Business news booming
Talking Dunkin’, new gas station, Golden Greek, Warren County’s Finest, business licenses and much more in packed Fourth of July Biz Beat
Biz Beat
I hope everyone is having a real blast this Fourth of July. Thanks for spending part of your holiday reading Biz Beat and my recently recognized award-winning business coverage.
At Saturday's Tennessee Press Association, among other awards Jeff Simmons, Rob Nunley and I received, I got second place in the state for business coverage. Of course it’s not quite first, but second in the state is pretty good and leaves me room to improve.
I've got several interesting tidbits for you this week, so let's get started.
Time to make the donuts
On Dec. 24, 2022 at my previous place of employment I reported there were plans in the works to bring a Dunkin' to McMinnville. At the time David Hunt, who owns the Hampton Inn, told me of his plans to sell the strip of storefronts in front of the inn to the owner of Las Trojas Cantina. Hunt also told me rather confidently that Dunkin' was a likely target to occupy the space next to the Mexican restaurant.
I have been keeping my eyes and ears open for Dunkin' news since then. Unfortunately for those who had their jaws set for Dunkin' coffee, snacks and donuts, that particular bit of news never quite panned out. So, I think I can be forgiven for a healthy bit of skepticism surrounding more news of a McMinnville Dunkin'. But this week, I received confirmation from multiple city officials that a Dunkin' is indeed coming to the space formerly occupied and recently departed by Advance Financial 24/7 at 926 N. Chancery St.
A request for comment from Bluemont Group, who is reportedly responsible for bringing Dunkin' to McMinnville, garnered no response at the time of this writing. I will sprinkle in further Dunkin' updates in Biz Beat as I receive them.
Question answered
It's always very gratifying receiving questions from readers. First of all, it means I have readers, which is always nice to know. Secondly, it means they trust me as someone who may already know something or at least is willing to look until a reliable answer can be found. It's even more gratifying when I can actually provide an answer for those questions, even if it may take a while.
On April 13, just a little over a month into the launch of the Main Street Journal and Biz Beat, reader Billy Prater emailed to ask if I knew or could find out what was going on at the corner of Jerry Cooper Highway and Crisp Springs Road. At the time, my wife and I took a drive out there and didn't see anything but some dirt work and no real clues, but I've been keeping a watch on the site.
Wednesday night, as my friend Joe Harvey and I were driving to Murfreesboro, Joe remarked that we really need a gas station along the stretch of road between McMinnville and Woodbury. We then saw a building under construction at the lot I've been monitoring, and I returned to working the phones.
I'm happy to be able to report Joe's wish will soon be a reality. Property owner Mike Khokhani confirmed to me that a Stop and Go Shell is coming to that prime location - great news for those who see the dreaded "E" light pop up on their dash. The tentative plan is for the station to open in early 2026.
Billy, thanks for your question, and I’m very happy I could finally provide you an answer.
Off to a Golden start
As I wrote on Saturday, Golden Greek opened at 1502 Smithville Hwy. in the building formerly occupied by Coffee Bank & Trust Friday, June 27. The restaurant, which was already popular in Woodbury, is quickly making a splash in Warren County with its McMinnville location. I've been by a few times since the opening and spoke to very busy staffers as well as the owner.
Seth Wright photos - Brandon and Mandy Harris were two of many who tried out and enjoyed Golden Greek on its opening week. The restaurant offers inside and outside dining.
Understandably, none of them had much time to talk but confirmed what I could see myself. The opening week has been very successful, and they have received a very warm welcome to Warren County. Golden Greek offers a wide selection of Greek dishes as well as several burgers, sandwiches, salads and more. I had the shrimp and gyro plate and was quite pleased. Judging from the looks on the faces of others packing the restaurant, I was not alone in being impressed.
Golden Greek is open Monday - Saturday from 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Rodeo Rebel heads West
Jennifer Launius' business has been through several iterations since she opened Western Farmgirl at 110 N. Spring St. in October 2022. She and her husband, Kevin, opened Handsome Jack's Mercantile on Main Street and later merged the two businesses, rebranding as Mercantile West at 835 Smithville Hwy. Suite 7 near Jalisco Mexican Grill.
The store was later once again rebranded as Rodeo Rebel Boutique, offering an array of Western-themed items and clothing. Sadly, Jennifer's next move is out of town. Thursday was Rodeo Rebel's last day in McMinnville, but it's not the end of the store.
"I am relocating to Woodbury," Jennifer said. "My final day in the McMinnville location was July 3. I am hoping to reopen in Woodbury by July 12, but possibly July 16."
A new place to Shoppe
On July 3, 2024, Homeless of McMinnville Effort (HOME) launched a thrift shop called, simply enough, The Shoppe at 605 Beersheba Hwy. HOME Board Secretary Nancy McNeal, her sister Carole Cathcart, Cathy Roberts and HOME Board President Connie Fox put the first Shoppe together. A lot has happened in that year, including the launch of Shoppe II last October in the Plaza Shopping Center. The Shoppe Too later relocated to 1704 Smithville Hwy. and The Shoppe has recently joined it next door, officially opening last Monday.
HOME is a 501c3 charitable organization devoted to supporting the homeless and unsheltered in Warren County. The group helps in any way it can, providing tents, blankets and food as well as offering lodging at The Haven, a shelter for women and children at 121 Bybee Branch Rd. HOME also has Prosperity Point, a community of tiny homes on Sunset Point. Sheila Fann is HOME executive director.
The Shoppe is taking advantage of the additional space the new location offers, presenting a more upscale shopping experience. With an included kitchen, there are plans to add dining options as well.
“We have so much more room here, we feel we’ve been able to make it much more attractive,” Nancy McNeal, secretary of the HOME board, said. “We are eventually going to open a lunch spot. We will have tea room favorites such as broccoli salad and potato salad. We’re also thinking about grilling one day a week and offering burgers.”
The Shoppe, which accepts donations, offers clothing in good condition, home goods, dishes, small appliances, shoes, decorative items, sporting goods, furniture, art and many other items. All of the money made at The Shoppe and The Shoppe Too, after rent and expenses, goes directly to serving homeless people.
“We have all the same things we had at the other location, but a few things we’ve moved over to The Shoppe Too, like CDs,” Nancy said. “The best thing is we’re here on the same property, so when we need help in one store or the other, they can just walk over.”
Every item in the store has been donated and all employees are volunteers, with a few exceptions.
“There are a few people who are living in our shelters who work part-time,” Nancy said. “Our property manager at Prosperity Point works for us as well as a general handyman, and he does a lot of different things. We still have the women’s shelter on Bybee Branch Road, but we are converting that into transitional housing for people who have been in our shelters and may need a little more support before getting their own place. It will be four apartments. And we have eight tiny homes at Prosperity Point. People live there for approximately six months. They can stay clean, have a job and save their money. Some can buy a car before they leave and still have deposits for a place of their own, so we’re always very proud when they’re so successful.”
Seth Wright photos
Since the current women’s shelter is being changed into transitional housing, HOME is opening a new women’s shelter.
“We bought a double-wide manufactured home which is already in place at Prosperity Point,” Nancy said. “It was used at the hospital in Manchester to store records. We have to clean it, put new floor down and paint, but the water and sewer are already in.”
HOME has been in existence for about five years, and works in partnership with First United Methodist Church where showers, clothes, tents and blankets are provided. To celebrate The Shoppe’s new location as well as its first anniversary, a party will be held at The Shoppe on Saturday.
“Kerry Stewart is one of our fabulous volunteers and her brother, Jeremy Venable, is a missionary in France,” Nancy said. “He and his family live there and they are coming home on furlough. He does a lot of worship leading and he sings and plays guitar. Kerry asked him to play at our celebration and he agreed. We’ll be open from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. that day. At 1 p.m., Jeremy will perform and we will preview our tea bar and we’ll offer a variety of tea and finger foods.”
The Shoppe is open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Monday - Friday and 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday.
Price has nice ice
A new Twice the Ice with water kiosk has recently appeared in a prime location on Durham Street located right across the street from Smooth Rapids. It’s a great place to load up a cooler before grabbing a kayak and heading down the river.
I contacted Christy Price to ask about her cool business venture.
“I purchased and had the installation completed of the Twice the Ice Merchant ice and water kiosk through Ice House of America on June 26,” Christy told me. “I will have a Fourth of July promotion starting Friday at 6 a.m. If you purchase ’bulk vending,’ which is two bags of ice, the price will be lowered to $4 for two bags of ice with single bag purchase being $3.”
The kiosk accepts cash, coin or debit and is open 24 hours offering filtered and purified 20-ounce bottles of water, one gallon of water, five gallons of water and 10-pound bags of ice.
“I have owned and improved these properties since December of 2020 and have enjoyed watching Smooth Rapids restaurant, kayaking and campground thrive since my sister Amy Barker, brother-in-law Todd Barker, Jimmy Barker and Mickey Heath began this journey several years ago,” Christy said. “I am looking forward to improving more with much needed ADA-compliant sidewalks after conversations with Frank at our Public Works office and I am excited that Durham Street was recently renovated and paved. And also with Reggae on the River returning to Smooth Rapids Campgrounds July 18 - July 20, I hope Twice the Ice on the River will have a great start in our growing community. I would like to thank all of my friends, family and neighboring co-business owners on Durham Street who have invested so much to improve not just this street but our community.”
Time to choose
The Main Street Journal staff is proud to introduce Warren County's Finest, an online reader poll of the best Warren County has to offer. By going to the Warren County's Finest header on the Main Street Journal page, you can nominate your choice in a wide range of categories. In August, the top nominees in each category will be collected and become finalists in a voting round where voters will determine the winner.
Those of us here at the Journal are no strangers to reader polls. Before agreeing to launching another one, we were adamant about being as straightforward and transparent as we can be with the voting process. There is no way to buy your way onto the ballot. We encourage people to participate in the nomination and voting process as much as they wish but, in the end, the results are the results.
Warren County's Finest is open to all. There is no Main Street Journal subscription required. Share the link, encourage your friends to vote, and I look forward to seeing what the public selects.
Until next time, the Beat goes on
Whew! That was a lot to write on a holiday weekend. Thanks for making it down this far, and I hope you have a great Fourth of July weekend. Send questions, comments and suggestions to me at seth.wright@mainstreetmedia.llc. Thanks to Ben Lomand Connect for sponsoring Biz Beat. Before you go, check out June's business listings, provided by the Warren County Clerk's office.
Members Discussion