Linda Candelo poses with family and friends at Meridian ’ s first Dia de lo Muertos , or Day of the Dead , festival in October 2021 . The event brought hundreds of visitors downtown despite the ongoing COVID pandemic . Top Right : Candelo poses with friend Daniel Ethridge , a graphic artist who helped create the artwork for the festival . Bottom Right : Linda Candelo , right , poses with members of the Meridian Museum Art Collective who painted the Jimmie Rodgers Mural on the back of the Vise building . From left are Daniel Ethridge , Kris Gianakos , Marsha Iverson , Leslie Carruth and Cary Haycox . Photos courtesy of Linda Candelo .
it remodeled in 1947 , adding a fourth floor for his clinic . The extensive remodel in the International Style was undertaken by famed Mississippi architect Chris Risher Sr . The building was later purchased by a local businessman who remodeled it in 2007 and rented out the office spaces .
Since it was during the COVID pandemic , Candelo said she “ with some patience from my husband ” did a lot of the work to remodel the building and get it ready for a new slate of tenants .
“ We had to do everything ,” she said . “ We installed brand new AC units . We fixed the elevator , everything inside the capsule where the elevator is inside .”
They completely cleaned and painted the interior , as well as added some new lighting fixtures and made other minor repairs . Perhaps , the most noticeable change to the building is the eye-catching , four-story Jimmie Rodgers mural painted on the rear , a project designed by Daniel Ethridge and painted by members of the Meridian Museum Art Collective , which includes Cary Haycox , Kris Gianakos , Leslie Carruth and Marsha Iverson .
Candelo said she loves the story of Jimmie Rodgers and his continued pursuit of his musical dream despite some people trying to talk him out of it . She said he could have easily just gone along with what those around him wanted to keep the
“ This downtown , this city has such crazy potential to be the best city .” peace , but he chose to pursue his dream instead .
“ He represents me , my husband and I know a lot of people in this community , and I am so happy to have his mural on our building ,” she added .
Candelo quickly found tenants for the building , including The Robin ’ s Nest gift shop on the ground floor , Neel-Schaffer Engineering on the second floor , Behavioral Solutions of Mississippi on the third floor , and several single office businesses on the fourth floor .
“ The building is full . There are eight companies in it ,” she said , “ and I have the best tenants .”
She and her husband have opened a downstairs pop-up art gallery , Galleria Rossini , which runs through Sept . 28 and features work produced by local artists .
Besides the Vise building , Candelo has been involved in the local arts scene and attended museum openings , arts events , festivals and downtown markets . She even organized Meridian ’ s first Dia de los Muertos , or Day of the Dead , festival in October 2021 . An annual Mexican celebration to honor lost loved ones , the festival drew hundreds downtown for the event despite the community being in the midst of the COVID pandemic .
Candelo said she would love to do another Day of the Dead festival , but would also like “ to do something that gives more significance to the Latino culture and that through that we become a better society , like one .
- Linda Candelo
It ’ s difficult in these times in the repetition of the stories .”
She also hopes to see the continued revival of downtown .
“ This downtown , this city has such crazy potential to be the best city ,” she said . “ Because … you know when there is a river , that even if it gets dry , it is not recommended to build houses around it because even if it ’ s 50 years or 100 years , most likely the water is gonna come down again through the same path . That ’ s how I see Meridian . It used to be like that — successful , pedestrians , people here , businesses , everything . That ’ s how I see this downtown , like that river . One day that water is going to come back and be not just the same , but better .” M www . meridianstar . com
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