Jackson Free Press

Birdland Reopens

Farish Street nightclub Birdland is open again after spending eight months closed under a court order. The club renewed its privilege license and dancehall permit Friday and was open last weekend, Jackson Police Department spokesman Detective Roderick Holmes told the Jackson Free Press today.

City officials sought and won an order from Hinds County Chancery Court to close Birdland after a September 2009 shooting at the club left one woman dead and another four people injured. The court order required Birdland's owners to hire two security officers and deny entry to anyone under 21. While the injunction required the club to close for 30 days, the club only satisfied all of its conditions recently, city spokesman Chris Mims said.

Jobs Signal Slow Recovery

Mississippi's economy is showing signs of revival but still lags behind the national economy, according to a new report by the Center for Policy Research and Planning at the state Institutions of Higher Learning. The Center's "Index of Coincident Indicators," a collection of job-related economic statistics, shows Mississippi still struggling while the national economy begins to turn around. The Center's index rose significantly for the second month, however, on the strength of a longer manufacturing work week.

The state lost 500 non-farm jobs in April. The decrease represents almost no significant change from March figures with 900 lost manufacturing jobs were offset by 900 added construction jobs. Retail sales are cause for optimism, though, increasing in the first quarter of 2010 after falling for seven consecutive quarters.

"In Mississippi, employment declines have slowed, but the state has not yet seen sustained job gains," the report states.

Openings, Closings, Relocations

The Ink Spot Gallery is closing later this month. The downtown Tattoo Parlor, which relocated from Capitol Street to South Street in 2008, will have its last day of business June 24. A public "grand closing" celebration will follow on June 26.

Venerable business furniture supplier Offisource is moving to Ridgeland this week and reopening as Interior Elements. Offisource owner Charles Hooker, who has worked for the company since 1968, sold the store to Ben Chappell of Birmingham. The store will remain independent and locally-owned, and its stock will remain the same, Hooker said.

Michele and Craig Escude are opening circa., an interior design store and events space in Fondren this fall. They plan to open in October, with a grand opening celebration to follow at November's Fondren Unwrapped.

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Previous Comments

ID

158092

Comment

nice to see this info about the Escude's circa! the events space alone is something worth celebrating, not to mention the design store. do we know WHERE this space is?

Author

2599

Date

2010-06-08T13:02:48-06:00

ID

158094

Comment

Too bad Birdland reopened. I don't really see it mixing with the FSED.

Author

QB

Date

2010-06-08T14:01:06-06:00

ID

158096

Comment

Why not?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-06-08T14:26:33-06:00

ID

158097

Comment

I share concerns about Birdland reopening. Only because I've seen the place open and close like a revolving door and each time it's due to violence. However, if the club owner puts up a real effort to keep those who go in the club safe by keep the parasites out (young and/or old), then more power to them! If Farish Street is to live up to it's potential to serve as the historic street it once was, Birdland can NOT operate the way it has in the past - in my humble opinion.

Author

Queen601

Date

2010-06-08T14:33:42-06:00

ID

158099

Comment

Queen601 said it better than I ever could.

Author

QB

Date

2010-06-08T14:52:20-06:00