Bealls to Permanently Close at Columbus Place, Sparking Mixed Emotions Among Shoppers

Bealls Set to Close Doors at Columbus Place

Columbus residents, grab your shopping bags while you can! It’s officially the end of an era as Bealls prepares to shut its doors permanently at Columbus Place. A store associate confirmed that the Florida-based retailer will close down, leaving many customers saddened by the news.

Bealls has been a staple in the retail world since it first opened as a dry goods store way back in 1915. Over the years, it has blossomed into a retail giant with more than 600 stores nationwide. But now, as the shop exits, shoppers will have to make do with a smaller selection of stores still available at the mall. Remaining retailers include Claire’s, Cato, Prestige, Five Below, Hobby Lobby, Mobi Care, Dollar Tree, Planet Fitness, American Deli, City Gear, Hibbett Sports, and the nearby outparcels Trustmark and Hardee’s. Columbus Place is certainly in for a change!

Exciting Developments in Town

But it’s not all about closures in Columbus! There’s some buzzing excitement happening too! La Tienda Hispana has applied for a building permit to expand its Mexican convenience store on Fifth Street North, right near Little Dooey. This sounds delicious! Building Official Kenny Wiegel shared that the new expansion will accommodate a cozy seating area for about 65 to 70 patrons. So, get ready to swap that food truck meal for a sit-down dining experience — how awesome is that?

New Beginnings for United Way!

In other heartwarming news, the United Way of the Golden Triangle Region is throwing a celebration for its new location! They’ve moved into 362 Park Creek Drive, the spot where the Lowry Medical Clinic used to be. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will kick things off at 10 a.m., and they’ll have refreshments and a chance for folks to meet the dedicated United Way team while learning about their valuable programs. The United Way covers areas across Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Noxubee, Choctaw, Winston, and Webster counties, making a difference in so many lives.

Starkville’s Coffee Scene Grows

Meanwhile, over in Starkville, things are percolating! 929 Coffee has found its new home after the recent departure from its longstanding location at 106 Main St.. Back in August, when the coffee shop left, it had folks buzzing about where they would end up. Now it’s official — they’ll be moving to 115 E. Main St., the former home of the Occasions gift shop that closed down in April. They’ve shared an Instagram video hinting at exciting changes ahead, so coffee lovers, keep your eyes peeled for updates as renovations begin!

Wilkins Refresh Cleaning Service Opens Up

Not to be overshadowed, Starkville also welcomes Wilkins Refresh Cleaning Service, located at 301 E. Main St.. Owner Michael Wilkins, a graduate from the Mississippi University for Women, turned what could have been a setback into a golden opportunity. After being laid off, he teamed up with a friend to start this professional cleaning service.

“I felt it was the perfect time to start,” Michael shared, noting how thankful he was for the layoff that set him on this new path. His commercial cleaning business is already servicing clients across Columbus, West Point, and Starkville, bringing a sense of tranquility to busy office managers. Now that’s a refreshing approach!

So there it is! Columbus and Starkville are buzzing with changes, both good and challenging. Keep an eye out for these developments as the local landscape continues to evolve!