Bulley’s Lodge in Caledonia is in the market for a second location.
Testing the waters, the local butcher at 771 Main St. posted on Facebook to ask customers for input on a potential new location and quickly garnered more than 150 comments.
Owner Mitch Bulley opened the Caledonia location in 2023, and based on the social media response, it looks like his second butcher shop is going to be in the works in the near future.
“(A Columbus location) is very likely,” Bulley said. “We are just trying to secure the right amount of funding so we can renovate how we want.”
If you’re not familiar with Bulley’s Lodge, it’s a local butcher shop with seafood and handcrafted food and products from local sellers. I hope Bulley can cut into the Columbus market because there’s nothing like a local butcher.
More exciting news in Columbus comes with a store I hope fills the Dirt Cheap and Bargain Hunt-shaped void in my heart. Opening in early 2026, Hidden Treasures of Columbus at 932 Military Road, will be the area’s newest discount bin and thrift store. According to the new store’s social media posts, they will have giant bins of new, overstock and liquidation items from major retailers, including electronics, home goods, tools, toys, small appliances and more.
The owners have been working on redoing the building on Military Road, so feel free to follow along on social media for updates as well as the store’s opening date.
Over in Starkville, Fleur De Lis Flowers and Gifts is closing shop after 13 years.
Owner Joni Lofton-Leonhard announced this week on social media that she is in the process of restructuring and reshaping her business, but the brick-and-mortar shop at 220 E. Main St. will officially close Dec. 31.
“For the last couple of years, my family and I have been praying for guidance,” her social media post read. “… We’ve been asking God what our next step should be, and just like He did when I first opened this shop, He opened a door I never expected.”
Lofton-Leonhard said she will miss the customers she’s worked with through first dates, weddings, get-well bouquets and everything in between. Still, she said this decision is the right one for her family.
But she’s not going away. Lofton-Leonhard will still offer event flowers for larger events such as weddings and parties, church arrangements, silks and special occasions.
“It has been truly wonderful to be a part of downtown Starkville,” she said. “We have such a strong community of local business owners who have poured their hearts into keeping downtown thriving. Starkville has so many core, long-standing shops that make this place special, and I’m blessed and honored to have been a part of that for all these years.”
With Dec. 31 just around the corner, Lofton-Leonhard said she’ll post about final sales, inventory clear-outs and more online.
I want to give a special shoutout to Fleur de Lis for a sale that took place more than five years ago. During my COVID wedding, they prepared the most beautiful lavender bouquets under severe crunch time amidst insane chaos. My family and I are sad to see this downtown shop shutter but thankful for the years of bouquets and arrangements we loved.
Moving to good news, La Paisanita at 106 Avenue of Patriots, is officially open 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. every day. The menu includes authentic Mexican soups, shrimp dishes, tortas, quesadillas, nachos, its famous salsa bar and more.
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 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.
