For 20 years, Laura Vernon has imagined the perfect pilates studio space. Now, it’s all coming together.
Vernon, who opened Studio Pilates in 2020 in downtown Columbus, recently expanded her business with a second location: Ignite Infrared Studio. Located at 1507 Hwy. 45 – the former home of the beloved Two Bits arcade (and yes, Vernon still has the hat to prove it) – the new studio brings something new to the local fitness scene: infrared yoga and Pilates.
“Practicing yoga or Pilates in infrared heat increases circulation, promotes detoxification and improves flexibility,” Vernon said. “Infrared heat is different from convection heat and the body responds differently.”
Though infrared is a large component of the new studio, Vernon said they will offer a variety of classes with and without infrared.
Ignite will have its grand opening June 14. Folks can check out classes and scheduling on the MindBody app.
In more somber news, Animal Medical Center has announced a location closure following a recent loss in the family.
Dr. Clayton Anderson, one of the clinic’s longtime veterinarians, recently passed away. His family – Dr. Clay and Dr. Alicia Anderson – will continue serving clients at the main location at 204 Idlewild Road, but the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive satellite office will be closing.
“We have made the decision to close the Martin Luther King clinic,” the social media post reads. “We are unsure of specifically when the last day will be, but it will likely be within the next one to two weeks. We have already transferred all of the paper charts to Idlewilde, so we can continue to serve you seamlessly at that location.”
With the family’s recent loss, the clinic has amended the vet clinic’s hours. It will still be open 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, but it will no longer offer Saturday hours.
“You have loved on us, checked in on us, shared stories from decades of memories, cried with us, and most importantly, prayed for and with us. Please continue to do those things,” the post continues. “We are so incredibly thankful for how y’all have stuck by our Animal Medical Center Family.”
Moving over to Starkville, Connie’s Chicken is officially open.
Located at 602 Hwy. 12, Starkville’s newest chicken joint is the latest expansion of The Tupelo-based staple. Four decades ago, Constantine Asters, along with his sons, opened Connie’s in Tupelo. After a regional expansion, the company now operates locations in Tupelo, West Point, Oxford and now Starkville.
I checked out the new spot last weekend and enjoyed a chicken and gravy biscuit while my nephew absolutely devoured one of their famous blueberry donuts then promptly requested four more. Check out the new spot 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays.
And in what I’m calling tangentially chicken-related breaking news: Zaxby’s milkshakes are back.
It’s been nearly a decade (eight years, but who is counting), but folks can finally get strawberry, chocolate, vanilla and birthday cake shakes again. The fast food chicken chain with locations in Columbus, Starkville and West Point, made the announcement last week on social media.
“We’ve made a grave mistake,” the post read. “It’s been almost eight years since Zaxby’s handcrafted milkshakes left the Zaxby’s menu. … That’s a lot of birthdays without our beloved birthday cake milkshake. … Now we’ve righted this wrong, effective immediately.”
See y’all next week!
Former Dispatch reporter Mary Pollitz writes weekly about interesting business news. Have a tip? Send it 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 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
