It’s been a helluva week in retailing (and restauranting).
It’s been confirmed that the Ruby Tuesday in the Mall at Barnes Crossing has closed its doors.
Ironically, it closed on Tuesday.
Mall Marketing Director Cindy Childs said the closing was unexpected and that the mall would work to find a replacement tenant. Whether it’s another restaurant or a retailer, who knows.
So let’s see: Goody’s and Ruby Tuesday have been wiped out so far this week. Circuit City closed just a few weeks ago.
Look like there will be more to come, too.
After a while we won’t have anything but walmart.
I’m surprised it took that long. When my wife and I first got married she worked there for awhile. They hardly had any business except for Christmas.
“Ironically, it closed on Tuesday.”
Good one, biz.
well shoot…..what am i gonna do with this gift card my grandma gave me for christmas?
Biz, you can go to any other Ruby’s and cash that puppy in. Unlike somewhere else I know of.
Wonder where that would be???
Instead of food you could always exchange it for a bunch of Mad Dog 20/20.
Save it for a smoothie
whew…..thanks grandma. though id rather have just had some wine.
Had you pictured as more of wine cooler guy after hearing about your baking skills. Who knew?
baking skills?
i did burn a frozen pizza the other nite though.
You’re about the third post down.
http://tupelobizbuzz.wordpress.com/2008/08/11/peach-orchard-closed-for-season/#comments
wow thats some stellar memory man….
ive been nabbed in one of my lies. my wife will tell you i cant bake a muffin.
Well, aren’t we all Libby Lu’d up today.
There’s a search bar at the top of the page. I’ll bet your husband loved you for it.
Aww thats sad..I used to work there and they have some of the best tasting good and drinks. Hate to hear that. Before long I think we will only have a walmart and nothing else…
google’d
Hello and thanks for your answers. How is that Ruby Tuesday is allowed to close the same day and even hours of notice closing versus those company like factories tell there employees weeks or months in advance. I know this restaurant knew something about this closing sometime in advance. Myabe you can help me explain this to me. thanks for answer.
I like the way Libby Lu was mentioned, when it to is going out of business.
Ruby’s announced on December 19th that they would be closing 40 stores by the end of the 3rd quarter 2009. I imagine upper management didn’t share with any of those restaurants which ones were going to shutter until day of closing (what it sounds like anyway).
For those of you that work for a publicly traded company, I suggest you setup a daily Google news alert that sends an email to you whenever there is news about your company. That way you’ll know if there is trouble brewing, or maybe good news hopefully
I hate that. They’ve been there since the mall opened, haven’t they? Weren’t they an original tenant? If not, they’ve been there a LONG time.
I love Mad Dog 20/20!!
Jesus, do you think you could turn that 20/20 into a case of Miller Lite for me?
It does not surprise me a bit that Ruby Tuesdays closed the doors. It has been about a year since i have been in there with my husband and little girls. Our visit was horrible. There was only a few other people in there eating, the salad bar was unstocked and nasty, service sucked, food was not even all that warm. I complained to the manager on duty, and it really didnt shock him. He said that they were getting the same complaints day in and day out. Imagine that?!?
WHA?!?!
My parents will be heartbroken…they love to eat there when they come from Oxford for Dad’s 3-month checkup at BridgePoint (year and a half leukemia survivor). Heck we ate there last week! Though come to think of it there wasn’t much of a crowd at ALL.
Hope the Starkville one survives (though frankly it does pretty well).
I agree with the previous post. Their service has been lacking for quite sometime. However, they were convienent if you wanted a “full” service place to eat while shopping. I hope that mall mgmt will recruit another full service restaurant to take its place… TGIF would be great.
TGIF – Let’s get one of those in their place!
Hooters
TGIF… That would be great… it would almost be perfect for the mall and would fit good in that spot where ruby tuesdays was. the closest Fridays is southaven..
I was kinda hoping for a bobaganoosh restaurant.
high five, jr85reb
I am not surprised. The last 2 times I visited it was horrible. My last visit was over a year ago and several friends who visited recently said the exact same thing. Service was bad, food was bad, restaurant was unclean, etc.
Any word on the Corinth location? We eat there sometimes when I visit my sister. I just looked on rubytuesday.com and it shows that Mississippi still has 8 locations, but Tupelo has already been taken off the website. I really hate that they closed, but I had heard from my boss and several friends that they have eaten there at Barnes Crossing and it was TERRIBLE! Service & food was awful. Maybe a good resturant will go in there now.
i know the service there was bad the last time i ate there but i wonder if their new image has hurt them a little bit? i know me and my girlfriend didn’t really like their menu changes.
Well, with the economy being so bad,maybe the mall can convince another full service restaurant to move in there,and sell slug burgers.
Totally off the subject but can someone tell me where or if I can get some Falafel here in the area? I am craving some middle eastern cuisine.
Marie’s in Oxford rocks. Really good Middle Eastern food. Definitely worth the drive from Tupelo.
Marie’s
505 Heritage Dr
Oxford, MS 38655
(662) 236-3232
Don’t know of a place in Tupelo. Giovanna at the Bistro said she was planning to add a hummus and Middle Eastern platter, but I don’t think it’s on her menu yet.
I guessing Memphis for Falafel.
Beat me to the punch Biz.
I’m guessing OXFORD for Falafel.
yeah, i went to RT not too long ago, and it wasn’t bad and our service was really good. They were very nice with our two kids (both under 2!)
it’s too bad they closed. I liked their crabcakes.
Isn’t Pier 1 Imports closing too?
The Ruby Tuesday at the mall had very poor management and very poor service. A number of times we had to wait over an hour to get our food.
Especially for the size of the town, Tupelo is a great out to eat town. Of course location is very important, but if you have good food and good service, you will do well in Tupelo.
I was never impressed by this Ruby Tuesday location. Although in general, I like the food, the service at our RT wasn’t that great…
Hmmm. Wouldn’t surprise me, but I haven’t heard that. Just called Pier 1 and the employee who answered said that the store wasn’t closing. We’ll let you know if we hear anything.
Gotta agree with those who complained about the service at the Tupelo restaurant. I eat at the one in Corinth on a fairly regular basis and really enjoy it. There was obviously a problem with management at the mall location. The service was always terrible. I generally like Ruby Tuesday, but we always avoided the Tupelo location like the plague for this reason.
i tought i heard that New York and Company was going to close some stores on CNN the other day so could be another business that the mall might lose. i would like to see another resturant come to the mall.
Mr. Mall Manager if you are reading, I know that you don’t need my help but i was saddened with the closing of Ruby Tuesday. Loved their menu just hated the service as of late. And wanted to list some alternatives.
Here are some possibilities that would definitely fill the vacancy:
TGIF
Lone Star
Longhorn
Champps Americana
Red Robins
Rain Forest Cafe
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!!!
Thanks! I will keep those in mind as we seek a replacement!
Thanks for being a customer! We always need your help!
P.S. NY & Company isn’t closing.
Jeff
thank you! i would really cry if NY and co closed!
mall manager, i second TGIF! and maybe you can get a Chipotle? it’s not sit-down, but it’s sooooo good! It would go great in the food court!
Phew. Walk out of a meeting at 4:15 only to have news tips fly at me. Heard the Pier 1 rumor again. Talked with an employee at the Tupelo store a few minutes ago and he said corporate hasn’t told them anything. He said he wasn’t aware of any impending closures.
Heard another rumor about Bed Bath & Beyond closing by the end of the month. This rumor is a little more far fetched to me, considering the financials. Talked with a manager in Tupelo a few minutes ago and he said there is absolutely no truth to rumor.
Corporate publicist from Bed Bath and Beyond called back – no plans to close the Tupelo store. She and the local manager said they believe residents might be confused because the store is having a January clearance sale and there are “clearance” signs on the store. It just means there’s a sale – not that it’s going out of biz.
Has anyone heard the rumor about TJ Maxx and Khols closing. I LOVE TJ Maxx I hope this is not true.
i cannot see Kohls closing….not after only being here for such a short time. I also see TJM get quite a bit of business.
Haven’t heard either one of those rumors. And, haven’t seen anything in the financials that point toward store closings.
There is NON WAY TJ’s closes. That place is covered up everyday.
Forbes said they sold $17 BILLION last year.
I think they own Books-A-Million too. Now that, I could see closing.
Nope, TJ Maxx is not affiliated with BAM. TJ Maxx is owned by the TJX Cos., which owns TJMaxx, Marshalls, Winners, HomeGoods, TKMaxx, AJWright and HomeSense.
Oh, I just assumed a connection because they always setup next to each other.
Hello Mr. Mall Manager. We would like to see a cafeteria or so in place of Ruby Tuesday. I work at the mall and look foreward in seeing something like a Picadallily or so. thanks
well praise be and olly olly oxenfree, hal-le-lu-jah!!! Ma Ma Ma!!