Lanier alumni and Georgetown community welcome local businesses

JANS – Lanier alumni and members of the Georgetown community are proudly welcoming new and recently established businesses to the neighborhood. Lanier graduates Landon Stokes (Class of 1973), Norma Michael (Class of 1975), and Ceagus Reed (Class of 1969) have taken the lead in extending an “Open Arms” welcome to businesses that have chosen to invest in the heart of Georgetown. Stokes, organizer of the 833 Nation; Michael, president of the Georgetown Community Neighborhood Association; and Reed, a lifetime member of the Lanier High School National Alumni Association have pledged their support to these local businesses and encourage the community to do the same.

Each of these business owners has strong ties to the Georgetown community. 

Jefferson’s Grill, located at 2430 Bailey Avenue, opened in January 2026. The restaurant offers a wide variety of menu items but is especially known for its barbecue. Owner Roche Jefferson, the Lanier High School Class of 2000 student body president, has been in the restaurant business for more than 12 years. This establishment offers catering services as well. For more information, call (601) 738-6164.

Hot’s Southern Fried Drive-In, located at 2600 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, opened in January 2025 on the day of the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade. The restaurant is known for its delicious menu items, including its fried fish. They also serve a magnificent oversized hamburger. Owner Edric Foggy, a product of the Georgetown community, comes from a family with several relatives who were standout athletes at Lanier High School.  For more information, call (601) 383-7079.

Freedom’s Point, located at 3249 Medgar Evers Boulevard at Freedom Corner, is a gas station that also offers hot breakfast and lunches daily. Customers can also fill up their vehicles while stocking up on snack food and drinks. They also offer catering. No event is too large or too small. Owners Chef Pierre and his brother Tenka are well known throughout Georgetown and the neighboring Virden Addition community. Both attended public schools in the area from elementary school through high school graduation.  For more information, call (769) 798-9139.

The community’s newest seafood destination, Steamer’s, opened in June 2026. Also on the Freedom Corner intersection, Steamer’s is located at 3307 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Steamer’s features an extensive seafood menu, including steamed shrimp, crab legs, and other favorites. Owner Antonio (Tony) Pope, a native of the Shady Oak community, has longstanding ties throughout Georgetown and the surrounding neighborhoods. For more information, call (601) 942-5674.

Lanier alumni and Georgetown community leaders encourage all residents, alumni, and members of the 833 Nation to support these locally owned businesses. By shopping and dining locally, the community helps strengthen Georgetown’s economy, while honoring those who have chosen to invest in the neighborhood they proudly call home.