B.McNeel's is rebranding, CJ's is expanding

In the past week, two well-known names in the Murfreesboro restaurant world have made exciting announcements.

First, B.McNeel's Restaurant announced on its Facebook page that it will be closed from March 5-April 2 as it gets rebranded.

"We will be bringing a fresh look and inspiring vision together and reopen as The Lunch Room at B. McNeel's," the March 2 post said.

B.McNeel's was opened in 2001 by Barbara Thomas as a meat-and-three with a chef-driven menu featuring local favorites. The menu of Southern comfort foods included a lunch with fried chicken, okra, sweet potatoes, catfish, cheese grits and more.

The Facebook posts didn't expand on the new concept other than to say the squash casserole is safe.

For more about B.McNeel's, visit its website.

Then CJ's in the Boro Restaurant and Catering announced it is opening a second location in the Holiday Inn in The Gateway, according to a Facebook post.

"We are very excited and humbled to announce we will be taking over the restaurant at the Holiday Inn. For us, we had already been handling the catering so having the kitchen there helps free up room at CJ's in the Boro," the post said.

For more information about CJ's, visit cjsintheboro.com.

Float Alchemy gets closer to opening

In a Facebook Live post on March 2, Float Alchemy owners Amy Grimes and Mark Chessir announced they have passed a majority of their codes inspections so that they will be able to open at least part of their services in Murfreesboro soon.

First, they plan to open a kombucha taproom and massage room.

"We will then probably roll out the saunas, cryotherapies and, unfortunately, the last thing is going to be the float tanks. For a float center that's kind of a bummer but we still have quite a bit of work to do," Grimes said, calling it a "process."

"At the very least, we will get to meet you … and get to know our neighborhood in Murfreesboro," she said about the slow opening.

Grimes and Chessir, who also own Float Nashville, announced their plans to open a new location in Murfreesboro way back in September 2017 with hopes of opening by the end of the year.

They said then that the Murfreesboro location will offer the same amenities as the Nashville flotation center, just on a larger scale.

Along with four float tanks, the 5,800-square-foot space will offer a sauna, cryotherapy and massage therapy.

The new facility will be at 131 Cason Lane in the former location of Gish’s Amish Furniture.

On Float Nashville’s Facebook page, it explains that floating in an isolation tank can reduce stress, anxiety and pain while enhancing creativity and performance.

Michelle Willard is a freelance journalist who fills her days with social media marketing, politics, true crime, and taking complaints. You can complain to her on Twitter @MichWillard or by email michelle(at)murfreesborovoice.com.