ERIN EDGEMON, Business columnist
Posted: Sunday, October 25, 2009 9:20 pm

Old Chicago Pizza is preparing to open a location in the former Don Pablo’s location at 1835 Old Fort Parkway near Lowe’s and Target.

“We have been looking at Murfreesboro for over five years,” said Harold Wallace, vice president of operations for Old Chicago, OCI Enterprises Inc., a franchise company. “(Murfreesboro) is a growing community that features a great college.”

Old Chicago is expected to open in mid-to-late February.

The restaurant makes three types of dough fresh daily, including Chicago-style deep dish, thin crust and white dough for calzones.

Old Chicago’s full menu includes pastas, sandwiches, salads, appetizers and made-from-scratch desserts. The full menu will be served up to a half hour before the restaurant’s 2 a.m. closing time.

Also, the restaurant features some 110 beers. Customers who drink all of the beers get a “Hall of Foam” plaque.

Old Chicago will have more than 20 high definition televisions that will feature many of the sports packages associated with a sports bar.

The dine-in restaurant features carryout and curbside service. There will be an outdoor patio.

OCI Enterprises are planning to open around one restaurant a year with upcoming locations in Nashville and surrounding communities.

•••

A Paul Mitchell School, which offers training in cosmetology-related sciences including hair, skin and nails, will soon open a Murfreesboro location.

Dale Jones, a partner in the school, said the Murfreesboro school is an expansion of the Paul Mitchell School of Nashville.

“Our school here (in Nashville) is quite full and we have quite a few people from the Murfreesboro area that are going to school here or would like to go to school here,” he said.

The Paul Mitchell School of Nashville has been in existence for three years.

“I think right now we are perhaps the largest school in the Middle Tennessee area,” Jones said.

Construction of the Murfreesboro school could begin as early as this week at Stones River Mall near Dillard’s.

Jones joked that Nashville students may be jealous of the amenities of the Murfreesboro school.

The Murfreesboro school can accommodate about 200 students.

“Murfreesboro is one of the fasting-growing city in the state,” Jones said of why the Paul Mitchell School decided to open a location here. “We want to recognize the growth in Murfreesboro. Murfreesboro has taken on an image of its own.

Once the school opens, services will be available to the general public.
Jones said the Paul Mitchell School experience is all about “making the learning experience fun.” The school goes above and beyond what is required for the state board examinations.

“We make sure (students) learn advance techniques in hair cutting and color and texture,” he said.

Paul Mitchell Schools also cater their teaching style to the way students learn best, Jones said.

For more information, visit www.paulmitchelltheschool.com.
•••