REVISED: Worried of Change

Bentley Bryant

September 12, 2011

Worried of Change

437 words

The quaint town of Oxford, Mississippi is one of the most historic of the South. But, what is it about this town that is so hard for it to get used to change?

More recently established businesses have a harder time staying successful on the square. Whether they are in food or retail, newer commerce rarely gets the chance to make a new “name” for itself in Oxford. To the outsider and the customer, change is constantly seen. Restaurants are leaving and renting new spaces to try new locations. Businesses are also buying and selling their own stores to try and see what could be more profitable.

Kerri Anne Cannon is a current Ole Miss student.

“I came back from the summer and three stores that had been in one placed left, and one restaurant had moved,” she said. “It is weird because everyone has started to notice all of the business moving around.”

There are only a chosen few that have stayed the “base” of the square. For example, Ajax, 208, Old Venice, and Roosters are four restaurants that have stayed in the same site for years. The name that they have been able to make of their businesses has stuck with Oxford residents and students, so they have become the most popular to customers. The one thing that these four base restaurants all have in common: location.

Brooks Cunningham, a student at Ole Miss, and a chef at McEwen’s. This eatery just opened in this passed summer of 2011. Located next to Ole Venice when customers drive into town, it is prime location for foot traffic. Cunningham used to cook at the famed 208, an Oxford restaurant that is more upscale, and has been open for more than 20 years.

“Location is key,” Cunningham said. “Places that do not have the setting of somewhere like Roosters is going to have a harder time starting up their business. But I am not worried about McEwen’s.”

Along with the restaurant business, retail stores also are following the trend of change. Mary Rose, the manager of women’s apparel store, Village Tailor. Her store is located on the corner right of the square. She has been the manager of the store for nine years. Customer service, paired with location, is the key elements to keeping a triumphant commercial business in the town of Oxford, she said

“Social media and advertisement help, but people know the store and have been coming for years,” she said, “Customer service is key.”

Anne Nicholas, an Oxford resident for 17 years, agrees with these claims. As an outsider of the businesses, she has seen these “base” businesses stay constant. To Nicholas, the students get more attention marketing wise over the residents of Oxford.

“No matter what, Oxford will always, always be about tradition,” she said. “It is not open to change.”

Sources:

Mary Rose: manager of Village Tailor, 662-234-8217

Anne Nicholas: Oxford resident (17+ years), ahnico1@olemiss.edu, 662-801-8564

Brooks Cunningham: cook at McEwen’s Oxford, bcunnin@olemiss.edu, 843-345-9467

Kerrianne Cannon: Ole Miss Junior, kacannon@olemiss.edu , 682-553-7207