Get ready, the next hot spot in Starkville is going to be open for the 2024 football season.
Whiskey Ranch Bar and Grill is opening up in the former Moe’s Barbecue spot on Main Street. Even though the new joint’s owner and operator Finn Rice went to TSUN (Ole Miss for the uninitiated), we won’t hold it against him because he’s moving to Starkville and has fallen in love with the city.
Rice, a native from Fryeburg, Maine, enlisted in the Army at 18 and found his way to Mississippi for college, majoring in business administration. Since he was 15, he’s regularly worked in the restaurant industry from a food runner at a country club to bartending while in college. When he saw a prime spot for a new restaurant, he decided to take advantage of the opportunity.
“I always loved Moe’s (in Oxford),” Rice said. “I heard this place was requiring new ownership. I really liked the town and decided to come over and hopefully put some smiles on people’s faces.”
The new spot will have a Nashville vibe with live bands and southern style dishes like blackened catfish, jerk chicken and French fries smothered in Cajun gravy and cheese — otherwise known as Mississippi poutine. As for the whiskey part, the bar will have flights, whiskey specials, a wide variety of whiskey brands, pickle martinis and more. Rice is in the midst of renovations including painting, re-straining, remodeling the bathrooms, adding a brand new bar and more. Once open, Whiskey Ranch Bar and Grill will be a family-friendly restaurant during food service hours and at night will shift to a 21 and up bar.
“I love country music, so I want to get some catfish and we’ll do some live music from the locals and I think people will love it,” he said.
Moving on, a local coffee shop is opening a second location. Umble Coffee Co., 216 Industrial Park Road, will start serving its famous coffee at the Barnes and Noble on Mississippi State’s campus in mid-August. Follow Umble on social media to stay tuned with the new MSU location updates.
Moving to Columbus, we have a new restaurant in town.
Nashville, Tennessee, native Shawnna Washington opened Phat Ma’s, 113 Tuscaloosa Road, on Wednesday. She held a soft opening last week and loved seeing the support from The Friendly City. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night with menu items varying from biscuits and gravy, waffle platters, chicken sandwiches, poboys, burgers, soul food and more.
“I actually wanted to do the restaurant for financial security for my kids,” she said. “I call it Phat Ma’s, because I’m a bigger girl and I love fashion so I’m real cute. … I want to show that big women are beautiful and we can show ourselves in any capacity.”
You can check out Phat Ma’s 6 to 10 a.m. and noon to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Phat Ma’s is also open late Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
We also have a new real estate company in town where you can “Buy Or Sell Successfully.” Ashley McGregory opened B.O.S.S Realty this week. She’s the founder, broker and owner who can help you buy or sell homes, investment properties, land or commercial buildings and sites.
“I cannot put into words how blessed I have been through this journey,” McGregory said on social media. “I have the absolute best family, friends, clients and mentors. I’m excited, nervous, scared, along with every other emotion there is to feel.”
See y’all next week.
Former Dispatch reporter Mary Pollitz writes weekly about interesting business news. Have a tip, send it to her at [email protected].
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