Jackson Free Press

N.U.T.S. (Neat Used Things for Sale) in Fondren (3011 N. State St., 601-366-9633) is moving from its location next to Campbell's Bakery by the end of the week. In order to help reduce inventory ahead of the move, the consignment store is holding a 50-percent-off moving sale through Wednesday, Feb. 25.

N.U.T.S. is a fundraiser for The Good Samaritan Center that sells surplus donated items to raise money for families in emergency crisis situations. The stores have been in operation for more than 40 years.

The new location for the Fondren N.U.T.S. location has not been decided, although the midtown location at 114 Millsaps Ave. (601-355-7458) will remain open.

The Fondren N.U.T.S. location is open Monday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The midtown N.U.T.S. is open Wednesday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The midtown location also holds a special warehouse sale in the parking lot every Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Edaptit and FedEx Present the eTech Conference

The second annual eTech Conference happens Tuesday, March 3, at the Clyde Music Center on the Hinds Community College Rankin Campus (3805 U.S. Highway 80 W., Pearl). Edaptit and FedEx will present the event, and Gov. Phil Bryant will attend and give the keynote speech on economic development in Mississippi.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature vendor tables, speakers, workshops and several networking time slots. It is bringing together industry leaders, educational professionals and economic-development agencies to help businesses learn to better participate in the new economy.

"Our goal is to help companies develop strategies for growing in the new economy by leveraging technology in effective ways," Ralph Smith, president of Edaptit and eTech Conference organizer, said in a release. "... Our intent is to help businesses cut through the clutter of information to expand their markets."

Brad McMullan, founder and CEO of bfac, LLC and Texting Leader, LLC., will speak about the benefits of texting marketing and phone apps. Tim Mask, founder of the Mississippi Brain Drain Commission and manager of the Mississippi Economies Project, will discuss the use of social media as a marketing and public relations tool. Jackson Free Press Publisher and President Todd Stauffer will host Content Marketing 101, which will focus on building the compelling content for businesses' digital marketing strategy and generating new leads via website, e-mail newsletters and social media. Visit the eTech website for http://etechconference.com/speakers/ a full list of speakers for the event.

Admission for attendees is $50, and $150 for exhibitors. The conference will be posted on the eTech website after the event for viewing via webinar.

For information, email Smith at [email protected] or call 601-813-0480. Visit www.eTechconference.com for additional information and to register for the event.

Luby's and Fuddruckers Have Come to Jackson

Luby's Inc. opened a dual-concept Luby's cafeteria and Fuddruckers restaurant in Jackson (5471 Interstate 55 N.) Feb. 19. The restaurants, which occupy a 13,000-square-foot building with a shared lobby, are the first side-by-side development of this kind outside the company's home state of Texas.

The 3,000-square-foot Jackson Fuddruckers location offers seating for up to 92. Luby's of Jackson occupies a nearly 10,000-square-foot space and accommodates up to 220 guests.

Fuddruckers specializes in fresh, never-frozen grilled-to-order hamburgers. The menu also offers ribeye-steak sandwiches, grilled and breaded chicken-breast sandwiches, hotdogs, turkey and veggie burgers, fish sandwiches, and exotic items such as buffalo, elk and wild-boar burgers.

Luby's Cafeteria offers a variety of made-from-scratch southern comfort foods, featuring 18 entrees and 20 side items and salads to choose from. Entrees include blackened tilapia, chicken fried steak, Texas ribeye, roast chicken and French grilled liver and onions. Sides include mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, fried okra, fruit salad, home-style chicken-noodle soup and seafood gumbo.

A portion of the restaurants' opening day sales benefited the American Cancer Society. The ownership said in a release that the donation marks the beginning of a relationship that Luby's plans to build with the organization over the coming months, leading up to the 30th anniversary of Relay for Life, an international fundraising and awareness movement for the fight against cancer. This year, the Relay for Life of Jackson event is at LeFleur's Bluff State Park May 22 from 6 p.m. until midnight.

Luby's is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fuddruckers is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call 601-718-1550.

Brothers Bring a Taste of India to Mississippi

Brothers Paramjit "PJ" and Harpreet "Johnny" Singh recently introduced a new addition to the shopping and dining scene in the metro area with the establishment of Bombay Plaza (957 Highway 80 E., Clinton), a clothing, grocery and gift store serving Mississippi's Indian community.

The plaza contains a full-service restaurant called Taste of India, offering authentic Indian cuisine; the India Cafe, serving popular Indian street food items; the India Bazaar grocery store, featuring fresh produce and frozen foods; the Bombay Fashion boutique clothing shop; and an Indian-style beauty salon.

Born and raised in Jalandhar in the Punjab state of India, the Singhs came to the United States and developed and operated three award-winning restaurants in Utah. The original Taste of India won several awards including "Best of Utah" and "Best of State" for Best Indian Restaurant. Clinton residents who ate at their restaurant convinced the brothers to visit Mississippi to consider opening a new Taste of India location in the state. The brothers liked what they found so much that they decided to move to Clinton and bring their business to Mississippi.

Taste of India's chef, "Rocky" Singh (no relation to the Singh brothers), is also from the brothers' hometown of Jalandhar and serves up authentic Indian recipes, the heat level of which can be adjusted to a customer's personal preference: mild, medium, hot or Indian hot.

"Indian cooking is complex. Our cooking staff understands each and every spice," PJ Singh said in a release. "We grind all of our own spices here, which assures that the mixture is not overpowering. We are really focused on consistency, quality and customer service."

Taste of India's menu includes appetizers ranging from $4.99 to $8.99, entrees from $7.99 to $16.99, desserts, and soups and salads from $3.99 to $7. The restaurant also offers a buffet lunch every day from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for $9.99.

The adjacent India Cafe offers Indian street food favorites such as pani puri—a fried, hollow dough ball filled with a mixture of flavored water, tamarind chutney, chili, chaat masala, potato, onion and chickpeas—a wide variety of sweet treats, eggless cakes, and cold and hot beverages. Order eggless cakes and arrange catering by calling 601-272-4000.

The India Bazaar grocery carries a wide variety of spices, fresh fruits and vegetables, and dry goods, such as flour, masala, peas, beans, rice, incense and frozen foods.

Bombay Fashion offers a wide variety of jewelry and colorful clothing, and alterations, if needed, are provided on-site and free of charge for clothing purchased from the boutique.

Bombay Plaza is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the exception of Taste of India, which closes from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For information, visit www.TasteofIndiaMS.com, call 601-272-4000 or follow Taste of India on Facebook @TasteofIndiaMS. For take-out orders, call 601-272-3000.