Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken is opening its first Tennessee location at the former Pizza Hut building at 1718 Memorial Blvd.

The Korean fried-chicken franchise currently covers 24 states—now 25 including Tennessee—and 8 countries, with at least 100 locations internationally, according to the restaurant’s website.

Bonchon chicken is cooked to order and made fresh daily. The restaurant serves a variety of chicken options including double-fried wings, drumsticks, boneless and bone-in wings, and strips. It also offers signature sauces, as well as potstickers, seafood, sliders, tacos, soups, salads, mochi and more. For more information, visit bonchon.com.

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Fat Guy Barbecue has announced that a new location will open soon at 6854 Lascassas Pk., in addition to the current location at 904 NW Broad St. within the Kwik Sak. The opening date for the new location has not yet been released.

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El Cubilete Mexican will open another location at 1668 Memorial Blvd., just a few buildings down from Climb Murfreesboro.

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The new 7 Brew Coffee at 217 N. Thompson Ln. celebrated its grand opening on Oct. 29.

The new drive-through is open from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and is currently hiring crew members. Drink options include coffee and decaf coffee, energy drinks, shakes, smoothies, teas and sodas. For more information, visit 7brew.com.

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Marco’s Pizza has opened a new location on Memorial Boulevard near Two J’s Grille, but has closed its East Northfield Boulevard location.

The new location is at a new shopping center at 3266 Memorial Blvd., which also includes additional locations of Gateway Urgent Care, another UPS Store and other businesses.

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The Happy Book Stack has opened in Murfreesboro at 1411 Mark Allen Ln.

The Happy Book Stack is a local, family-owned bookstore that offers used books, video games, DVDs, comic books, art and vinyl, and specializes in kids’ and Christian books. The bookstore also offers cash and store credit for these items.

“We look forward to being an integral part of the Murfreesboro community and believe that reading for education and personal leisure makes us all better people,” The Happy Book Stack posted online.

Those interested can trade up to four boxes of books or media at a time, and one box of vinyl at a time. For larger trades, customers can bring up to 10 boxes that can be sorted overnight, and will be applied as trade to a personal account or set for cash pickup later on.

“We look forward to being a warm environment for the Murfreesboro community and beyond to shop and hang out!”

Hours are from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and closed Monday through Wednesday.

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Outreach Thrift Store has opened its new and improved location at 338 SE Broad St. after renovating the building, the former home of Murfreesboro Pawn and Gold, just down the street from the Discovery Center.

Hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The business moved to its new location from its previous site near the Publix at the corner of Broad and Rutherford.

Outreach Thrift started in 1992 as a way to provide emergency clothing to those in need. Every purchase and donation aids in supporting the business’ goal, and provides well-maintained clothing, dishes, books and more at affordable prices, and accepts donations of these items. For more information, visit outreachmurfreesboro.org.

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After 101 years in business, the owners of the local and family-owned Haynes Hardware have decided to step away from the business.

The Elder family, which operates Ace Hardware locations in Georgia and East Tennessee and has been in business for 103 years, has taken over the hardware store at 1807 Memorial Blvd., now known as Elder’s Ace Hardware of Murfreesboro.

“After 101 years as a local family-owned business, we have decided to step away from ownership of the hardware store. We would like to express our sincere and deep gratitude to our loyal customers and wonderful community,” according to a statement from Haynes Hardware.

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White Branch, located within Jensen Quality Homes near the Murfreesboro Public Square and owned and operated by Chris and Marybeth Jensen, is doing some neat things with virtual reality technology.

White Branch starts with someone’s basic house plan to create an immersive, built-to-scale, decorated house that they put on a VR headset. Homebuyers and builders can walk through each room of the house virtually to get a feel for the space and to design how families will place furniture.

Additionally, White Branch plans to partner with the Boro Art Crawl, coming up next on Friday, Nov. 4, to allow visitors to walk through some virtual art galleries using its VR headsets. Find White Branch and Jensen Quality Homes at 109 E. Main St. Visit whitebranchtech.com for more information.

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A new concept called StretchLab has come to Murfreesboro, located at 451 N. Thompson Ln.

StretchLab specializes in helping others to achieve a deep stretch. StretchLab’s team of trained flexologists assist with one-on-one stretching and flexibility training sessions, which can last between 25 and 50 minutes, and consist of a series of stretches custom-designed for specific needs. In addition to one-on-one stretch sessions, the StretchLab offers group stretches, a program that welcomes people regardless of their level of fitness.

Benefits of the StretchLab include higher sports performance, a decrease in joint pain, higher flexibility, improved posture, decreased stress, better mental and physical health, improved mental clarity, and improved blood and oxygen flow.

Stretches offered include the standard 50-minute stretch, the maintenance 25-minute stretch and the group stretch, as well as monthly membership options that include either 4, 8, or 12 sessions ranging from 25 to 50 minutes. The business does not have an age requirement, although a parent or guardian will be required to sign a waiver for those under 18. For more information, visit stretchlab.com.

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A new golf shop called Golfix is coming to Murfreesboro in December.

It is expected to open on Dec. 1, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 16. It is located at 531 N. Thompson Ln. near Tandoor Indian Restaurant and the Chop House, and will offer lessons, clubs and club repair, Vessel golf bags and accessories, as well as other well-known brands, golf simulators and other products. For more information, visit thegolfix.net.

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Republic Services and Archaea Energy recently announced a renewable gas project at Middle Point Landfill, to be developed through the company’s Lightning Renewables LLC joint venture. The development will convert the gas that naturally occurs as waste decomposes into pipeline-quality natural gas, utilizing the landfill gas as a low-carbon fuel alternative to fossil fuels.

The Middle Point Landfill gas-to-RNG project should create clean energy resources, further control for the potential for off-site odor, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing directly to Republic Services’ long-term sustainability goal and bring meaningful environmental benefits to the local community, according to Area President of Republic Services Jamey Amick.

Archaea operates 13 RNG facilities across the U.S. and has a robust backlog of approximately 90 projects, which it plans to develop and construct over the next several years. Plans include development of 39 new RNG projects at landfills owned or operated by Republic Services across the country.

Renewable gas can be used as a transportation fuel; today, RNG powers 21% of Republic’s fleet. For more information, visit republicservices.com/sustainability.

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MTSU recently celebrated the Murphy Center’s 50th anniversary event and unveiled future facility upgrades and improvements.

The renovation project will cost roughly $6 million, and will provide a more modernized look for “The Glass House.” Renovations include 33,000 square feet of SageGlass smart windows, which will automatically tint and clear in response to the sun, which helps to remove glare and ensure that the building’s interior is cool and comfortable for fans and students alike. More sunlight can be let in the building in the winter, and the windows can darken to allow less light in during the heat of the summer. It marks the largest installation of dynamic glass in higher education in the United States, according to MTSU.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee welcomes attendees Tuesday, Oct. 18, to the kickoff event on the track concourse of the Murphy Center for a yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of the iconic building, known affectionately as The Glass House and recently undergoing almost $6 million in renovations. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

President McPhee also unveiled samples of 17 large, timeline panels featuring vintage photos that will be installed around Murphy Center’s concourse track that provide fans with a self-guided nostalgic look-back on the five decades of Murphy Center history.

MTSU Athletics officials will produce a new basketball court design, and retro uniforms that will be worn by the men’s team during a special anniversary game on Dec. 15.

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Dalamar Homes, a custom home builder in Kentucky and Middle Tennessee, recently celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of its new Hamlet South Home Community. The new community of custom homes is located in La Vergne and features tree-lined views, walking trails, retail shops and quick access to I-24.

“Fully customize your home with multiple plan upgrade options: sit back in your martini loft and enjoy the tree-lined views, or enjoy an extra bonus room just above the garage. Every home features granite countertops throughout, 10-foot ceilings on the first floor, bull-nose corners, and more!” For more information, visit dalamarhomes.com.

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Middle Tennessee Electric plans to expand its main campus on New Salem Highway by adding new facilities to accommodate the relocation of personnel and equipment from the cooperative’s downtown office on North Walnut Street, which will be empty next year.

The expansion of the cooperative’s corporate office will provide a new space for its member services department, including a new drive-thru for members. The corporate expansion will also offer multi-purpose meeting rooms to host employee training classes and large group meetings.

Another building will be located at the rear of the main campus. It will include functional spaces for the operations crews and line trucks, warehouse, metering and engineering teams.

“We’re confident the project will be completed by fall of 2023,” said P.D. Mynatt, MTE’s assistant general manager. “The two new facilities have been designed for the comfort and convenience of both MTE members and employees. We can’t wait for everyone to see them.”

In addition to MTE’s construction around the main campus, work remains underway by the Tennessee Department of Transportation to expand New Salem Highway. Parking at MTE’s main campus is still available for members in the front of the building. To avoid traffic congestion due to the construction, MTE’s Saint Andrews and downtown locations offer members alternative options for paying their bills.

Founded in 1936, MTE is the largest electric cooperative in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) region and the second largest in the United States, serving more than 750,000 Tennesseans via 325,000-plus accounts covering 11 Middle Tennessee counties. MTE employs 520 people in seven local offices and its Murfreesboro corporate headquarters.

Additionally, several Middle Tennessee Electric linemen took home awards at the 38th Annual International Lineman’s Rodeo & Expo held Oct. 12-15 in Overland Park, Kansas. The International Lineman’s Rodeo attracts the best linemen from around the world to compete in events based on traditional lineman skills and tasks.

Nolan Farris placed first in the Apprentice Insulator and Armor Rod Replacement category and third in Apprentice Hurtman Rescue. MTE’s Josh Fuller, Tommy Kirkland and Chase Patterson placed fourth in the 4kV Insulator and Tie Replacement category. The group also finished fifth overall in the Journeyman Team from a Co-Op Division category. Keith Davenport, Bo Asbury and Mike Diggs earned second place in the Journeyman Seniors Division.

“MTE is proud to have linemen who are dedicated to their craft and honing their skills, and they always represent us and our membership so well,” said MTE President and CEO Chris Jones.

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Foundry Commercial recently broke ground at Creekside Logistics for its first Nashville area development containing three large buildings in Smyrna.

This project will take place on 42.9 acres, where one building will total 88,400 square feet and a 105-car parking lot, one will include 147,290 square feet and a 138-car parking lot, and the third will be 135,200 square feet and a 155-car lot.

Foundry’s partner for the project is Principal Financial Group. Foundry Commercial is a commercial real estate service and investment company. Foundry is sustained by 2,000 associates operating from 11 markets, providing leasing and management on more that 62 million square feet and over 3,000 seniors housing units, typically executing over $1.6 billion in leasing, tenant rep, and investment sale transactions annually. For more information, visit foundrycommercial.com.