My Father passed right after I turned 12, and being an only child, and the youngest of first cousins, my close family contacts became few.  However, my first cousin, Paul, who was 20 years older and I thought looked like James Bond, took me on as a little brother.  He was single and all about town and let me tag along on his excursions.  So I found Crechales in my early teens, 13 I believe.  Paul knew all the waitresses, and was always looking for girlfriends, so I guess his “sidekick” might have been a novelty of some sort for the ladies.

In my early 20’s, our gang, usually consisting of John, Mike, Dalton, and myself would usually brown bag some scotch (no liquor was sold legally at Chrechales during that time) and celebrate special occasions.  We usually ordered broiled flounder to be de-boned by the server at tableside while we always praised and flirted with our waitress.  Paul taught me that.

Crechales still remains my favorite place to eat and be a host.  Over the years, I’ve taken many authors, exposing them to the best of my hometown.  I remember taking Jim Harrison, the first of many trips, as Crechales is always a stop for Jim’s Jackson visits.  This time Jim and artist pal, Russell Chatham came for the opening of Dalva nationally, at the new Lemuria location in Banner Hall.  They ordered the menu, holding court in the back booth as we went through all the courses.  The waitresses kept bringing food to their dismay.

Willie Morris loved Crechales and a trip to dine with him and JoAnne was always a treat.  Willie seemed to shine there.  He felt at home.

Elmore Leonard loved Crechales’s Roadhouse style. I felt he was creating a character watching the Chrechale patrons.  Barry Moser loved the chicken gizzards, for him a rare menu treat.  Barry Gifford, Tom McGuane, Sam Lawrence and many more have shared in the fun and food here while in Jackson.

And I end by suggesting my style, which is as always as soon as you sit down order onion rings, then top them with Comeback sauce and start your evening delights with a cold beer.

Written by John

Jackson: photographs by Ken Murphy is available now for purchase. To order a copy, call Lemuria Books at 601.366.7619 or visit us online at lemuriabooks.com. 

In early 2013, Ken and I had been talking about our Jackson photo book for a few months. Seriousness about our project had been growing and it was time to start if we were going to team up; the St. Patrick’s Day Parade was about to happen.

I told Ken if we were going to do this book, he would have to shoot Mal’s parade. Ken came to Jackson for this event and shot hundreds of photos. He put them on  a disc so I could study his work, and needless to say, this was the beginning of our actual project.

The St. Patrick’s Parade offered so many fine, fun photos that sorting down to just four was difficult. A favorite of mine, a photo of the parade in front of Hal and Mal’s, was last to go as our book filled up.

However, Ken captured a very special parade moment: our Irish girl (plate 10). She immediately became a favorite, and I feel her spirit reflected in this shot captures the goal of our book. She is beautiful. She is having fun. And, she is participating in one of the most celebrated events that happens in our city.

Unfortunately, we don’t know who this special shamrock lady is. She is now #1 on our most wanted list.

For stepping forward, her reward is a free Jackson book (dust jacket of her choice), a #letstalkjackson t-shirt (a green one, no doubt), and a #letstalkjackson coffee mug.

P.S., If Ms. Shamrock would consent, we would like to make her our “Let’s Talk Jackson” poster lady!

Where are you? Who are you? Please step forward and say hi, and help us talk about Jackson!

Jackson: photographs by Ken Murphy is available now for purchase. To order a copy, call Lemuria Books at 601.366.7619 or visit us online at lemuriabooks.com. 

Billy Neville opened “The Rogue” when I was in high school at Murrah. From the first day, Billy’s store was the coolest in Jackson.

Billy’s influence on the youth of Jackson at that time was remarkable. He had the “it” and his customers wanted “it” too. Billy’s style was interactive and engaging. The Rogue quickly grew into the 2nd floor space in the Capri building. Upstairs, he had a dartboard where us guys would go after school and toss darts in the retail store! Billy was ahead of his time, a marketer of fun with style. I even think I won the Rogue in a dart toss tournament! The feeling one had when leaving his groundbreaking store was that everyone was a winner, just for having the Rogue experience.

Billy’s Rogue business boomed and grew and grew and grew. The new Rogue overlooking the new interstate was the result, becoming truly a Jackson, MS institution.
A few years later, retailing became my occupation when I opened the bookstore. First Billy Neveille and then Bernie Weis, of Highland Village’s Maison Weis, became my duel mentors. From these two gentlemen, both clothiers, I learned how to market and think about retailing as an occupation. Their influence on me was powerful. This sounds unusual, since they were so interwoven in the culture of style and presentation of the time and Lemuria was a product of the counter-culture of the time. I believe when you get down to it, retailing is just retailing. It’s about being on the front lines, you are who you are and the customer sees this realness, no matter what.

Gosh, we all know retailing is hard and grueling, a pioneering of sorts. However, this type of work offers the ability for you to be creative, productive, helpful and can be rewarding while living on the front lines of life. Anybody anytime can make a request and your ability to prospect and answer with service is your reward. Customer service in actualization determines success or failure. This is a continuous process of daily helping, sharing, and reaping rewards.

Billy Neville’s influence on a generation or two of would-be be clothiers all over Mississippi is unprecedented, and his style has influenced retailers of all sorts. He led us with his spirit of sharing, and is a living example of Paul Hawkins’ “Growing Your Business” concept, which was the ‘80’s-now evolved into the modern terms of conscious business/capitalism. Billy’s spirit helped me formulate my concept of Lemuria. Thank you Billy for all the years of friendship and leadership, you have been invaluable to generations of Jacksonians, while making us look good in the process.
The Rogue is still open and thriving, thanks to Luke Abney, who carries Billy’s torch with his own spirit of small business in our city.

Written by John

Jackson: photographs by Ken Murphy is available now for purchase. To order a copy, call Lemuria Books at 601.366.7619, visit us online at lemuriabooks.com, or drop by the iconic Rogue to pick up a signed copy! Join us today from 1:00 to 3:00 at The Rogue for a celebration of Jackson.

As I read Janna Hoops’ very fine interview with William Ferris about his book and work, located on the “Mississippi Books” page in the Sunday Clarion Ledger, I became moved to write about our Jackson newspaper.

I’m not sure how many cities, especially in the South, have a weekly “Real Book” section in their local newspaper. Few, I suspect. However, our city and statewide newspaper makes such a statement showing care and concern for Mississippi’s literary presence and heritage.

Over the last 1 1⁄2 years, under the guidance of Steve Yates, of the University Press of Mississippi, and Annie Oeth of the Ledger, a legitimate Bookpage has grown. Mississippi Bookstores report weekly sales of our state’s top reads. Book signings happening all over the state are also listed. Jana’s interviews are thoughtful, with a variety of questions that are precise and revealing. Lisa Newman’s short, concise and interesting column features the unusual aspects of Mississippi writing, publishing and book collecting. It’s a rare weekly treat and I suggest her work is unique for any community newspaper in the USA.

How lucky we are to have this well-earned page by the folks mentioned above. For over 30 years, I’ve requested in every way for the Clarion Ledger to support our writers. With this statewide page we have the opportunity to feature not just our locals but all the fine authors that visit our state. Oddly, in my opinion, with the “Mississippi Books” page, Gannett has made our paper more local than it has ever been before.

What’s next for the “Mississippi Reads”? I hope interest and support grows. Mayhap more type and space can be added for our literary happenings. Can we hope for 2 full pages and photography?

My dream paper: Has a Sunday section each week featuring “Books and Blues”. A combined effort to support, encourage and advertise Mississippi’s Culture featuring the realities of reading and music.

Written by John

Jackson: photographs by Ken Murphy is available now for purchase. To order a copy, call Lemuria Books at 601.366.7619 or visit us online at lemuriabooks.com. Please join us in celebrating Jackson on August 5th at 5:00 in Banner Hall!