Oxford is, besides Disney, probably the happiest place on Earth, and any fan, student or alum will argue that point to the death with anyone who doesn't agree. We have the Grove, the Square, one of the best-looking student bodies in the country and plenty of history in Oxford to make the Ole Miss experience amazing. That being said, there are still a few establishments that our fair city lacks.
So, in no particular order, are seven restaurants and stores we need to have:
1. Target
Yeah, we have Wal-Mart. Whatever. We need Target. I'm telling you, when I first set foot in a Target at the beginning of summer break, I almost kissed the tiles. The undeniably better quality and wider variety of the products is certainly appealing, and the clean, organized atmosphere just can't be beat by Wal-Hell, which can be a mess at times, long after move-in. It may be more expensive, but I feel like the slightly greater expense is well worth the clean environment. And let's think about this, too: There's a website called People of Wal-Mart. Where's People of Target? Exactly. Nowhere.
2. Chipotle
There has always been intense debate over what constitutes the perfect late-night dinner, post-turn up, comfort food, but to me and to much of the student body, Chipotle burritos are a strong contender for the title. Seriously, those burritos are just too good not to have regular access to. The nearest Chipotle is in Memphis, and others and I have made the drive simply to obtain them. And you know if lazy college students are willing to drive an hour to get something, it's probably pretty great, and we need it in Oxford ASAP.
3. Whataburger
I can make the same case for this restaurant as for Chipotle. True story: The Thursday before finals, two friends and I made the pilgrimage to Jackson (two-and-a-half to three hours south of Oxford, for those unfamiliar with Mississippi) just for Whataburger. Because, sadly, Jackson has the closest Whataburger. If three college girls are willing to travel to one of the United States' sketchiest cities for a hamburger, you know it's good, and it needs to be easier for us to get without risking life and limb.
4. Hobby Lobby
Anyone who is interested in crafting knows that Hobby Lobby is one of the best places on Earth. Period. It has fabric, wood, baskets, paint. Essentially, Hobby Lobby has something for every kind of artist, regardless of budget and talent level. It would also be convenient for school projects, crafting for Big/Little reveals and making adorable dorm and apartment art.
5. An Actual Mall
In order to go to a mall, Oxford residents must drive either to Tupelo or Memphis. This is fine on the days where an entire morning or afternoon can be devoted to a shopping trip, but what about the days when you need to find something on short notice? With the nearest malls so far away, you would basically have to make a panicked trip to Tupelo and hope you can find what you need there. If we had a mall in Oxford, city residents would have access to more stores and products. Plus, a mall would offer plenty of opportunities for employment that would be willingly filled by college and high schools students. It just feels like an all-around good idea.
6. In-N-Out Burger
Anyone who has ever tasted Animal Fries or one of In-N-Out's milkshakes longs for In-N-Out during the school year. As someone who lives in California part of the year, it's particularly difficult being surrounded by the famous chain on breaks and then having to yearn for it while at Ole Miss.
7. An Actual Barnes & Noble
The one in the Union absolutely does not count, mainly because it's small and has textbooks. Oxford needs a full-scale Barnes & Noble, where we can buy books purely for luxury reading as opposed to academic necessity. That is, if we ever took a long enough break from cramming to actually read a book that we'd enjoy.