Sarah Douglass -- Lusa Pastry Cafe Plans to Open Two New Locations

The Belk Shopping Center gears up for Lusa Pastry Cafe's new opening.

Sarah Douglass

Jour 271

Sept. 27

401 Words

OXFORD, MISS. - News of Lusa Pastry Cafe opening two new locations in Oxford has residents full of anticipation. 

With the opening dates still pending, Oxford has time to prepare themselves for even more openings of new restaurants in Oxford. 

“I’m happy about Oxford having more restaurants,” Leigh Richardson, a sophomore dietetics major at the University of Mississippi said. 

Oxford’s increase in restaurants over the past year has students looking forward to their new dining options. 

“It is always nice having more places to go to when I go out to eat with friends,” Richardson said. 

Along with new dining spots for the Oxford community, the new openings of restaurants has college kids excited about the new job opportunities. 

“I know a lot of friends who are applying for jobs at the new restaurants,” Richardson said. “Lusa Pasty Cafe will be another place people can hopefully get a job, which is defiantly a positive,” Richardson said. 

The Chamber of Commerce has eight current listings of bakeries in Oxford. 

Lusa Pastry Cafe, located on 1120 N. Lamar Blvd., has plans to open their two new locations in the Belk Shopping Center, a few doors down from Newk’s, and on Thacker Road off Highway 6 in the old Bungalow Location. 

“I’m just excited to open the two new locations!” Carla Rego, the owner of Lusa Pastry Cafe, said. 

Lusa Pastry Cafe is not planning on having the same menus at all three locations, and looks forward to providing more variety for customers. 

With the new openings more competition is a risk for other local bakeries in Oxford, like BottleTree Bakery, High Point Coffee, Emileigh’s Bakery and Catering, and Honey Bee Bakery. 

Although Lusa Pastry Cafe is opening shop just a few doors down from Honey Bee Bakery, the Oxford community is keeping an optimistic outlook on business. 

“I think for the most part business will not be effected because most people that come to Honey Bee are regulars and will not change their breakfast spot,” Bailey Doctor, an employee of Honey Bee Bakery, said. 

With similar clientele Honey Bee Bakery still feels the move won’t affect business too much.

“The majority of customers are regulars, just like Lusa has their own regular customers,” Doctor said. 

Doctor predicts a small decline in costumers during the grand opening of Lusa’s, and maybe less tourist traffic, however she has faith in her loyal Honey Bee Bakery customers.