Jackson Free Press

When the annual Zippity Doo Dah Parade comes to Jackson on Saturday, April 2, it will coincide with the opening of a new business in Fondren. Amanda's Pet Salon (419 Mitchell Ave.) will host a grand-opening celebration on the day of the parade from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in its new location in the building that once housed Trim Salon.

Amanda Schmitz opened the original location of her pet salon (2617 Highway 49 S., Florence) in May 2000. Her wife, Valerie Schmitz, joined the salon as a co-owner in February 2013 and primarily handles the business side while Amanda focuses on the animals. Amanda has been working with animals since she was 16 years old, helping out in various veterinary offices and kennels in Mississippi before she decided to switch to pet grooming and then opened her own business at age 19.

The new location of Amanda's Pet Salon will provide services such as professional grooming, flea baths, boarding and nail trimmings. The store also sells leashes and collars, grooming supplies, treats and other essentials, and has a custom nametag-engraving machine onsite. The business primarily focuses on dog care, but cats are welcome as well. The salon will offer a dog day-care service in the future.

For the salon's grand-opening celebration, customers are encouraged to bring their pets and children to enjoy complimentary snacks, tour the facility and meet the groomers. Amanda's will have T-shirts for sale, as well as gift baskets filled with treats and grooming supplies for pets. The salon will also provide a free collar and engraved nametag free with the purchase of a gift basket. When the parade starts at 7 p.m., the Schmitzes and their staff from both Amanda's locations will march in the parade with their pets and pass out candy and dog treats.

Amanda's Pet Salon in Fondren will officially open for business and start taking appointments Monday, April 4. Walk-ins will also be welcome. For more information, call 601-906-7326.

Beagle Bagel Consolidating Business into Highland Village Location

After 21 years in operation, the original location of the Beagle Bagel Cafe near County Line Road (898 Avery Blvd. N., Ridgeland) is consolidating its operations into the Highland Village location (4500 Interstate 55 N., Suite 145) on Saturday, March 26.

The Ridgeland Beagle Bagel location was the first of what became three locations of the bagel shop in Mississippi. The Belvedere family, who owns Beagle Bagel, managed the Ridgeland and Highland Village locations. The third location is in Madison (100 Mannsdale Park Drive, Suite 2, Madison) and is the only franchise location.

For more information, call the Ridgeland Beagle Bagel at 769-251-1892 or the Madison location at 601-856-4377 or visit thebeaglebagelcafe.com.

One Store Closes, Three Open at Outlets of Mississippi

Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, a major anchor store at The Outlets of Mississippi (200 Bass Pro Drive, Pearl), closed its doors Wednesday, March 16. Kathy Hackshaw, general manager of The Outlets, told the Jackson Free Press that the store closed because Saks is shifting its focus away from outlet malls and toward high-end strip centers. Saks OFF 5TH occupied 20,000 square feet, making it the largest store at The Outlets. Hackshaw told the JFP that a new tenant is set to move into the space, but the tenant requested the store's name be withheld until a later date.

While one store has closed, three more, in addition to the mystery tenant, will soon take its place. Flavored-popcorn specialty store Doc Popcorn and women's clothing and accessory boutique Francesca's will open in May, and Bath & Body Works, which will sell lotions, candles and assorted body care products, is set to open by the end of summer.

For more information, call The Outlets of Mississippi at 769-972-3000.

Baker Donelson Moving into Eastover

Law firm Baker Donelson recently announced plans to move into The District at Eastover (1250 Eastover Drive) and become the anchor tenant in One Eastover Center, the signature 125,000-square-foot Class A office building for the mixed-use development in Jackson.

More than 150 employees, including nearly 80 attorneys, will begin work Monday, March 28, in the firm's new 70,000-square-foot office, which occupies three floors of the building. Previously, Baker Donelson's office was located in the Meadowbrook Office Park, which is less than a mile from The District at Eastover.

"Our team is excited about being the newest neighbors in The District," Scott W. Pedigo, managing shareholder of the firm's Jackson office, said in a press release. "It fosters the best in business, retail, restaurants, entertaining, living and working, and is quickly becoming a center of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. The District is a great place to do business for our clients and our firm, and we are proud to call it home."

For more information, visit bakerdonelson.com.

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