If you’re looking for a creative and easy location for your child’s next birthday party, look no farther than Fondren. Jackson's hip, artsy sector offers a wealth of interesting stores, restaurants, and fun activities for kids of all ages. It’s guaranteed to make your kids feel “cool.”
Fondren Express
Kids of all ages will have a blast riding around town on the Fondren Express, an old-fashioned trolley service that winds its way through the Fondren neighborhood each day. On Monday through Saturday, from 10am-3pm, rides on the Express are 75 cents for each round trip. The trolley is available for charter at $125/hour. You can even bring your own music or movie to watch using the two 17" LCD screens and stereo system. To book the trolley visit www.fondrenexpress.com and click on “Charter Info.” For further information, call 601-213-RIDE (7433).
Local mom Erica Speed has experienced the Fondren Trolley several times during various events. “My children have been the lucky invitees to birthday parties on the Trolley including trips to Sal and Mookies and a Fondren scavenger hunt with many stops along the way . . . I look forward to many more trips on the Fondren Trolley for many years to come,” she writes in an email.
Sal and Mookie's
Open since 2007 at the corner of Taylor Street and State Street, Sal and Mookie’s (http://www.salandmookies.com.) has quickly become the pizza joint of choice and a neighborhood favorite. The atmosphere is upbeat and family-friendly, and the menu is guaranteed to please even the pickiest eater. It has a huge selection of different pizzas, sandwiches, and Italian entrees. Kids can enjoy fantastic ice cream after their meal, or they can drink a non-alcoholic “mocktail,” a Sal & Mookie’s specialty. The restaurant even provides Wikki Stix for entertainment while kids are waiting for their food. For reservations, call Sal and Mookie’s at 601-368-1919, or visit www.salandmookies.com.
Author’s Personal Note: Last fall, I took a group of 29 seventh graders and chaperones to Sal and Mookie's as part of a field trip. The staff were helpful, the food arrived quickly, our orders were correct, and the whole experience was great. If you have a large group of kids, definitely make reservations. If possible, inform guests of the menu and make your menu choices ahead of time. Sal and Mookie’s does well in creating an efficient, stress-free experience for parties.
Swell-O-Phonic
Skateboarders will love Swell-O-Phonic, Fondren's skate shop that has its own skate park attached. While kids will enjoy browsing and playing in the skate park, Swell-O-Phonic also offers its own birthday party package. The package includes the entire store and skate park for 90 minutes, 4 large pizzas, 2 2-liter Cokes, 1 bag of ice, plates, napkins, and cups, one Swell-O-t-shirt per kid, 15% discounts on all merchandise in store, personalized invitation, and free Swell-O-Phonic stickers. A standard party costs $250 for 20 attendees. The store is open for parties on Mon-Sat from 6-7:30pm or Sun from 4:30-6pm. To reserve your space, contact Erin Bainton, a Swell-O-Phonic manager at 601-881-3547.
The Orange Peel
Pre-teen and teenage girls who aren't into skater style will love shopping for vintage fashion at The Orange Peel, which stocks a host of fantastic clothes in all sizes. Girls will have a great time shopping for a look that’s completely their own. The Orange Peel is located between the Fondren Beverage Emporium and Walker’s Drive-In on State Street.
Fondren Beverage Emporium
Located next to the Orange Peel at the corner of Duling and State Streets, this fantastic soda shop offers a wealth of rare and unique soda drinks, along with a selection of old-fashioned candies that are hard to get anywhere else. This would be a great last stop for your Fondren adventure–the kids could pick out a soda and candy for a party favor. The FBE also offers rental space for entire birthday parties. On Fridays and Saturdays, or when the Emporium is normally closed, the rate is $95 for a two-hour party. At other times the rate is $75. Matthew Bowdoin, owner of the Emporium, says “A lot of times kids will go shopping in the candy store and sometimes I’ll do soda tastings for the kids. I’m very flexible.” Contact the Emporium at 601-321-0806.
Your kids will love the atmosphere and variety in this gem of a neighborhood. Whatever venue you choose, a birthday party in Fondren is guaranteed to make an impression.
Katie Shelt teaches in Canton. She lives in Jackson and often frequents Fondren’s restaurants and shops.
Extra Info:
Jake Johnston’s 9th Birthday Party in Fondren
The group met at the Fondren Express
They rode to Laurel Park in Belhaven, drinking old-timey cokes and listening to Elvis and the Beatles
At Laurel Park, the kids participated in a scavenger hunt
They rode the trolley back to the Fondren Beverage Emporium, where they all got drinks and candy
From there, they went to Brent’s Drugs on Duling Street for burgers and milk shakes
Mom Jennifer says, “It was the best birthday party ever! It was so easy and laid-back, and the kids loved it.”
