Finding Community: Belhaven Town Center

Whether you're a local Jacksonian or a newcomer to the City With Soul, one of the best hotspots to visit in town is the evolving Belhaven Town Center (BTC).

Rooted in "the creation of social capital through place making," BTC hopes to bring people out of their homes and into shared spaces to create a more profound sense of community and camaraderie.

Belhaven Town Center
Credit: Drew Dempsey/Tell Agency

Located in one of the capital city's most storied neighborhoods and prominent historic districts, Belhaven Town Center takes the best from its creative origins and offers everything from craft beer to Italian to Mississippi-made ice cream. Check out the running list of spots below, and follow BTC's social media to stay on top of future openings.

Elvies Beef Tartare
Beef Tartare at Elvie's
Credit: Cody McCain

Elvie's

The brainchild of Executive Chef Hunter Evans and Cody McCain, the award-winning Elvie's is where delicate and rich French fare meets Southern mainstays. Highlighting local farmers is especially important on the all-day menu, where one can find everything from breakfast and espressos to afternoon bites to a whole dining experience.

Good Bar

The latest offshoot of Elvie's, Good Bar, is curated by the restaurant's Beverage Director, Brandi Carter, and is located right next door at the new multi-use Terrace at Belhaven Town Center. Whet your whistle with inventive cocktails, natural wines on tap, and low or no ABV drinks. They also offer rotating small bites like artisanal cheese plates, olives, and sardines to snack on while you sip.

Pultio Osteria

Pulito Osteria is an Italian-inspired restaurant with handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza and seasonal Italian cooking curated by Jackson, MS native Chef Chaz Lindsay. Pulito boasts a robust menu filled with thoughtfully curated food and beverages that residents of Jackson are already raving about, praising the restaurant as a new mainstay in the Jackson community. The restaurant offers a menu unlike any other in Mississippi, putting an elegant Southern flair on traditional Italian dishes.

Fertile Ground Beer Co. Beer and neon sign
Fertile Ground Beer Co.
Credit: Drew Dempsey/Tell Agency

Fertile Ground Beer Co.

Good beer is made for sharing. At Fertile Ground, the open-concept space is Jackson's first fully operational brewery and the perfect hangout spot for guests of all ages, including pets. Grab a table or station yourself at one of the many yard games on hand while enjoying a hoppy classic or a limited-edition batch brew. Found a favorite? Fertile Ground is now offering some of its staples in 4- and 6-packs for the beer enthusiast on the go. Stay tuned to their social channels for events like Lagers & Joggers (Thursdays at 6 pm), Pints and Poses (Weekends), sports game streaming, and food truck stop-bys.

Wing Mouth

A take-out "wings, tenders and fries" spot, Wing Mouth was opened in the fall of 2024 by George and Ann Allison Gillespie. George's extensive experience in kitchens around Jackson—along with his and Ann Allison's private chef business—lead to the creation of this casual eatery that specializes in house-made sauces and "secret recipe" french fries.

Mayday Icecream

We are screaming (pun intended) over this confections concept located at the Terrace. A treat for the whole family, Mayday offers up locally-made and sourced classic ice cream flavors alongside revolving picks like Blueberry Basil Lemonade and Cookie Crush. Ask for a scoop (or two) in one of their homemade waffle cones, hang out in the open-air space, or dig in with a spoon at home to one of their freshly stocked pints.

Mayday Icecream
Credit: Drew Dempsey/Tell Agency

Cultivate Coffee Project

Cultivate Coffee Project is a collaboration between Northshore Coffee and Fertile Ground Beer at Belhaven Town Center. The shop features globally sourced, locally roasted coffee alongside signature beverages crafted with brewery ingredients. Open daily from 7am-3pm, it offers ample seating for gatherings or workspace. Both Matt Jeffries (Fertile Ground) and Trey Malone (Northshore) believe in creating an approachable space that brings people together, cultivating community through the shared appreciation of craft beverages from seed to cup and grain to glass.

Poppy Pies Pizzeria

What started as a much-loved food truck has become a brick-and-mortar pizza shop inside the Laundry Market (across from Fertile Ground). Currently open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday, check out traditional pies like pepperoni and Margherita. But don't miss a Poppy Pies original: The Captain. A take on the southern party dip (and a sauce by the same name), Captain Rodney's, the pizza contains cream cheese, bacon, green onions and Ritz Crackers, topped with, of course, Captain Rodney's glaze.

Spectrum Sip

Rounding out our list, Spectrum Sip is a short walk from the main BTC thoroughfare and a local standby for Loaded Energy Teas, healthy shakes, pre- and post-workout drinks, and more. Not only do they care about wellness, but they're also an advocate and supporter of ASD Awareness in the Jackson community.

Belhaven Terrace
Belhaven Terrace contains Good Bar, Mayday Icecream, Wing Mouth and an events space, The Optimist
Credit: Drew Dempsey/Tell Agency
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Anne Marie Hanna

Author

Anne Marie Hanna

A Mississippi native, storytelling has always been an integral part of Anne Marie’s life and her upbringing in the American South. With degrees in Editorial Journalism and Southern Studies from the University of Mississippi, she finds inspiration helping us showcase The City of Soul’s stories as a writer for The Tell Agency. When she's not working, she can be found reading, curating new playlists, and enjoying time with friends and family.

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