If there’s one thing Oxford is known for, it's the wide-range of small businesses that dish out some of the best plates you’ve ever had, and Good Day Cafe is no exception to that trend. Co-Owners Ross, Joseph, and Executive Chef Patrick have had their doors open since September of 2022 and have been booming in business ever since.

Back 9 Oxford, fondly known as “The Country Club on The Square,” offers a different kind of sports bar experience for all ages. Looking for great food, multi-sport game simulators and a great bar menu? Back 9 Oxford is the place and we are happy to highlight them this month!

The Oliver Hotel, formerly The Chancellor’s House, decided to rebrand and rejuvenate with a beautiful renovation this past summer. Over the past decade, the management company, Oliver Hospitality, has grown rapidly across the country. From the Sierras in South Lake, Tahoe to Atlanta, Georgia to Knoxville, Tennessee and now Oxford, the brand represents a culture of great service and a wide range of food and beverage options. The Oliver Hotel is host to Oxford’s newest restaurant, Kingswood.

Mississippi state law changed July 1, 2021, by providing a provision for a microbrewery to exist in the state. A group of four friends jumped to make the first Oxford microbrewery, Circle & Square Brewing Company, happen in Oxford. Sumner Abraham shared, “Once this law passed, we assembled our team and got to work. This has been an 18 month project of ensuring compliance with all applicable laws while setting up a structure that can be sustainable for decades to come. We felt Oxford, as a community, could benefit from having its own microbrewery and we are proud to be Oxford's first microbrewery. Our hope is that anytime anyone comes to town, we can deliver a high quality product that reflects how special of a community we get to call home.”

One of Oxford’s most well-known chef and restauranteur, John Currence, opened City Grocery in 1992. This fine dining experience is “the best of the best” on the Oxford Square and brings locals and visitors alike through its doors each week. I mean, who doesn’t love having a cocktail or glass of wine on the City Grocery balcony followed by a fantastic meal?

Wine Spectator, the world’s leading authority on wine, recently unveiled the winners of the 2023 Restaurant Awards, which honor the world’s best restaurants for wine. The Sipp in Oxford received its 4th consecutive award. Claire Kiamie, co-owner with her husband AJ, shared, “At The Sipp and YŪGŌ, we strive to offer our guests an exceptional dining experience and our extensive wine selections are an integral part of that experience. We are proud to be acknowledged for our dedication to providing outstanding wines that perfectly complement our innovative culinary creations.”

Inspired by travel, music, food and visual arts, Chef Erika Lipe has found a way to use her inspirations and, in turn, inspire others with her food at the Oxford restaurant, Sola. Erika shares, “I think combining styles of food on a menu is a very delicate art. You have to have a really good understanding of the purpose of each of the elements in order for it to be a success.” And Sola has certainly found its success and more!

Who knew taking on a new business during Covid would actually bring people together? Elizabeth Speed purchased Oxsicles from Lauren Klimentz right before the pandemic began in 2020. Elizabeth shared, “It was a rocky first popsicle season but I made it work by doing the Oxford Community Farmer's Market, continuing to build my retail locations and hosting neighborhood pop-ups for small outdoor events. This really helped me to get to know more people in town and bring Oxsicles to them in their neighborhoods.” Our neighborhood hosted a “pop-up” during Covid, and it was such a treat to see our neighbors and let our kids (and adults) connect over delicious pops!

From roasting and sharing cups of coffee in her backyard to serving coffee out of her VW bus named “Creamy” to a storefront in Water Valley and now Oxford, this coffee roaster extraordinaire, Gretchen Williams, loves sharing the roasting process and making lasting relationships with people (and their dogs) every day!

James and Melody Sharp opened Living Foods Wellness Café and Juicery in 2014 after their youngest (at the time) son suffered with gluten sensitivities. After realizing that eating out in Oxford was hard for people with food allergies and special preferences, they decided to take a chance on opening a restaurant that provided a safe place for people with allergies, sensitivities and just personal preferences. And we are so glad they did!

Joseph Beck traveled the world as a Green Beret in the Army Special Forces. Throughout his travels, he quickly learned to judge a culture by four things: the food, the hospitality, the music and the coffee. Beck recently shared, “Coffee is something that brings people together. I wanted my coffee shop to be for everyone and for all customers to feel welcome.” And he’s created that atmosphere in his coffee shop, Common Ground Coffee Bar.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we could not think of a better business to highlight than Crystal Dunn’s JustCakeIt! This custom, made-to-order bakery on Jackson Avenue West serves up some of the best sweets in Oxford and its even got a special Valentine’s Day Menu available. Love is in the air and JustCakeIt! is serving up lots of love with their specialty desserts!

Community Donuts came to University Avenue in November 2019 and business hasn’t slowed, even with the 2020 pandemic. Chantha Tan, owner, knows the key to success is showing kindness, building community and, of course, sharing sweet treats!

Where was your first date? Well, AJ & Claire Kiamie fondly remember theirs at the once popular Two Stick restaurant that was located in the back of the now Lyric Theatre on the Oxford Square. It served good sushi and had a cool music scene. The Kiamies wanted to bring Asian cuisine back to the Oxford Square, so YU ̅-GO ̅ Oxford was born!

Both Angie Sicurezza and Nick Reppond have been in the restaurant business since they were 15 years old. Even their love affair began in a restaurant, City Grocery Restaurant Group in Oxford, as they both began working for John Currence in 2009. Their love for each other, good food, community and a fantastic building in Taylor, Mississippi inspired them to open GRIT in 2016. It has become one of our favorite restaurants, and it’s only a quick 10 minute drive from Oxford!

It’s been 25 years since Ajax Diner opened its doors on the Oxford Square. Randy Yates, owner, has found success with a great Southern comfort food menu, a funky, family-friendly environment and a fantastic display of folk art, featuring many of Lamar Sorrento’s works. It’s become a food destination in Oxford, and it’s ALWAYS difficult to decide which menu item to order!

Lee Cauthen knows a thing or two about running a successful restaurant on the Oxford Square. Before opening McEwen’s, he managed the popular Downtown Grill (where Boure is currently located). Lee’s cool, calm and kind demeanor are rare to find in a restaurant owner, but it’s what keeps his staff consistent and happy – and that consistency in both staff and delicious food is what keeps McEwen’s one of our favorite Oxford restaurants!

Chef John Currence is known throughout Oxford for his four fantastic restaurants: City Grocery, Big Bad Breakfast, Boure and Snackbar. These restaurants helped to elevate Oxford’s restaurant scene and continue to draw visitors (and locals) year round. Snackbar continues to be one of our favorite restaurants in Oxford!

Kelly Jeffus turned her cheese-making hobby into a passion that allowed her to open our favorite cheese shop in Oxford, Johnston Hill Creamery. All of their cheese products are made by hand using traditional methods and aged in-house in their 150 square foot cheese cave. With no added preservatives, they only use milk and cream purchased locally from Brown Family Farm.

Who doesn’t love a slice of pizza, a cold beer and live music? Scott Caradine knew this to be true and sought to create a spot in Oxford that offered just that. Now almost 30 years later, Proud Larry’s is still offering its pizza, beer and live music and is busier than ever!