A new, vintage-style coffee shop and bakery is now open for business in a 100 year-old, downtown Maben building.
Olde Town Bakery, located at 764 2nd Ave., was opened by owner Jennifer Williamson in hopes to add a little “push” to the downtown atmosphere.
Williamson said she noticed a decline in the town, and many of the buildings in the area were vacant. The businesses that were still located in the area were few and far between, specifically on Main Street.
However, Williamson’s biggest priority was too save the building that was once owned by her grandfather, William Butler, Jr.
Before Williamson took ownership in 2015, she laughed that it was never cleaned in its previous 100 years of standing. Now, after nearly two years of renovations, the shop is closing in on its first official week of business. Olde Town Bakery features specialty coffee beverages like the Maben Nut Latte. Other pastry creations like caramel cake, donuts, coconut cake and chocolate espresso muffins are on to menu too.
“It just needed to be loved on,” Williamson said about renovating the building. “Now it can be a town meeting place, even if you don’t drink coffee. Just a place where everyone can gather and talk.”
Olde Town Bakery will be open every Wednesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Moving to Columbus, a La Quinta Hotel is still planned for the old Ramada building at the corner of Hwy. 45 and Hwy. 82 in Columbus.
The Ramada closed in December after being purchased by Georgia-based hotel management company, Ascent Hospitality. The hotel management group currently operates 31 select service and full-service hotels across the southeast.
City building official Kenny Wiegel said building permits were issued last week. Previously, however, a temporary building permit was issued pending the city receiving final architectural drawings.
Project details will be available in next week’s report.
Tee’s Bar and Grill at Elm Lake Golf Course reopened under new ownership recently.
The new owners, Daniel and Heather Doty, extended the bar space to seat eight and repainted and redecorated the two dining room areas. The menu was also revamped and offers weekly specials including new entrees and desserts, which Heather Doty said will give customers fresh options each time they dine in. For a list of weekly specials, follow Tee’s at Elm Lake on Facebook.
Tee’s will be open Wednesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday noon to 8 p.m.
Lastly, a new tech company is now accepting business in Starkville.
Amped Innovations, founded by Mississippi State University alum Derek Schulte, and current MSU seniors JC Long and Benton Estes, provides technical repair services to residents, students and businesses in the area.
Schulte, Amped Innovations CEO, said they repair phones, tablets and computers. They can repair electric guitar amplifiers, too. If it uses electricity, Schulte said they can fix it.
To submit a “fix-it ticket,” visit ampedinnovations.com/services and Schulte said he will personally pick up the device, repair it and drop it back off after the repair is complete. Amped Innovation customers don’t even need to leave the house, he added.
The company also operates based on a price-match policy, so if a customer can find a different company in the area that offers the same services at a lower rate, Amped Innovations will match that price.
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