Mississippi treasures abound on the quirky side of Corinth
Located in the northeast corner of the state, Corinth is sort of the “welcome to Mississippi” city. A place known for Civil War history, Corinth has more personalities that come alive when visitors explore beyond the battlefields. A fabulous culinary scene and boutique shopping make it a treasure to stumble upon, but finding the quirky side of Corinth will make you fall in love with this Mississippi town where slugburgers are common and hospitality is king.
Abe’s Grill is the oldest diner on U.S. Highway 72 still operated by the original owners. Located on a Civil War Landmark (Corona College), this mom-and-pop diner is open Monday through Friday 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. serving up southern vittles for breakfast and lunch. Their mainstay is breakfast with the absolutely accurate tagline: “Home of the Mid-South’s Favorite Homemade Biscuit.” Food isn’t the only reason to check out Abe’s. The atmosphere is awesome! Memorabilia adorns every inch of this place from the walls to the counters (a vintage lunchbox, an old car tag, etc.), a television plays in the background spouting the latest news and the barstool-lined counter is the only seating in the place. Folks will shift their seats down to allow parties to sit together and service is as quick as the wit in this diner.
Lake Hill Motors is the place to visit when in search of a new ATV, motorcycle, parts or accessories. However, a stroll to the back corner of the building reveals one of the most unique and complete collections of motorcycles ever in one place. Dubbed the Bike Museum, cycle enthusiasts travel from near and far to get a look at Dwayne McLemore’s 30-year collection ranging from fully restored sand cast models to WWII German cycles and literally everything in between. Every single motorcycle in the museum runs, which is a feat within itself. Even better, they all have a story and McLemore is excited to share them. Visitors are blown away by the assortment of bikes, some that date back to the early 1900s, as well as the details and paperwork proving authenticity.
Perhaps one of the quirkiest things found in Corinth is in the culinary realm – slugburgers – a delicacy dating back to the Great Depression when ground beef was considered expensive. Diners often looked for creative ideas to stretch their meat supply for burgers like supplementing with fillers such as soybeans and flour. They served them fried and topped with mustard, pickles and onions. And the name? Well, the burgers were cheap and sold for a nickel, which in those days was commonly referred to as a slug. Hence, the birth of the slugburger. Try an authentic, modern-day slugburger at Borroum’s Drug Store and Soda Fountain (Mississippi’s oldest operating Drug Store and Soda Fountain). Also, noteworthy is the summertime Slugburger Festival held in historic downtown Corinth.
Thursday nights in Corinth are not your ordinary precursor to the weekend. Bluegrass jammin’ sessions are one of the city’s cornerstones that continually invites music lovers and musicians who are honing their skills for the weekly event (rain or shine) aptly named Pickin’ on the Square.
Sanctuary Antiques on Taylor Street is tops on the quirky Corinth list! An antique furniture and household goods store, Sanctuary Antiques is housed in an old church building. The finds are unique and quite lovely (think fancy chandeliers and beautiful, heavy wood pieces). Lord only knows what you’ll find here.
Visitors will quickly realize the layers that make up Corinth, Mississippi. From the Civil War history to the fabulous downtown district and, of course, the quirky finds all along the way. Enjoy a quiet respite in this quintessential small town USA and let it all begin with a visit to Corinth.net.