Behind The Lens, a full-service photography studio, has opened at 507 NW Broad St. for photographers and clients. The space is equipped with rolling walls, a fireplace, backgrounds and props, an office, a working boudoir shower and more. Photographers can rent out the studio for shoots or to have a professional environment to meet with clients. Behind The Lens staff will also match those looking for a photographer with one to photograph them.
The adjacent Behind The Scenes Professional Salon will get photo clients looking good before their shoot. The salon currently has booth space for rent.
For more information, find Behind The Lens on Facebook or contact Taylor Alexander at 615-772-6228.
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Slim Chickens has plans to open a fourth location in Tennessee. The chicken restaurant’s new location will be located at 380 W. Sam Ridley Pkwy. in Smyrna.
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The Memorial Boulevard lot that formerly contained a Jack in the Box will house a Chase Bank branch. The banking company will also open a location on the corner of Broad Street and Mercury Boulevard. Construction has begun at both sites.
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Local chef and culinary creator Bob Burford recently launched his own catering company called B.B. Creations. B.B. Creations offers catering for events including weddings, private dinners, parties and other events. He hopes to specialize in higher-end events such as galas and fundraisers.
Burford received his culinary degree from Le Cordon Bleu in Las Vegas in 2012 before moving to Nashville. The culinary professional has since worked for Peter D’s, The Alley on Main, and Dallas and Jane Restaurant.
Regarding Burford’s experience in working at the aforementioned, respectively, for Peter Demos, Shawn Hackinson and Alex Belew, “I worked for Peter, Alex and Shawn and felt like I paid my dues. Now I get to create my own things,” he said.
Burford operates out of a custom kitchen trailer, which is currently a work in progress. He plans to have it on the road and at events very soon.
To book an event or to inquire about availability, contact Burford at bbcreationstn@gmail.com or 615-617-7801.
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Local turntable enthusiast Tom Blizzard, better known as the Turntable Medic, recently moved his home-based business to a larger workshop location at 603 W. Burton St., Suite F, in Murfreesboro.
Blizzard specializes in bringing life back to vintage record players and turntables, as well as automatic record changers and tube or solid-state electronics. He also services radios, AM-FM stereos, console stereos, transistor radios and a variety of other electronics. In addition to his main location, Blizzard offers drop-off and pick-up locations around Middle Tennessee and surrounding areas; these locations include Grimey’s Records in Nashville, Variety Record Shop in Columbia, Carpe Diem Vintage Vinyl in Franklin, Spinners Record Shop in Spring Hill and The Great Escape in Murfreesboro.
Blizzard is also actively seeking to hire a part-time repair person with electronics and troubleshooting experience.
For more information, visit turntablemedic.com or call 615-331-9241.
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Eric and Nicole Ford, operators of Goodness Gracious at the Mill, announced in August that they will relocate their restaurant to The Fountains at Gateway.
“While we have deeply enjoyed our time in Readyville at The Readyville Mill, we are excited to expand our operational hours, increase our workforce and better serve our customers,” the Fords posted on social media. “We are projecting the move to happen late fall.”
The new location within Murfreesboro will allow for more parking and more open-for-business days. The restaurant is now seeking employees who can be trained at the mill and transition to the new location.
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Donny Lester, owner and operator of L&L Contractors, will open Brohalla directly next to his construction business office on the Murfreesboro Public Square. Brohalla, with a building front designed to look like the front of a viking ship, will be an upscale men’s consignment shop carrying items including sporting goods and clothing, hunting and fishing gear, and motorcycles.
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Corax Strength and Performance is offering free training for military veterans and recruits through The Raven Initiative, which began in November of 2020. The program offers custom training opportunities that are designed to fit the needs of the military veterans and recruits who are interested in working with Corax.
Clients will receive the highest level of training and support that the company is able to offer, according to Corax owner Jacob Lembke. This is completely free, and the only requirement is that the client applies via the Corax Strength and Performance website, and participates in a brief interview process. The program is funded entirely through the company’s GoFundMe page.
“The brave men and women who serve in our military branches make great sacrifices to protect the freedoms which many of us take for granted. As a family, we have chosen to do our part in supporting those in uniform by creating the Raven Initiative,” Lembke said.
Corax is located at 3242 Memorial Blvd. and offers in-person and online sessions for its clients, as well as a trial session for anyone interested but unsure about joining. For more information, visit coraxmurfreesboro.com or call 615-651-1408.
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Hyatt Place Murfreesboro recently opened just down Medical Center Parkway from The Avenue at 2108 Lothric Way.
Georgia real estate developer John Engler opened his newest Hyatt property in the bustling area. The Hyatt franchisee has also opened two Hyatts in Georgia.
This new hotel offers an indoor gym and a pool, a bar and 116 rooms, including 14 suites with two different options. For more information about the location or booking a room, visit hyatt.com or call 615-995-7920.
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219 Mixed Cuisine will host the September 2021 installment of The Connection: An Evening of Professional Networking and Business Brainstorming from 5–7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 16. All Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs and professionals are welcome to attend this casual, free, no-obligation event, where they can meet other small business owners and tap into one another’s experience and energy. 219 Mixed Cuisine is located at 219 NW Broad St.
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Holloway Accounting Services will host its fifth anniversary celebration on Thursday, Sept. 16 at 4 p.m. The celebration event will take place at the business’ 237 Castlewood Dr. location. Holloway offers tailored outsourced CFO, accounting, and operational and marketing solutions for small and mid-sized companies. They work directly with business owners to implement strategies designed to focus on generating revenue, expense savings and streamlining business processes. For more information on the business and what it offers, visit hollowayaccounting.com.
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Meridian Law will open a Rutherford County location to help meet the needs of its clients. The new location will be at 2656 Rideout Ln., Suite B, in Murfreesboro. The business already has a location in Brentwood.
Meridian Law was founded in 2014 and represents individuals and businesses across Tennessee in various civil matters, including business, contract, and employment litigation; non-competition and trade secret disputes; insurance defense; and estate planning and probate matters, according to information from director of marketing for Meridian Law Wendy Shumate.
Attorney Robert Martin will manage Meridian’s Murfreesboro office.
“I grew up in Murfreesboro and graduated from Rutherford County public schools. I am excited to bring my practice and experience back to the community that played a crucial role in my upbringing. Murfreesboro has been growing for as long as I can remember, and I’m excited for Meridian Law to play a larger part in that growth,” Martin said.
Meridian’s managing member Tom Shumate said Rutherford County’s fast growth led the firm to open a second office.
“Meridian continues to serve more clients in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County,” Shumate said. “Opening a Murfreesboro office allows us to serve them better while providing high-quality, modern legal services efficiently and cost-effectively. Plus, it allows me to eat at Toot’s more often!”
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Rutherford County lawmakers announced in August that vehicle emissions testing will end for Rutherford County on Jan. 14. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation confirmed that the Environmental Protection Agency approved a revision to the state’s air quality plan, which activated a law passed by the General Assembly in 2018 that will remove requirements 120 days after approval, according to a press release. Rutherford County is one of five counties affected by this decision.
“I am very pleased that Rutherford County residents will finally have relief from this burdensome requirement,” said State Sen. Dawn White. “It has taken years to get permission from the federal government to be able to end this requirement once and for all, and the federal government’s approval is long overdue.”
The 1990 Federal Clean Air Act required the State of Tennessee to develop more restrictive regulations to control air pollution from mobile sources in counties which were not meeting the federal standards for air quality. In August of 2017, TDEC announced that the entire State of Tennessee meets federal air quality health standards. Those who have questions regarding the elimination of vehicle emissions testing may visit the TDEC website at tn.gov/environment.
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The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce will host this month’s Business After Hours event at the Ferguson Enterprises location at 540 New Salem Rd. in Murfreesboro. The event will run from 4:30–6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9.
Business After Hours is an informal, social networking event designed to connect people with business professionals across Rutherford County. Registration for this event is not required. Admission for Chamber members is $10, and $20 for future members. For more information about this event, visit rutherfordchamber.org.
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Local veteran sportswriter Danny Brewer will join the WGNS Radio sports reporting team. During his years on the job, he has covered a variety of sports for many publications across Middle Tennessee including the Rutherford Review, Nashville Sports Weekly, Nashville Banner, Middle Tennessee Racing News and the Rutherford Reader.
“To be a part of the largest radio station in one of the fastest-growing counties in the country is very exciting,” Brewer said. “I grew up listening to WGNS and to now have the opportunity to spread the word about local athletics and the fantastic sport of thoroughbred racing in my neck of the woods is just outstanding.”
Brewer is a current member of the College Football Writers Association, College Basketball Writers Association, a voting member in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association poll and a member of the Turf Publicists of America. Brewer will bring knowledge about high school sports, the MTSU athletic department and thoroughbred horse racing.
“Tune into WGNS Radio on Friday nights during football season to listen to Danny’s reports from area games,” said station manager Bryan Barrett.
