Bank of Commerce is opening a branch in downtown Columbus.
Mark Crigler, the branch’s president, confirmed to The Dispatch on Wednesday that the bank will move into the McGahey Building at 105 Fifth St. N. within the next 90 days. Crigler is in the process of hiring personnel for the bank now.
The bank will occupy the historic, four-story building’s first floor (about 3,000 square feet) and basement (about 1,000 square feet).
Founded in 1904, Bank of Commerce today has two branches in Greenwood, one in Oxford and one in Starkville. The Columbus branch will be the fifth in Mississippi.
The first floor of the McGahey Building has been vacant roughly five years. BancorpSouth’s main branch last occupied the site before moving to a Highway 45 North spot in 2011.
The downtown building — located at the corner of Fifth and Main streets — was built in 1908. It’s first tenant was First State Bank.
The building is considered a Mississippi Landmark. Billy and Cathy Coleman have owned it since 2007. The Colemans began a two-year renovation process when they made the purchase, restoring the original mosaic tile in the lobby and hallways. They also had the ceilings raised from seven feet to the original 12 feet.
Bank of Commerce will employ five people in Columbus.
Moving on.
We told you in March that a Holiday Inn Express is coming to Columbus.
It will be located on 4.7 acres located at 2000 Sixth Street North and have 90 rooms. MY Hospitality, a Pearl-based development group, is behind the hotel. A representative with MY Hospitality told The Dispatch this week that site work will begin in January.
The Holiday Inn Express, when it opens, will be the 18th hotel in Columbus.
Lastly, in Starkville, 42nd & Fifth opened in late November.
The store, which is located at 100 Russell St. in College Park Shopping Center, is a ladies boutique focused on transitional wear, or versatile clothing that can be worn at the gym or away from the gym. They also offer denims and pajamas.
The boutique is owned by Lacy Mitchell Arant, who also owns Midtown Pilates, located right next door. The story is this: Arant began offering transitional clothing at Midtown Pilates and it did so well, she decided to devote a boutique to the clothing.
42nd & Fifth is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
The telephone number is 662-722-1038.
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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