Ripped off SPS: Best businesses ideas for Starkville......

[Goat Holder]

I still say we need a golf course and resort. Similar to the RTJ stuff in Alabama. Of course, they had teachers' retirement to fund those, not sure what we could do there.

Also think we need to do tours of the refuge or something. Attract tourists somehow.

[BeastMan]

Someone buy the State Theatre. Sell good blue plate lunches from 11-3 and then drinks, bar food, and live music at night. I could go into much more detail about what they should do but it's just my opinion on a business plan.

[MaroonMike]

Moe's Southwest Grill - it's like a Subway for Burritos.

[BogeyGolfer]

I think that's a great idea... Also run shuttles to the casinos in Philly as a perk. Also, reopen Grumpy's, I loved that big ass hot dog and cheap draught beer out of a jar.

[Goat Holder]

Sounds good in theory, but Philly is a bit far. What was that, like an hour drive or so? But then again, I know Ole Miss had shuttles running back and forth from Memphis doing this and that so I bet it can be done.

[Goat Holder]

I'm more of the Chipotle type, but both would do well, just like they said on 6pack.

[BogeyGolfer]

Bout 1 hr 20 min or so from Sville to Philly.

[bully99]

What's on the horizon for Starkville in 2014. Anything planned.

[Goat Holder]

Biggest is Cotton Mills I would imagine.

[starkvegasdawg]

I think that's a great idea... Also run shuttles to the casinos in Philly as a perk. Also, reopen Grumpy's, I loved that big ass hot dog and cheap draught beer out of a jar.
Grumpys building is now a roofing company so would have to relocate. Would love to see them open again.

[hailmari]

Someone buy the State Theatre. Sell good blue plate lunches from 11-3 and then drinks, bar food, and live music at night. I could go into much more detail about what they should do but it's just my opinion on a business plan.

It's ridiculous that State Theater isn't open. That was the main nightlife attraction when I moved to town. Gold mine.

Grumpy's is now a roofing company or something. But I think something similar would go perfectly somewhere in the district.

[nsvltndog]

Fix the 182 corridor would be my first recommendation, but this will require some dynamite to do correctly. I also agree on doing something with the State Theater. I'm not sure how to fit them in, but some condos right in the heart of downtown would be pretty cool.

If looking for new development, a town center concept on the North end of town up near the Hilton Garden Inn on the 82 bypass would be interesting. Put a few small restaurants (like Moe's or Chipotle), a Starbucks, anchor it with a grocery store, Super Target, or something like Kohl's or Bed Bath and Beyond, a dozen or so small speciality retail stores, and some townhouses in and around it. These walkable lifestyle town center concepts are springing up all over the country and are very popular from age groups ranging from young adults to retirees. Cotton Mills may be something like this, but I think it will be lacking the livability factor that townhouses provide b/c it is only slated to have a hotel. This could accelerate the growth on the North side of campus which I think would benefit the community and MSU more than continuing to grow out West beyond the Super Walmart further from campus.

I'm not a huge retail fan, but I'd like to see Starkville get a few more retail store options or I'll never convince my wife to let us live there someday.

[Goat Holder]

We'll need people for all those ideas. I think condos would sell like crazy myself. I know I plan on spending a significant portion of my spare time in Starkville for the next decade or so, so others (with money) probably feel the same.

Need a big business of some kind. We really need GTR and that whole area to keep blowing up.

[DCdawg]

I think the Cotton District should really go completely towards the New Orleans look. Anything that doesn't fit, like the laundromat and repair shop, should be torn down and housing/bars similar to the ones already there should be built. The only businesses that need to be in the cotton district are bars/restaurants/housing/cool shops.

And I know there's a Walmart already but a Target would still do VERY well. I expect Tupelo to get one before Starkville though.

[hacker]

Moe's Southwest Grill - it's like a Subway for Burritos.

Starkville still doesn't have a Moe's, Chipotle, Qdoba, Izzo's, Caliente, etc?

[Political Hack]

restaurants without drive throughs don't do well in Starkville. I'd be hesitant to put a chipotle or five guys there unless it was in the student union.

I think a tapas/piano/small live music type bar would fit in well. small plates make it affordable for college students, would be an attractive date night, you could run sangria specials once a week, and still keep it upscale for our of town diners looking for something nice. Cotton Mills would be the only place I'd even think about it though.

The old 82 corridor should be all hotels. I'd redone that for that one purpose. make all new hotels go on that corridor. that would drive other small business developments like gas stations, restaurants, etc...

the problem is that everything is service industry oriented. Starkville needs to be more than a service industry town if it's ever going to strongly support small business development. it sounds a little crazy, but you need a few big businesses to help support the small businesses. without year round workers and income that's not controlled 90% by game day sales, it's very hard for businesses to plan accordingly and survive during the lean times.

[bully99]

You guys have it a lot better than we did thirty plus years ago. We had McDonalds, Wendys, Danvers, bulldog shake, bulldog deli,(the original), Mr. Cook, Papa Leone, and B-Quicks fried chicken and jo-Jo's.! And sorry food in the cafeteria.

[Political Hack]

I had to drive to the crossroads for beer on Super Bowl Sundays.

[bully99]

Len-Lews and the Triangle Club were redneck dumps. For the most part stayed away from them.

[Bert Stare]

....

[bully99]

Too much eggnog.

[engie]

I went fairly in-depth about State Theater on the Pack -- but I've known the last 2 leasees -- and the rent/utility bills are completely retarded.

I'm with you in that someone needs to BUY it -- that way they can actually make money on it. I always thought it would be a sweet place to have a Sunday night movie or two on the projector -- where you serve food and alcohol to the upper deck "seats". Could even do something in the lower level for that. Just my idea to make a few $$ at a time when you normally can't.

Starkville has, for whatever reason, always been scared to death to attempt a "Library" bar -- where you put your best girls on VIP cards -- and charge everyone else out the ass for anything...

[Dawg61]

I'd give my left nut for an In N Out Burger.

[CJDAWG85]

I went fairly in-depth about State Theater on the Pack -- but I've known the last 2 leasees -- and the rent/utility bills are completely retarded.

I'm with you in that someone needs to BUY it -- that way they can actually make money on it. I always thought it would be a sweet place to have a Sunday night movie or two on the projector -- where you serve food and alcohol to the upper deck "seats". Could even do something in the lower level for that. Just my idea to make a few $$ at a time when you normally can't.

Starkville has, for whatever reason, always been scared to death to attempt a "Library" bar -- where you put your best girls on VIP cards -- and charge everyone else out the ass for anything...


They need to make it 2 different bars or a restaurant and a bar upstairs or vice versa.

[Political Hack]

They need to make it 2 different bars or a restaurant and a bar upstairs or vice versa.

Dave Hood did that and it still crapped out eventually. It was packed a lot in the early 2000's time frame... or at least any time I was there. downtown is much better now though so it would probably do a little better during slow times.

they also need to find a way to work together down that entire strip to stop charging cover. people need to be able to bar hop and students aren't going to do that if places are charging to get in the door.

[CJDAWG85]

Downtown bar scene is only Zorbas now. Mugshots went 100% restaurant. Everything now is in the cotton district which is all cover free I believe.

[MetEdDawg]

Not quite a business idea, but I think we need to "create" a new "downtown" area within walking distance of housing on campus. I really don't know how we would do it without a serious investment by the city, but after living in Auburn for the last 4 years, what they have over by the intersection of Magnolia and College Street is very cool and is a huge selling point to kids because you can walk there or drive there very easily and there are a good number of day and night time options of things to do right there. We really need to try and get things going on the BlackJack Road side of campus. There are a lot of apartments and housing on that side and how amazing would it be to have a strip of bars and restaurants and shops over there. Starkville is so spread out in terms of places to go and things to do and we need to try and get some things closer to campus. I know the Cotton District has a lot of stuff, but I really think something on the other side of campus would get a lot more people out and about and spending money on campus and in the city of Starkville.

Like I said, this would be a huge undertaking and I'm not sure how logistically that would work, but that just seems like a big time need on that side of campus because of how many people live on that side.

[CJDAWG85]

Would putting what you said over there not make it more spread out?

[MetEdDawg]

I actually think it would drag more people out. It might spread people out more in terms of the people who are already going out, but I think something on that side would actually bring more people out. College kids are lazy. They want something easily accessible. To me the point is to get people out and spending money and I think something on that side of campus would do accomplish that. I mean there are half a dozen dorms, half a dozen apartment complexes, and the greek stuff that would all be 5-10 minutes walking distance to something on that side of campus.

Like I said, that would be a huge undertaking to make it something really cool, but if the city invested in it, I think it could be done and really add some life to a very dull area of the city. I mean all down BlackJack by campus, there is nothing. In order to make Starkville an attractive selling point, we need all areas of campus to have something to offer to prospective students and athletes. That's the biggest thing I've learned living in Auburn. We need something massive that's just a really awesome selling point. Redo the Cotton District and just put an insane amount of money into it to make it 100% geared toward students eating, drinking, and having a good time while giving it a fresh look, or create something else totally new on the other side of campus and see if we can get a larger portion of our student base to get involved in the night life of the city.

[CJDAWG85]

Redo the Cotton District and just put an insane amount of money into it to make it 100% geared toward students eating, drinking, and having a good time while giving it a fresh look, or create something else totally new on the other side of campus and see if we can get a larger portion of our student base to get involved in the night life of the city.

^^^THIS

[BogeyGolfer]

The first question that must be asked for any business is can we make money? This is not that easy in any college town when opening a bar... It becomes trendy for students to attend one bar one year and another the next etc... In my opinion, Starkville needs people to move into,the area to help businesses not only to rely on students but other patrons during the off seasons. Someone mentioned the need for more jobs in the area and I agree this and an improvement of the school system is a must...I have a couple of rental properties in NMS and I have considered doing the same in Sville but the upfront cost is too much coupled with the fact that renting to students will require substantial maintenance cost.

[MetEdDawg]

One thing I have never liked is the fact that on BlackJack road you pass that sign that says Starkville is a certified retirement community. To a prospective student or football recruit, that can't be something that really gets your juices flowing.

Starkville is a college town. Just because it might also be a retirement community doesn't mean you have to announce to the world, and Bogey I think that goes to your point. If businesses or people are going to come in to a college town, it has to be worth their while. They have to have the population and demographic base that will buy their product. Although I love Starkville, the disconnect between the identity of the city and the identity of campus is of major concern. I'm almost to the point where the campus needs to just disassociate itself from the city of Starkville. We are growing at an insane rate. Getting more modern, getting more competitive in terms of campus resources, but the city itself just isn't up to par to the rest of the SEC cities. I really think that is dragging down what MSU has the potential to ultimately become.

[CJDAWG85]

My friend owns Gringos and it's a nice place, but there just isn't a lot of room. None of the bars in the Cotton District have a lot of room except Stagger Inn. There needs to be a bar that can fit more than 200 people in it. Also, there needs to be a reliable cab service. It is damn near impossible to get a cab from the bars.

[Political Hack]

Downtown bar scene is only Zorbas now. Mugshots went 100% restaurant. Everything now is in the cotton district which is all cover free I believe.

yeah... that whole strip from the cotton district to Main Street should all be cover free IMO. a shuttle running from the corners of Nash and Jackson or somewhere close would be good too.

[SheltonChoked]

I agree. A city centre mixed use development near the old roundabout at blackjack and octoc would be great. But I think it is in the county and therefore dry. But having a development there in addition to cotton mills would be great.

The #1 thing that Starkville ( and Columbus. West Point, Louisville, Ackerman, Macon, Eupora) need to do is work more with the university to get business into the area. The mayors/ supervisors should get together and form an economic area based on MSU. If it is building more tax haven industrial parks, whatever. Help the university help

[Squidawg11]

1. Shut down Cowbells, Rick's, and the Hunt Club
2. Tear down eyesores in the Cotton District.
3. Move Zorba's and all other bars into the Cotton District with a common theme. Someone earlier said NOLA (great idea)
4. Move more restaurants into the Cotton District. Make it a place where you can eat, then walk to the bar.
5. We need a bar like the Library, as well as one like the Lyric. We need bigger venue's where good bands and DJ's can come play within walking distance of everywhere. Rick's is terrible and too far away.

[Dallas_Dawg]

Whataburger would kill it in Starkville.

[hailmari]

Downtown bar scene is only Zorbas now. Mugshots went 100% restaurant. Everything now is in the cotton district which is all cover free I believe.

And the Burgundy Room at Old Venice. It's a nice bar.. usually only attracts the grad-school aged like the Halfway House does. I haven't checked out that coffee shop yet, but I could see something being put in above it or around it.

Another thing about State Theater- the last owner had Dawg Wingz (I assume he ran it too) right next to it and it was nice little place. They had a great wing deal one summer and offered beer towers (I had a few). They also started serving late night menus so you could just walk next door and chow down on breakfast food and etc. after partying all night in State Theater. There was also a blues night once a week upstairs. So, he had a few good ideas, it just needed to be capitalized on.

[theloungeinleft]

restaurants without drive throughs don't do well in Starkville. I'd be hesitant to put a chipotle or five guys there unless it was in the student union.

I think a tapas/piano/small live music type bar would fit in well. small plates make it affordable for college students, would be an attractive date night, you could run sangria specials once a week, and still keep it upscale for our of town diners looking for something nice. Cotton Mills would be the only place I'd even think about it though.

The old 82 corridor should be all hotels. I'd redone that for that one purpose. make all new hotels go on that corridor. that would drive other small business developments like gas stations, restaurants, etc...

the problem is that everything is service industry oriented. Starkville needs to be more than a service industry town if it's ever going to strongly support small business development. it sounds a little crazy, but you need a few big businesses to help support the small businesses. without year round workers and income that's not controlled 90% by game day sales, it's very hard for businesses to plan accordingly and survive during the lean times.

I disagree with that. Places like Newk's, PitaPit, and Firehouse seem to be doing great.

[HereComesTheSpiral]

The cotton district is so under utilized its embarrassing. I liked the bars there during the summer whenever it was relatively empty, but I avoided the places on the weekend because there was no room and service was generally shitty due to overcrowding. Easiest fix, allow open containers in the district between certain times on Thurs-Sat nights. The bars could sell on the streets similar to NOLA and Memphis. The bars revenue would probably go through the roof and everything would be paid for in a weekend. Just think about all the money they are losing on game weekends whenever teams like LSU come to town.