About / Newsroom

A small business haven

Growth builds on growth

Published: April 2, 2005

Reprinted with permission of the Rankin Ledger

By Erin Puryear

epuryear@rankinledger.com

The drive to the practice tee is about to get much shorter for Florence golfers.

The Meadows driving range is set to open in June two miles south of Florence on U.S. 49. Owner David Matthews said he decided to build the driving range in fast-growing south Rankin County after researching the area's traffic, economy and population.

"The traffic that goes by is tremendous," he said.

That growing traffic flow on busy U.S. 49 is a key attraction for retail businesses, said Larry Mobley, assistant director of the Rankin First Economic Development Authority.

"Florence is growing just as fast as the other cities in the area are, but in a different fashion," he said. "As small retail business picks up, you'll start to see bigger businesses moving in." Last year, Florence issued 10 new business permits, and new businesses including the driving range, a coffee shop and bakery, a home-decor shop and an expanded fitness center are all in the works already this year.

Money made from retail sales totaled $23,869,623 last year, according to demographics from Rankin First.

Florence is a growth spot for small businesses and entrepreneurs because it's still a small town, Mobley said. Farther in the future, Mobley said, a project to widen U.S. 49 that is slated for 2007 could help the area develop like Lakeland Drive in Flowood.

But for now, the emphasis is on small businesses, like Just Between Friends, a coffee shop scheduled to open April 15 in the Deerfield Shopping Center on U.S. 49.

"We have men in Florence that go to the Krystal at 5:30 in the morning to drink coffee because there's nowhere else to go," said owner Tina Chandler.

She said she tested her product by passing out six-inch cakes to businesses around town.

"It was your basic guerrilla marketing," Chandler said. "When I started getting calls and calls, I knew I had something."

Just Between Friends will serve cookies, pastries and cake by the slice. Specialty items, such as decorated cakes, cookie bouquets and wedding cakes will also be sold.

The bistro-style coffee shop will give Florence residents a place to "sit and enjoy a cup of coffee away from the pressures of home."

Mobley said there's a need in Florence for a shop like Chandler's, as well as for the Meadows. The driving range will add to the quality of life in the city, a bonus for new developers looking at the area, he said.

"People won't have to drive a half hour to hit some balls," Mobley said. "They can go during lunchtime or in the evening after work."

The 300-yard hillside driving range will feature putting greens and sand traps. Tees will be both grass and artificial, and the range will hold 40 golfers at a time, Meadows said.

There will also be a clubhouse that will have drinks, snacks and games like pool and pinball.

Meadows hopes the business will grow itself. He said a repair shop and a professional golf trainer will be added as the need for such services grows.

"It's a risky take — either it will or it won't (do well)," Meadows said. "But that's another reason to start slow, to see if it picks up."

Florence also has a new home decor store. Home Again opened about a month ago and offers items from sconces and mirrors to candles and clocks.

"I tried to get a mixture," said Shana Taylor, the owner. "So many people are into so many different things."

Home Again is also in the Deerfield Shopping Center on U.S. 49 north.