Business: Whiskey Bar and Grill to Open in Starkville
Get ready, Starkville! A brand new hot spot, Whiskey Ranch Bar and Grill, is set to launch in the city, just in time for the 2024 football season. The bar and grill will be opening in the former location of Moe’s Barbecue on Main Street. Even though the owner and operator, Finn Rice, is an alumnus of TSUN (Ole Miss), the Starkville community is set to welcome him with open arms, as he relocates to the city that he’s fallen in love with.
Rice hails from Fryeburg, Maine, and got his start in the food industry at the age of 15, working various jobs from food runner at a country club to bartending in college. After enlisting in the Army at 18, he found his way to Mississippi for college, where he majored in business administration. Rice saw the potential in a prime restaurant location in Starkville and decided to seize the opportunity.
Country vibe, Southern dishes, and, of course, Whiskey
Inspired by the ambiance of Nashville, Whiskey Ranch Bar and Grill will provide live band performances, and serve southern style dishes like blackened catfish, jerk chicken, and Mississippi poutine–a mouthwatering dish of French fries smothered in Cajun gravy and cheese. True to its name, the bar will offer an array of whiskey brands, whiskey specials, pickle martinis, and more.
Rice is currently in the midst of renovations, spearheading tasks such as painting, re-straining, remodeling the bathrooms, and constructing a brand new bar. Once open, the location will serve as a family-friendly restaurant during food service hours and transition into a 21 and up bar at night.
“I love country music, so I want to get some live music from the locals and I think people will love it,” said Rice.
More new businesses in town
Alongside the opening of Whiskey Ranch Bar and Grill, other locals can look forward to the opening of Umble Coffee Co.’s second location at the Barnes and Noble on Mississippi State’s campus in mid-August.
Furthermore, Starkville is also welcoming a new restaurant, Phat Ma’s, onto Tuscaloosa Road. The restaurant, which opened on Wednesday, serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even late-night meals. The menu varies from biscuits and gravy, waffle platters, to more hearty dishes like chicken sandwiches, burgers, and poboys. The founder, Shawnna Washington, wanted to operate her restaurant as a means of providing financial security for her children.
Another addition to the business community is Ashley McGregory’s B.O.S.S Realty, which she just opened this week. As the founder, broker, and owner, McGregory offers assistance with buying or selling homes, investment properties, land, or commercial buildings, and sites.
It’s a season of growth and expansion for the business community in Starkville, as new, unique businesses find their home in the city, providing residents with more diverse dining and service options. The city is indeed buzzing with excitement as it eagerly awaits these new additions.
