Open eyes, open minds. <br><span><span><a href="https://cdispatch.com/">Home</a></span> » <span><a href="https://cdispatch.com/news/">News</a></span> » <span class="breadcrumb_last" aria-current="page">Mary Means Business: Claire’s closing at Columbus Place</span></span><br>Another retailer prepares to leave Columbus Place.<br>Claire’s, 1404 Old Aberdeen Road, is officially slated for closure. The Starkville location closed in March 2024 and with the Columbus location closing, there are now just 16 Claire’s locations in Mississippi.<br>This is the third store since November to announce its closure from the former Leigh Mall.<br>A Claire’s associate confirmed the jewelry and accessory store would close Jan. 18.<br>Claire’s was founded in 1961 in a Chicago suburb. In 2018, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but by 2022, the company exited its bankruptcy after preliminary sales growth. Currently, the company has nearly 3,500 stores worldwide.<br>Since November, Bealls, Cato and Claire’s all announced their departure from the former mall that leaves Prestige, Five Below, Hobby Lobby, Mobi Care, Dollar Tree, Planet Fitness, American Deli, City Gear, Hibbett Sports, and outparcels Trustmark and Hardee’s, as the shopping center’s remaining open stores. According to Dispatch reports, Columbus Place has 37 spaces and only 11 will be occupied when Claire shuts down operations.<br>Hull Property Group, which purchased the mall five years ago, told The Dispatch in December losing some tenants isn’t necessarily a bad sign for the mall. The tenants vacating the mall leaves more square footage for a “mixed-use center,” which will include renovating the rear of the old mall for commercial, medical and municipal offices, or even entertainment space.<br>Moving toward downtown, we do have some good news brewing, quite literally.<br>Gratia Artisinal Eatery, 224 Fifth St. S., is on the way.<br>The coffee shop owners James and Sarah White are also opening Sola Cigar Co. at 423 Third Ave. S.<br>In October 2023, the Alabama native couple opened 740 Coffee Company at 737 Main St. in Caledonia. With the coffee shop’s success, the Whites decided to expand their coffee footprint in the Golden Triangle. They plan to offer folks various healthy items, sandwiches from freshly baked bread, salads and high-quality coffee downtown.<br>Though there isn’t a definite opening date for either business, the Whites hope to have a soft opening date for the cigar lounge by the end of this month and a soft opening for the coffee shop by the end of February.<br>Sarah, a Mississippi University for Women graduate, and James, founder and pastor of Redeemer Church in Columbus, have grown to call this area home.<br>“The support we have received in Caledonia as well as Columbus has been incredible,” the couple said in a Facebook message. “We have been so lovingly embraced by the local community here, and we are just thankful that we can continue to serve them in a new way.”<br>Moving to Starkville, the newest coffee shop on the block is now offering a Starkville classic.<br>High Ground Coffee on East Main Street now serves Starkville’s favorite biscuits from the Biscuit Lady. The Biscuit Shop, which closed in Starkville in 2020, has partnered with High Ground and started selling biscuits this week.<br>“Biscuits every day,” the post read. “These are the real thing. You remember The Biscuit Shop. You remember The Biscuit Lady. She hooked us up.”<br>Also in town, Farmer Commercial Properties and Farmer Residential Properties have a new owner. Jane Anna Waide purchased both the real estate businesses and as of Jan. 1 serves as the broker and owner. Waide confirmed Scott Farmer, founder and previous owner, will still have a presence with the companies.<br>“(He) will remain active with the companies,” she said. “… People can expect the same great service and attention to detail. (We’re) serving clients’ needs for buying and selling real estate in the Golden Triangle.”<br>Farmer Properties is located at 101 S. Lafayette St., Suite 31, and can be reached at any time.<br>Moving on to what is on everyone’s mind, the snow or ice apocalypse heading into Starkville. If you weren’t one of the thousands of shoppers picking up all the loaves of bread and cartons of eggs and milk at Walmart, you may have to wait. After I did some last-minute shopping at Aldi and Walmart this week, the shelves look a little grim in the egg, milk and bread department. Maybe folks enjoy French toast while they stay warm indoors, but I grabbed my own necessities: tortilla chips, salsa and a menagerie of hot chips and boiled peanuts. I hope everybody stays warm and enjoys whatever groceries they were able to find. See y’all next week when the ice melts!<br><em>Former Dispatch reporter Mary Pollitz writes weekly about interesting business news. Have a tip? Send it to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ee8c8794ae8d8a879d9e8f9a8d86c08d8183">[email protected]</a>.</em><br><em></em><br> Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. 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