Well, folks, sometimes businesses close. Other times, they adapt.
With that in mind, The Burning Piano, a bar located at 2222 Military Road, will close this weekend and immediately reopen as an event venue.
Owners Lisa and Stephen Sims and Ben Sala took to Facebook earlier this week to announce the closure of the bar.
“We are thrilled to introduce a fresh beginning — The Burning Piano will be available for exclusive weekend private parties and versatile event rentals,” the post read. “Whether it’s an intimate celebration or a grand occasion, our space will be yours to customize.”
The Burning Piano opened in June 2020. Over the last three years, it has been well known for its weekly live music from various bands and musicians and its Columbus charm.
Sala told me that he and the other owners want to move in a new direction with the company and have a great venue space.
“We (The Burning Piano) have an opportunity to go private, which means closing to the general public and being able to rent The Burning Piano as an event center which will now be available for weekends,” Sala said.
Those interested in renting out the former bar can contact the company via its Facebook page for more information.
The Golden Triangle might be losing a bar, but it is gaining one of my personal favorite fried chicken restaurants.
Tupelo-staple Connie’s Fried Chicken is expanding its reach to West Point at the old Kentucky Fried Chicken, located at 5490 Hwy. 45 N. Alt. It is also building a location in Oxford.
Manager Alan Larson confirmed the business is franchising into West Point but said that company leadership has no updates about when the restaurant will open.
Connie’s opened in 1978 and is famous for its fried chicken, biscuits and blueberry donuts. I can’t wait to try them out once they get started at the new location.
Moving over to Starkville, a project to put The Landing, a new restaurant and bar in the former University Drive Laundromat at 706 University Drive, has officially begun.
Co-owner Allen Hodges said construction crews began demolishing the former laundromat in late July but are now waiting for final building plans to be approved by the city before continuing the project.
“We already demoed the front part of the building,” Hodges said. “I was going to demo the rest, but I don’t know how long before the contractor can start building, and I didn’t want to be just sitting there waiting with a big pile of dirt.”
Once complete, the business would include a rooftop patio space and plenty of Starkville memorabilia. Hodges said there is no concrete date for the completion of the project but that updates are forthcoming.
Moving back to Columbus, Dennis Harris has opened his own trucking company, On-Time Cargo.
Harris said he started the business in mid-July and has been delivering smaller loads with his large van for area companies that need to ship products to local customers quicker than 18-wheeler trucks.
“I’ve always wanted to do something on my own, and I was talking to some of my friends who said that shipping for companies was kind of a hot market right now,” Harris said.
Harris said the business has been going well since he opened and has already serviced more than 10 companies like Baldor Electric Co. and Paccar.
For those interested in his services they can reach him at [email protected]
Finally, my friends, sometimes you just have to say goodbye.
Eric Thomas, owner of Factory Direct Home Furnishings, posted to Facebook last week announcing that he will be closing the furniture store Aug. 31.
Thomas said the move is due to health concerns, and he is going out with a huge sale.
Thomas said everything in the store has been marked down on prices, and he will work out any deal with customers that come in before he closes the doors for a final time.
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 34 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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