Ah, Labor Day weekend. A holiday that calls for a jump in gas prices and a nice barbecue with the family.
I found the cheapest gas today in New Albany ($2.55 for regular unleaded). Sherman ($2.57 for regular) and Sam’s Club ($2.57 for members) came in next.
Gas in Tupelo and Oxford both came in at $2.67. And drivers in Starkville and Amory face the highest gas prices, with regular coming in at $2.69. Maybe the service stations will take pity after MSU’s performance last night and reconsider.
Toyota Motor Corp. officials, state and local leaders announced an $80 million facility that will be built in Itawamba County.
Some 500 workers will be employed by Toyota Boshoku America, which will supply the Highlander sport utility vehicle assembly plant being built near Blue Springs west of Tupelo. TBA will be operational at the same time Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi is in late 2009.
Another 500 could be hired, bringing an additional $20 million in investment, in a second-phase expansion. TBA officials said they were commited only to the first phase, but noted the plant is being built for further expansion if needed. Read more.
Cheapest gas in Northeast Mississippi is in Sherman ($2.49 for regular unleaded) or Sam’s Club ($2.49 if you’re a member).
Regular is $2.52 in Tupelo and and $2.53 in New Albany.
Most expensive gas is in Starkville ($2.69 for regular) and Oxford ($2.69 for regular). Those poor college kids.
It appeared to be a slow start to the opening day of the Tupelo Furniture Market on Wednesday. You can get a sense of things from just going to the FREE breakfast buffet that’s offered. I got there around 9:15 (it opens at 8), and there was little wait. OK, so maybe I got in late and the rush was over, but talking to a few folks, it wasn’t all that busy.
I spent about an hour at the Mississippi complex and another three at the Tupelo complex, but never got the feeling that there were a whole lot of people shopping. Of course, we’ve got four more days of the market to go.
A lot of big buyers were in Monday and Tuesday, a trend that’s been growing over the years. They come in early, beat the, um, crowds, and get out of town. Buyers from Rooms To Go, for example, were at the market on Tuesday. RTG, based in Florida, is the biggest furniture retailer behind Ashley. The company is important to a lot of companies in Northeast Mississippi, including Corinthian, H.M. Richards and Southern Motion.
I just got back from the luau party at the market, where free drinks and free food were offered, as usual. Roasted hog and shrimp were among the goodies offered, as well as music. Ah, those partying furniture people - always looking for a good time.
Perhaps their enthusiasm will carry over to the rest of the market the next few days.
I was talking to V.M. Cleveland the other day at the furniture market, and during our conversation, I went ahead and asked what he was building at Tupelo Commons.
He just smiled and showed me what he had in his hands - carpet samples and flooring samples for the building. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t provide any hints as to what it might be for - a retail store, a restaurant, a hotel, etc.
But he promises to let us know “soon.”
Sorry - that’s all I can provide you
The Tupelo Furniture Market starts today, bringing thousands of retailers, buyers and manufacturers together. It’s an industry-only even where the public isn’t invited, but some get in anyway, to the chagrin of many at the market.
Point is, what impact, if any, does it have on you? And do you really care about the furniture market?
If you’re not in the furniture industry, it probably has little impact, but we’d like to hear what you think.
Now that we’ve gotten such a huge response to our question about what restaurants people are interested in in the area, here’s another:
Given all the news recently of retail developments in the region, what retail stores would YOU like to see?
OK, OK - I know Target will be mentioned by just about EVERYONE, but other than Target, who else?
First our pets, now our children. Chinese-made goods - or products with components made in China - are rightfully a little suspect these days, given the news over the past few months. Read what Business Editor Dennis Seid, an American-born Chinese, has to say about the issue.
More business headlines from the weekend:
• Pre-registration creates optimism for Furniture Market
• The Alliance wants to city, county support for Toyota recruitment
• PeopLoungers: ‘We’ll see how we do’
• What’s next for the Fed?
First, let me say I have NOTHING against Guthrie’s, the new chicken finger chain coming to Tupelo at the old Dawg House location. I’m sure they make some mighty fine chicken. But I just don’t get the demand for places like Abner’s, Zaxby’s, Guthrie’s, etc. There’s only so much you can do with a fried chicken tender, right? And I hope they make loads of money.
Still, I’d like a little more to choose from.
I wasn’t here when Krystal and Dairy Queen were up and running in Tupelo. I’d like to see their return. Any takers?
One fine sandwich shop that I’d also like to see open is Jason’s Deli. Get a corned beef sandwich there, and you’ll understand why.
So, I’ll pose the question - what restaurants would YOU like to see open in Tupelo, or in Northeast Mississippi in general? Fast food, fast casual, fine dining, you name it. Doesn’t have to be a chain restaurant - it might be a mom-and-pop operation of some type or some other concept. Maybe we can get some entrepreneurs out there willing to take a chance, who knows?
I’m a bit baffled by gas prices this week. Usually there’s some sort of trend and the stations are within 10 cents or so. This week, there’s almost a 30 cent gap.
Cheapest gas is in New Albany ($2.43 for regular). Most expensive gas is in Starkville ($2.74 for regular).
From there, prices run the gamut. Expect about $2.62 for regular in Tupelo and Amory, while Sherman and Sam’s Club are selling gas for $2.47 (member price at Sam’s). It’s $2.61 in Iuka and and $2.59 in Oxford.
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