news may upset some area children.
The renovation project will include demolishing part of the dining room walls near the takeout window as well as eliminating the indoor playground area to make up for any lost space.
“The expansion of the drive-thru is going to take up some of the dining room,” owner-operator Jonathan Rogers said. “Removing the playground gives us enough dining space.”
Rogers said the renovation will add two drive-thru doors near its current window for employees to come out and serve food to customers so they don’t feel rushed. He also said it will speed up the experience, which has in the past blocked traffic.
“This is meant to make that drive-thru experience better and faster,” he said.
Moving toward more aesthetics, Belles Nail Bar at 500 Russell St. is now under new ownership.
Former owners Aaron Weiss and Kimmee Nguyen said business was officially turned over to a friend, Devan Ho, and his team on Feb. 28.
Weiss said he and Nguyen decided to sell after a personal tragedy and are now looking to possibly open up another business in Starkville or move closer to Nguyen’s family in Nashville.
“We just reflected on things and knew that the salon is very draining and demanding,” Weiss said. “We just wanted to spend more time with our family and have options open to possibly relocate closer to my wife’s mother.”
As for the new owners, Ho said the business won’t really change except for a small renovation he hopes to start later this year to add more chairs and tables to the salon.
Finally, my friends, West Point resident Samantha Watkins opened Sam’s Dream Kreations, a custom t-shirt and crafting business at 658 Commerce St. on Friday.
Watkins said the business initially began as a hobby on her Facebook page in 2017 and decided to take it to a full-time business in mid-2022. She started leasing her building in February and had more than 50 people show up on opening day last week.
The business produces several custom t-shirts, custom hats and other crafts that customers can see inside the store and on Watkins’ Facebook page. The new space even comes with a small event venue.
“This is definitely a breath of fresh air,” Watkins said. “To be able to move around and have my own craft room. And we have a party room in the back. So it’s definitely a breath of fresh air.”
As my friend Porky, the Pig might say, “That’s all, Folks!” 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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