Business in Opelika?

Overview

Downtown Opelika Photo - Opelika, Alabama

Quote:

Opelika and Auburn Alabama are slowly becoming one and the same. The border between the two is indistinguishable, well, not quite, as Auburn is where the money is and Opelika, well, it's getting poorer as wealthy residents move to the college town.As depressing as that is, that the town is losing its identity and self reliance; as the people move, they leave behind a surprising stash of antiques at Angel's Antiques & Flea Market (900 Columbus Pkwy). Some items of furniture need a touch up and others look great as they are. Some of it is just crap, as any massive antique mall.The downtown is interested in revitalizing. the old train station features a lively farmer's market on Tuesd...Read More

Opelika and Auburn Alabama are slowly becoming one and the same. The border between the two is indistinguishable, well, not quite, as Auburn is where the money is and Opelika, well, it's getting poorer as wealthy residents move to the college town.

As depressing as that is, that the town is losing its identity and self reliance; as the people move, they leave behind a surprising stash of antiques at Angel's Antiques & Flea Market (900 Columbus Pkwy). Some items of furniture need a touch up and others look great as they are. Some of it is just crap, as any massive antique mall.

The downtown is interested in revitalizing. the old train station features a lively farmer's market on Tuesday nights. Beautifully restored downtown buildings line a few of the streets, and old warehouses are soon to be converted into studios and small businesses.

Restaurants are mostly chains, but check out the local downtown hang - Breeze Way - when you are downtown, to get your fill of Chicken Fingers and Fries (213 S 8th St.). Another local alternative is the Mandarian House (3800 Pepperell Pkwy.). After being partially destroyed in a hurricane 3 seasons ago, they expanded the store and their menu to include the standard Chinese food and surprisingly good sushi and Thai foods.

So basically, it's a good stopover on your way to Gulf Shores, or to any beach. It's fine to find shopping for antiques or stop at the new mall to be completed by the end of 2006, maybe even stay the night, but you'll exhaust the things to do quickly, since there is only so much antique shopping a person can do.

Quick Tips:

Don't buy any kind of guide book, get your maps out of the phone book, or just drive around, it's relatively small and you can always orient yourself to the interstate. Look for additional antique malls on Google, and check out the art galleries in Auburn, it's just a 10 minute drive away.

Best Way To Get Around:

Car, walking is only good in the historic downtown district, with short blocks and nearby shopping, dining, and very picturesque old buildings and residences. Read Less

Cheer!
Flag

Comfort Inn Opelika

Hotel

Quote:

If you are reading this, you are either a travelling businessperson, a trucker, or looking for deals on a long road trip. At the Comfort Inn, expect to pay about $65 per night, for that price, you don't get too many frills and there aren't too many reasons to go out of your way for this hotel, but it's got it's perks.Free breakfast that isn't quite knock 'em dead, but certainly suffices, walking distance to the Cracker Barrel where the only tea choice is sweetened, great to keep you going going going and with quick access to the interstate, you'll be off in no time. Hooray for in room refrigerators! Boo no microwave! If you want your pizza from the night before warmed up, you'll have t...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on October 27, 2006

Comfort Inn Opelika
811 FOX RUN PKWY
Opelika, Alabama 36801
334-741-9977

Cheer!
Flag

Breeze Way

Restaurant

Quote:

It's the downtown hangout, people bring families and have some fried foods, some soda, and enjoy the cheerful but slightly worn local ambience, whatever local ambience is.The food is out of the bag, from a Schwann's man perhaps. No special menu features, but it's a great alternative to the crowded restaurants on Auburn game days. The crowd is still lively and it's a popular place, but at least you'll get your food that day.Here, you'll get chicken fingers and assorted fried bits of chicken. Chicken is pretty good, but man, it's like, an all chicken restaurant.You get what you pay for, and sometimes, you really want some cheap chicken fingers and fries in a red basket. When that...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on October 26, 2006

Breeze Way
213 S 8th St.
Opelika, Alabama
(334) 749-5167

Cheer!
Flag

Mandarin House Chinese

Restaurant | "Mandarian House Chinese"

Quote:

Yes, it's your standard Chinese buffet. But wait, it's also a classy sushi bar? Those can't be the same!"But is it good?" you ask. Of course! If you are American, the buffet is the Chinese-American cuisine you grew up with, and the lo mein is quite tasty regardless of how many times you've had it before. It's comfort food, away from home, you can get something like your local Chinese buffet with fresh food and courteous and fast service.Here, I piled my plate high with lo mein, fried clams (that's the southern touch), little crab rangoon parcels, and egg rolls. It was all very fresh, and watching the staff keep the food moving, never letting it sit too long and constantly refreshing th...Read More

Yes, it's your standard Chinese buffet. But wait, it's also a classy sushi bar? Those can't be the same!

"But is it good?" you ask. Of course! If you are American, the buffet is the Chinese-American cuisine you grew up with, and the lo mein is quite tasty regardless of how many times you've had it before. It's comfort food, away from home, you can get something like your local Chinese buffet with fresh food and courteous and fast service.

Here, I piled my plate high with lo mein, fried clams (that's the southern touch), little crab rangoon parcels, and egg rolls. It was all very fresh, and watching the staff keep the food moving, never letting it sit too long and constantly refreshing the dishes was reassuring to see, especially after so many awful stories about Chinese food!

If you chose to turn to your left towards sushi, rather than toward the buffet, you'll find a completely different atmosphere, a fully stocked bar and an elegant and tranquil sushi restaurant. Your sushi here will be slightly more expensive, around $13 depending on your appetite, than your buffet ($5 for kids to $8 for unlimited trips for adults). But the quality is fantastic and being relatively close to the Gulf of Mexico, fairly fresh catches too!

Try loading your plate with some uramaki rolls, inarizushi, and nigiri, and go ahead and get some wine, you lonely business traveller you! It's a bit sad to eat so well without someone else to enjoy it with you! But the food is tasty and satisfying, and you won't feel the need to eat the whole restaurant in your few hour stay.

So it's two restaurants in one. One is Chinese comfort foods and the other a sushi bar fit for business lunches or romantic dinners. It's too bad that you won't be having too many romantic dinners, as most travellers through town are probably going to the Auburn game or trucking through on the job.

Open seven days for lunch and dinner. And it's definitely worth a stop if you are around the Chinese voted "Best in Town." Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on October 27, 2006

Mandarin House Chinese
3800 Pepperell Pkwy
Opelika, Alabama
(334) 745-7234

Cheer!
Flag

IgoUgo

Opelika Journals

Upload Photos