This week we have Columbus restaurant news involving Italian, Thailand and southern seafood fare.
First, CJ’s Pizza is re-opening after closing roughly a month ago. Outside the location in Towne Square along 18th Avenue North, there is a sign announcing the news.
Chuck Trenary, who opened the restaurant in 1990, is stepping back in as owner. He told The Dispatch he is still working out some specifics, but the longtime local pizza place is slated to open next week.
Trenary said the restaurant will have its original menu featuring the Screaming Pelican Pizza, the Rock & Roll, The Buffalo, the Top Gun and more offerings. The pizza will be made with a homemade sauce. The vegetables will be fresh. The dough will be made everyday. The lasagna will be made the way Trenary has made it for two decades.
Trenary has done a lot of remodeling at the restaurant on 18th Avenue North. There are new tables and customers are able to see into the kitchen.
The Starkville and West Point locations remain open. The Columbus site will employ roughly 10 people, Trenary said.
Moving on.
Thai by Thai is close to opening at 509 Main St., the old Columbus National Bank building.
Scott Carley, the Thailand-themed restaurant’s owner, gave a tour of the new location to The Dispatch on Wednesday. He’s installed new coolers, hung some TVs at the bar area, put in new stools, re-furnished the kitchen and is getting ready to hang a nifty new sign made by Mid-South Signs.
When will it open downtown?
“Hopefully by the end of the year,” Carley said, “but if not, soon thereafter.”
Carley and his wife, Kannika Carley, the restaurant’s chef, opened the eatery roughly a year ago along Wilkins Wise Road. Carley said the atmosphere at that location is something he plans on establishing at the new location. Until the move to the new 4,800 square foot downtown space is made, the current location will remain open.
One thing to note: The new location will have two full bars, one in the front, one in the back. The one in the back will be near a private conference room where Carley envisions local businessmen hosting corporate meetings or having get-togethers. All together, the new spot can seat roughly 100 people.
The Main Street location where the restaurant is moving has been vacant for about two years.
Lastly, Old 82 will open next week at 400 Main St. — the former home of Front Door, Back Door, which closed earlier this year.
Mark Eakes is the chef at, and owner of, Old 82, which will offer fresh coastal cuisine.
Browning on Business is a weekly column that runs each Thursday. We want your input. Send items and tips to [email protected] or [email protected].
William Browning was managing editor for The Dispatch until June 2016.
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