CARGO-Columbus

04/25/2026

CARGO may finally be ready to move some dirt ! ( Yes, this project has consumed me for 3 years now) IT'S HUGE NOW!!! In the millions and this little Chicken Lady certainly can't do it alone!

Need to show potential new partner the community interest- He wants some numbers!

If you may have interest in;
● commissary kitchen
● restaurant space
● retail space
● Condominium purchase

Please email or text me
[email protected]
706-366-4443
(Yes, I still have original lists but want to make sure contacts up to date!)

We will have-
21-24k sq ft total of restaurant space- 2k to 5k sq ft spaces
12k sq ft retail space
10 foodtruck slips
10 commissary kitchens
Space for 51 Condominiums

This will be a premium spot! I do not have all pricing as of yet, we are still closing the deal! 🙏✍️ but it's looking good 😉

04/05/2026

02/10/2026

Tonight is the night, Columbus! 🎤✨

​I’m so excited to step onto the stage at the Columbus Library (Macon Road) tonight at 6:00 PM to share a story very close to my heart.
We’re going back to 1987 to talk about the legacy of Minnie’s Uptown, the lessons I learned from Granny ( Minnie) as well as my Nana.Where it all began, the history of Minnie's Uptown Restaurant.The trials and tribulations of the restaurant industry. Copacking and food distribution of your brand! Franchise concepts, Non profit, giving back to the community and where we’re headed next with the Fortson Road project.
​Whether you’ve been eating with us for decades or you just love a good entrepreneurial journey, I’d love to see your friendly faces in the crowd!
​Let’s talk food, family, and the future of our community. See you there! ❤️
​ "

01/21/2026

We can't wait to see you on February 10! 🔗👉

Join us for an evening of local history and cuisine as Melinda Newton, aka “The Chicken Lady,” shares her story. A FOOD & THE SOUL OF AMERICA Keynote Presentation.. Event starts at February 10, 2026 6:00 PM EST

08/20/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EveBRCjHh/

From Minnie’s Uptown to The Chicken Lady's COOP to a culinary campus called CARGO, Melinda Newton is building more than a business. She’s creating a legacy. See how the UGA SBDC helped her bring her biggest idea to life.

Read the full story here: https://georgiasbdc.org/cargo/

07/11/2025

JOIN US TONIGHT!!!

**Unity Night Invitation** 🇺🇸

* **Date:** Friday, July 11th
* **Location:** Minnie's Uptown Restaurant 104 8th Street, Columbus, Georgia 31901

$29.99 PER PERSON
* **Time:**
* Doors Open: 4:00 PM
* Dinner & Guest Speakers: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

🫂 no charge if attending just this portion AMAZING NETWORKING EVENT 7-9 PM * Meal not included🫂

* **Meal:**
* Fried or Baked Chicken
* Meatloaf
* Mashed Potatoes with Gravy
* Macaroni and Cheese
* Green Beans
* Turnip Greens
* Cornbread or Yeast Roll
* Peach Cobbler 🍑 or Banana Pudding
* Sweet Tea, Unsweet Tea, PEACH Lemonade 🍑

* **Cash Bar:** Stir Up Trouble featuring:
* Blueberry Lemonade Bourbon
* Spicy Tequila Old Fashioned
* Peach Old Fashioned 🍑

* **Shuttle Service:** Uptown Valet 🇺🇸

* **Cost:** \$29.99 per person if dining 🍽

* **Guest Speakers:** Six speakers, including Keynote Speaker Dr. Takosha Swan 🇺🇸

* Covering Veteran Services, Senior Services, and an AI Presentation

* **RSVP:** 706-366-4443 or [email protected] 🍑

07/11/2025

JOIN US TONIGHT!!!

**Unity Night Invitation** 🇺🇸

* **Date:** Friday, July 11th
* **Location:** Minnie's Uptown Restaurant 104 8th Street, Columbus, Georgia 31901

$29.99 PER PERSON
* **Time:**
* Doors Open: 4:00 PM
* Dinner & Guest Speakers: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

🫂 no charge if attending just this portion AMAZING NETWORKING EVENT 7-9 PM * Meal not included🫂

* **Meal:**
* Fried or Baked Chicken
* Meatloaf
* Mashed Potatoes with Gravy
* Macaroni and Cheese
* Green Beans
* Turnip Greens
* Cornbread or Yeast Roll
* Peach Cobbler 🍑 or Banana Pudding
* Sweet Tea, Unsweet Tea, PEACH Lemonade 🍑

* **Cash Bar:** Stir Up Trouble featuring:
* Blueberry Lemonade Bourbon
* Spicy Tequila Old Fashioned
* Peach Old Fashioned 🍑

* **Shuttle Service:** Uptown Valet 🇺🇸

* **Cost:** \$29.99 per person if dining 🍽

* **Guest Speakers:** Six speakers, including Keynote Speaker Dr. Takosha Swan 🇺🇸

* Covering Veteran Services, Senior Services, and an AI Presentation

* **RSVP:** 706-366-4443 or [email protected] 🍑

07/10/2025

We thought we would share this information on here, because it's so cool! While CARGO is in a holding pattern.....

**Headline:** 🤯 **BLOW YOUR MIND: AI Podcast Revolution is HERE!** 🤯

**Body:**

Small business owners, startups, entrepreneurs – DO NOT MISS THIS!

Tomorrow, Friday, July 11th, at Minnie's, Thomas Credle will reveal how to create a COMPLETELY INTERACTIVE AI PODCAST for your business!

Imagine: Your store, restaurant, product, or pitch deck transformed into a 24/7 AI-powered podcast answering customer questions, pulling in the latest web info, and driving SALES! 🚀

Thomas Credle's AI insights are mind-blowing. He'll show you how to:

* Upload your business info into an AI podcast
* Automatically scour the web for relevant content
* Make your podcast INTERACTIVE – answering customer questions in real-time!

Whether you're running a startup, restaurant, store, or selling a product, this event is a GAME-CHANGER. Get a glimpse of the future – and implement it NOW!

**Event Details:**

* **Date:** Tomorrow, Friday, July 11th
* **Time:** 4 PM - 9 PM (Doors open at 4 PM for Meet & Greet)
* **Location:** Minnie's Uptown Restaurant
104 8th Street Columbus, GA 31901
* **Speakers:** Including Dr. Takosha Swan and several others!
* **Food:** Fried Chicken, Baked Chicken, Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Mac & Cheese, Peach Cobbler, Banana Pudding, Fried Corn! 🤤 Minnie's Uptown Restaurant knows how to cook up a feast!
* **Drinks:** Cash bar by Stirrup Trouble with signature drinks, beer & wine!
* **Parking:** Golf cart shuttle available for assistance by Uptown Valet

**Call to Action **

**RSVP NOW! Text 706-366-4443 or email [email protected] to secure your spot!**

$29.99 per person (Meal included)

10/13/2024

**Subject: Opportunity to Join Our New Food Truck Park @ CARGO **

Hi Food Truck Owners!

We are excited to share that we are in the process of developing a food truck park in conjunction with the restaurant complex. We have potential investors who are interested in bringing this idea to life. We are currently gauging interest from local food trucks to see how many would like to join us in this venture.

If you’re looking for a centralized location that increases your visibility and attracts more customers, we want to hear from you! While we don't have pricing details available just yet, your input will help us shape this exciting opportunity.

Please email me at [email protected] with the name of your food truck and any other information you'd like to share if you're interested.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Best,
The Chicken Lady
Melinda Newton

10/08/2024

https://whtnw.com/4eW7TR6

Alright CARGO ....😁 We've made it up to Atlanta!

CARGO will include several restaurants, a bar, rentable commissary kitchens, and an area for food trucks.