Business Twitter hub in progress

I confess I'm a Twitter user and not just to keep up with friends. I use Twitter for on-the-spot news, links to coupons and keeping track of business, food and fashion trends.

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I received a tweet from the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association drawing my attention to an article in The Wall Street Journal about how entrepreneurs use Twitter to get through a crisis.

The National Restaurant and the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant associations stress that Twitter is a powerful tool for small businesses, especially during any sort of customer-service or public-relations crisis. However, I see an opportunity for Hattiesburg businesses to use Twitter not only for crises but to use it as a public relations machine, as well as to keep up with business articles in the Hattiesburg American.

I'm thinking of starting our own Hattiesburg business Twitter to keep all businesses and customers up-to-date with sales, holiday closings, hiring fairs and special events. Send an e-mail my way if you want to take part or even if you have ideas on how to run it and work out the kinks.
Openings

# The Grill and Grocery, 121 E. Pine St., opened next to Go Young Fashions. The G&G is a combination convenience store and a grill/takeout eatery with a very interesting menu. The G&G is open Monday through Saturday. Details: 336-7986.

# Elements Salon is moving to Canebrake Country Club, 1 Cane Drive, and will reopen as Elements Salon and Spa at Canebrake. The salon, with full spa and massage, has a tentative opening date of Sept. 30.

# Topher's Rock 'n' Roll Grill will open in the old Ray Ray's Fried Chicken building, 5252 Old U.S. 11 in Hattiesburg. The family-oriented, fast food restaurant plans to open Oct. 1. Owned by the parent company that also owns The Bottling Company and Mugshots, the restaurant promises tasty burgers and vintage music memorabilia. Details: 336-7418 or visit www.tophersgrill.com.

# Gatti Town is slated to open this fall. It is located between Best Buy and Toys 'R Us.

# Qdoba Mexican Grill is expected to open Nov. 1 on Hardy Street between Applebee's and Wachovia Bank.

# Auto Barn is being built at the corner of Emerald Lane and Broadway Drive. No completion date was given.

# An independently-owned burger shop is being built in the former Popeye's on U.S. 49 location. No completion date was given.
Events

# The Kitchen Table will host Young Chefs with Julia at 4 p.m. Sept. 28. Participants will learn to cook pasta jambalaya, white chocolate bread pudding with white chocolate sauce. Cost: $35. Details: 261-2224.

# Curves is offering a free 30-day diet program for Hattiesburg-area women Sept. 30 at Curves of Hattiesburg on the corner of Hardy Street and North 25th Avenue. Details: 450-2878 or visit www.curves.com.

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