Jackson Free Press

Babalu Opens In Fondren
Babalu Tacos & Tapas opens today in Fondren's Duling Hall. The Mexican and Spanish-inspired restaurant offers gourmet tacos and small dishes, or tapas, with an emphasis on fresh and often locally sourced ingredients.

Co-owners Bill Latham and Al Roberts have a number of Jackson-area restaurants on their resumes, including Amerigo and CHAR, both of which they have since sold. Executive Chef David Ferris comes to Babalu after having served as chef at Mint.

For its grand opening today, the restaurant will donate its net proceeds to Friends of Children's Hospital and Stewpot Ministries. Babalu is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Read more about Babalu.

New Family Medical Clinic
Northeast Jackson has a new family medical practice near Parham Bridges Park. Care+ Family Medicine Parham Bridges celebrates its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. The clinic's physician, Dr. Scott Carlton, is a University of Mississippi Medical Center graduate. The clinic is part of the Jackson-area Care+ system of family medical clinics, which also has locations on Highway 18 in Jackson and in Madison, Ridgeland, Flowood and Brandon.

Care+ Family Medicine Parham Bridges, located at 5005 Old Canton Road, is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call 601-978-2212 or visit mscareplus.com.

University Place Filling In
On Tuesday, Dec. 7, the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership celebrates the opening of One University Place, Jackson State University's mixed-use development, with a ribbon-cutting and open house. The four-story building, which includes apartments and retail space, opened in mid-September, and currently has several confirmed retail tenants. Apartment occupancy is under 20 percent, said Kimberly Hilliard, director of JSU's Center for University-Based Development. Hilliard cited construction delays, which pushed the facility's opening date past its August target, for the low residential- occupancy rate.

"We're expecting a heavy January move-in," Hilliard said. "We just need to recover from the construction delays."

Confirmed retailers for the building's ground floor include Harvey's Fish Hut, Express Dry Cleaners, a beauty salon, a print shop and a student-run art gallery.

Hilliard said that two other restaurants have expressed interest in the building's anchor retail space but have not made a commitment.

The ribbon cutting and open house runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1400 J.R. Lynch Street.

Business Seminars, Speakers
Jackson entrepreneur Socrates Garrett speaks at Koinonia Coffee House's Friday Forum Dec. 3 at 9 a.m. Garrett, owner of the construction and engineering company Garrett Enterprises, is founder and chairman of the Mississippi Link newspaper. The Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership named him Businessman of the Year for 2010.

The Mississippi E-Center at Jackson State University hosts a regular free seminar on business finance Dec. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. in its Small Business Development Center. Visit mssbdc.org or call 1-800-725-7232 to reserve a seat. The Mississippi E-Center is located at 1230 Raymond Road.