Y’all, it’s about to get tasty in Columbus.
Mi Hacienda owner Felipe Hernandez told me he is close to opening his new restaurant, Sol Y Luna, in the former Logan’s Roadhouse building at 589 18th Ave. N.
Hernandez said the new restaurant will have a more authentic Mexican-style menu with seafood, steaks and chicken, all cooked to savory perfection. He hopes to open by Feb. 14.
“We bought this building in March and then we started working on site,” Hernandez said. “Eighty-five percent of the project is done with, but we have some small items we need to take care of.”
Hernandez said he is excited about the new venture, which he sees as an excellent place for couples to come and relax, have drinks and enjoy a nice meal.
“I think people from the Columbus community are going to love this place,” he said. “Columbus needs a Mexican place but more authentic, more next level.”
Moving north, the Green Magnolia Dispensary, located at 7432 Hwy. 45 N. near Columbus Air Force Base, is nearly ready to open.
Manager and Director of Operations Tabitha Estes told me the store hopes to open before February and is currently finishing a few touches to the building while the company waits on a required inspection from the state.
“We have not even had our inspection by the ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control),” Estes said. “That won’t happen until after the first of the year, so we’re still looking at mid to end of January before we’re open with any product availability.”
Elsewhere in Columbus, the Sweet Magnolia Boutique, a women’s and children’s clothing and boutique store, opened Dec. 10 in the former Little Long Day Nursery building at 5408 Hwy. 182 E.
Co-manager James Whitten said his family initially opened the boutique online in 2019 out of a shed by their home. After a few years of growth, it was time to open in a more permanent location.
The store is also available for local vendors to place their products on the shelves with craft jewelry, t-shirts and knick-knacks of every variety, Whitten said.
Whitten also said since opening the store location, business has been good, with more than 70 customers showing up on opening day.
Moving to Starkville, Jaclyn Johnson will be opening Gianni Therapeutic Massage, a massage therapy business, on Jan. 10 at 500 Russell St. just south of the Bulldog Burger Company.
Johnson told me she has been working in the Golden Triangle as a massage therapist for five years and decided now was the right time to open her own business after receiving positive feedback from her clients.
“I’ve always loved to do massaging,” Johnson said. “I worked under great people and I learned a lot from them. I just wanted to do something on my own. I’ve always wanted to own my own business.”
Johnson plans to do tissue-based massages, athletic recovery massages, as well as others when she opens in January. I might need one after breaking the bank this holiday season!
Finally, my friends, nothing says hello like a giant sign outside your door celebrating birthdays, graduations, or the birth of a new child. Yard Party, a West Point party sign company, recently moved into its online platform on Facebook on Dec. 11.
Owner Devan Boatner told me she initially opened in late November but decided to create her online page to help drum up more business.
“I feel like we will reach more people and basically evolve,” Boatner said. “It’s kind of like free advertisement.”
Boatner decided to open Yard Party because of how much she loved seeing the yard signs wishing people happy birthdays when it first became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“I had a friend get it and I remember ordering it myself during COVID,” she said. “It always puts a smile on your face, so I think you always want to make somebody else smile.”
Boatner is also offering a holiday deal going through Christmas. Right now, her $75 signs are reduced to $50.
Folks, I would be remiss if I did not mention that this is a time of year for friends and family to get together and be grateful for the things we all share. I hope you keep our new and current local businesses in your hearts and shopping carts this holiday season. I wish you all a warm happy holidays. I’ll see y’all next week with more goings in business, provided we don’t freeze first.
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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You can help your community
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 33 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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