News

Outreach Thrift, Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken, Fat Guy Barbecue, The Happy Book Stack, White Branch, Golfi x, Marco’s Pizza

BY DELORES ELLIOTT

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.

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.

EL CUBILETE MEXICAN will open another location at 1668 Memorial Blvd., just a few buildings down from Climb Murfreesboro.

MARCO’S PIZZA has opened a new location on Memorial Boulevard near Two J’s Grille, but has closed its East Northfi eld 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.

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.

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.

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 fl exologists assist with one-on-one stretching and fl exibility training sessions, which can last between 25 and 50 minutes, and consist of a series of stretches custom-designed for specifi c needs. In addition to one-on-one stretch sessions, the StretchLab offers group stretches, a program that welcomes people regardless of their level of fi tness.

Benefi ts of the StretchLab include higher sports performance, a decrease in joint pain, higher fl exibility, improved posture, decreased stress, better mental and physical health, improved mental clarity, and improved blood and oxygen fl ow.

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.

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.

’BORO BUSINESS BUZZ

BONCHON KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN is opening its fi rst 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 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.

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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REPUBLIC SERVICES and ARCHAEA ENERGY recently announced a renewable gas project at Middle Point Landfi ll, 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 landfi ll gas as a low-carbon fuel alternative to fossil fuels.

The Middle Point Landfi ll gas-to-RNG project should create clean energy resources, further control for the potential for offsite odor, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing directly to Republic Services’ long-term sustainability goal and bring meaningful environmental benefi ts 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 landfi lls 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 fl eet. For more information, visit republicservices.com/sustainability.

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.

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 fi ve decades of Murphy Center history.

MTSU Athletics offi cials 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. 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.

Every home features granite countertops throughout, 10-foot ceilings on the fi rst fl oor, bull-nose corners, and more!” For more information, visit dalamarhomes.com.

FOUNDRY COMMERCIAL recently broke ground at Creekside Logistics for its fi rst 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.

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.

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 offi ce on North Walnut Street, which will be empty next year.

The expansion of the cooperative’s corporate offi ce 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 confi dent 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 traffi c 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 offi ces 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 fi rst 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 fi nished fi fth 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.

Diversity and Its Fallacy

Modern diversity, equity and inclusion training often causes more division than positive team building

HUNDREDS OF BOOKS have been written, terabytes of videos have been uploaded and thousands of hours have been presented on the topic of diversity training in the workplace— more specifically, diversity, equity and inclusion, or “DEI”. The one thing all these types of programs have in common is the money made on the material.

There’s nothing wrong with a product or service making money so long as it legitimately solves a problem, and a company gets what it paid for. But many of these programs are ever-changing, with something new every year. One has to ask: if these concepts keep changing and being constantly revised, was there ever a solid foundation for them in the first place?

But sometimes, these fuzzy ideas do more harm than good when there was no problem at all to begin with. It really is a game of semantics. And for some, it truly is a game to say one thing and yet allow some to think they mean something else. Consider it marketing, a trick of the mind, or just plain propaganda.

Whatever you call it, it’s not necessarily the whole truth. Whatever the team looks like, there is never quite enough diversity, equity or inclusion. It’s a game of “heads I win, tails you lose.” There are a lot of hypersensitive trainers and resource managers out there who actually do more harm than good.

In 2021, Christopher Rufo, a writer for the City Journal, exposed training for a prominent American defense contractor. In his article, Rufo highlights how a handbook entitled Stronger Together contains a list of what to say, what not to say, and how to identify one’s own biases. But this pessimistic view assumes all people are critically flawed.

And that’s not a one-off experience. Another contractor held a “re-education camp” for white males so they may expose their culture as a privilege. An entertainment company “challenges” its employees to fill out a checklist of private and uncomfortable questions. And a beverage company provided online training which tells its employees to “be less white.”

I’m not opposed to diversity training in and of itself. After all, I conduct workshops on the topic. It’s just one portion of my teambuilding curriculum, though.

Of course there should be diversity! A team which is diverse in age, culture and viewpoints is better equipped for success, because any challenge which may arise is no longer viewed from just one perspective. This true diversity almost ensures the inspiration of new techniques and systems. It spawns synergy.

Differences need not be viewed as obstacles, but rather as untapped resources. Former HewlettPackard CEO Carly Fiorina once said, “The highest calling of leadership is to unlock the potential in others.” Find what is unique about each member of a team that could be used as an advantage.

Of course there should be equity! If by that term, we mean providing fair opportunities for each employee to progress. Sadly, even this word has been compromised. Pundits have latched onto “equity” to mean something quite the opposite of what is discussed here.

There is often confusion between the terms equality and equity. They certainly sound alike. Many times, these words are used almost interchangeably, but they are not synonymous. One describes sameness, while the other describes what is fair or just. It is better for a business owner or manager to invest in the personal excellence of the individuals.

Excellence is not perfection; rather, it is the achievement of individual greatness. It is when someone is doing the very best he or she can do. And how many times have we seen someone not even try to live up to their best? That’s where a good leader can come into play.

Vince Lombardi famously stated, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” Considered to be one of the best football coaches in history, Lombardi knew how to get the most out of his men. He understood each athlete’s talents as well as his limitations. He had confidence in his players, and they trusted him.

Of course there should be inclusion! Inclusiveness is a main function of management. Every employee should feel safe, respected and welcome. And trust is a very big part of inclusion.

Diversity brings us innovation, or the pursuit of new ideas. Equity brings us excellence or high performance. But inclusion brings us collaboration. Collaboration is the process of people working together to achieve a common goal. It’s teamwork. Innovation and personal excellence mean nothing if they are not brought together.

However, the recent corporate training of diversity, equity and inclusion can do more damage than good to an organization. The words sound nice, but what is actually being taught? In some cases, the curriculum fosters division and creates resentment among employees.

When such training is not facilitated correctly, some employees can feel as though they are under a microscope, or tokenized. Meanwhile, others could feel marginalized or pushed out simply because they showed up to work that day. This division is hardly what could be called “team building.”

A wise man once said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Martin Luther King Jr. knew there was more that united people than separated them. Perhaps it’s time we get back to that ideal. Let’s stop pigeonholing people into categories and just accept them for who they are.

Blaine Little is founder and CEO of Momentum Seminars Training and Coaching, helping companies remain profitable by investing in their people. Learn more at momentumseminars.com. Find his book Managerial Mistakes, Missteps & Misunderstandings on Amazon.