Downtown Columbus is losing a business.
Deep South Pout, a women’s fashion store which has been at 517 Main St. for three years, is moving to 437 Wilkins Wise Rd. The owners confirmed the planned move this week.
The store will open at its new location April 13.
What’s the reasoning behind the move?
Justin Oswalt, one of the owners, said traffic at the downtown location seems to be lower than it was last year. Plus, the Highway 45 North corridor has seen an “explosion” in new retail and restaurant businesses over the past year. That said, Oswalt said they love downtown Columbus and the Main Street building it has occupied since March 2012 will be missed.
“We think being in this (new) location will be much more convenient for our customers,” Oswalt said. “We hear all the time that, ‘We just don’t make it downtown when we come to Columbus.’ So we think we are missing the traffic that Highway 45 provides.”
The Main Street location is roughly 2,500 square feet. The Wilkins Wise Road spot is about 2,300 square feet, but is in the process of being renovated to better suit Deep South Pout’s needs.
A grand opening for the new location is planned for April 24 and 25.
The business, which offers clothes, accessories, shoes, gifts, jewelry and more, is owned by Justin and Nicole Oswalt, and Jason and Shannon Stoker. There is a Starkville location on University Drive.
The business employs roughly 40 to 50 people, depending on the season.
In Caledonia, Ole County Pizza Co. is open for business.
The restaurant at 9631 Wolf Rd. opened Monday. Justin Atkinson, the owner, said the building’s interior and exterior have been renovated.
The eatery makes its own dough and sauces, and offers several signature pizzas, different paninis, chicken wings and baked pasta dishes. Atkinson said he plans on putting in some outdoor seating in the future.
The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Sunday it is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is closed Wednesdays.
The restaurant employs about eight people.
Lastly, a new eatery will open in Starkville next week.
Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina, a Mexican-style restaurant, will open Monday in the Cotton Mill Shopping Center near the intersection of Spring Street and Highway 12. The hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
The North Carolina-based eatery opened its first Mississippi location last fall in Southaven. It plans on opening eight other locations in Mississippi during the next five years.
The Starkville restaurant, which will have a grand opening March 30, will be able to seat 80 people.
It will employ 35 people — two managers and 33 associates, according to the company.
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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