Downtown Columbus has lost one of its dining spots as Main Street Thai, located at 509 Main St., has officially closed. Saturday marked the final day of service for the restaurant, leaving a vacancy in a prime location on Main Street.
Main Street Thai Closes Down After Short Ownership
While owner Mark Kenner has not released a statement regarding the closure of Main Street Thai, the restaurant ceased operations this past Saturday. Kenner had taken ownership of the Thai restaurant in June of 2023, inheriting a business with a history in Columbus.
Main Street Thai was originally established as Thai by Thai in 2014 by Scott Carley and Gon Vonghan. It later operated under the name Gon Thai before Vonghan sold the establishment to Kenner. Located on a prominent stretch of Main Street, the closure presents a significant opportunity for a new business to move into a high-visibility location in downtown Columbus. The spot is expected to attract considerable interest from potential restaurateurs and business owners looking to capitalize on the downtown area’s foot traffic.
Local Business Scene Update: Trampoline Park Temporarily Closed, New Beverage Arrives
In other local business news, Rebound Trampoline park and bowling alley, situated at 1207 Hwy. 45 N., is temporarily closed. According to information posted on their website, the entertainment facility sustained damage from recent storms earlier in the month. Efforts to contact the owners for further details were unsuccessful before press time. Rebound is a popular destination for families and individuals seeking recreational activities, particularly bowling and trampoline fun. It is hoped that the park will be able to recover quickly from the storm damage and reopen in time for the summer season.
On a positive note for Mississippi consumers, a new alcoholic beverage option has become available throughout the state. The Finnish Long Drink, originating from Finland, is now being sold in Mississippi. This beverage category, known as “long drinks,” was created for the 1952 Summer Olympics held in Helsinki and has since become the most popular type of alcoholic drink in Finland. The Finnish Long Drink brand itself was established in 2018.
Sakari Manninen, a co-founder of the brand, expressed his enthusiasm for expanding distribution to Mississippi. He emphasized the brand’s commitment to authenticity, stating, “When my fellow founders and I brought our native drink to the U.S., it was important for us that our product stayed true to what you would find in Finland. We spent a lot of time developing the perfect recipe that’s unlike anything on the American market. Best enjoyed chilled and straight from the can, Long Drink is made with sparkling citrus and real liquor for a refreshing taste.”
Mississippi consumers can find two varieties of Long Drink: the traditional citrus flavor made with grapefruit and juniper berry, and a zero-sugar citrus version that is also zero carb and gluten-free. Manninen added, “Our mission has been to introduce Americans to what long drinks are and what makes them special. We are proud to share our Finnish heritage with the people of the Magnolia State and we’re looking forward to hearing what Mississippians think of the Finnish Long Drink.”
For those interested in trying this Finnish import, The Long Drink is available statewide at local liquor stores, bars, and restaurants. F.E.B Distributing Co., Clark Beverage Group, Stokes Distributing, and Magnolia Beverage Co. are handling the distribution of the beverage. Since its introduction to the American market in 2018, The Long Drink has gained significant popularity, reaching nearly 2 million nine-liter case sales in 2023.
West Point Welcomes New Snow Cone Business
Shifting focus to West Point, a new dessert option has emerged with the opening of West Point Snow Co. Located conveniently across from West Point High School at 3229 E. Churchill Road, West Point Snow Co. offers gourmet shaved ice. Customers can visit the new snow cone spot on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. to enjoy a refreshing treat.
This concludes this week’s local business update. Check back next week for more news from around the Golden Triangle.
