My hands are tied on a lot of information this week, although I will go so far as to say if you’ve heard rumors and reports about new businesses coming to Ashland and the surrounding area, the stories are probably true.

Ashland City Commissioner Kevin Gunderson again proved himself to be the best business reporter in the town by confirming officials at Ashland Town Center Mall have signed a deal to bring T.J. Maxx to the mall, partially filling the void left by the departure of Goody’s.

I’ve promised to keep my mouth shut on a couple of other deals that are practically “common knowledge” in the area, as well as a couple of less-traveled reports. From my side, I agreed to let the corporate attorneys approve the company press releases, and haven’t heard a word from them since.

Valentine’s dinner

My wife and I recently enjoyed “Sweetheart’s Night” with a pair of steak dinners at Rajah’s Family Restaurant to celebrate Valentine’s Day. While we each exercised the beef option, I had to admit I spent a few minutes regretting I didn’t go for the evening’s seafood combination, which sounded rather tempting. The entrees were delicious, portions were plentiful and the service was outstanding.

I wanted to mention Rajah’s because I received several notes from local diners after my last visit there, with many of those messages focused on smoking at the restaurant.

While all agreed the staff at Rajah’s keep their place extra clean, some said the tobacco aroma, even on the non-smoking side, was so strong they were unable to enjoy their meal. I did a little investigating on that and I personally couldn’t detect any cigarette odors on that side of the business, even though nearly everyone on the other side had one lit up.

The other thing that quickly became apparent from that wave of notes is that the family that runs the restaurant has done many kind things for many local people and provided them considerable unsolicited support during times of trouble. The Elliott family’s acts of kindness and support have earned their business some seriously dedicated customers, even though many said they are rarely able to afford a meal anywhere these days.

I’m sure the family doesn’t do those things expecting any rewards, but it is a practice worth remembering the next time you catch yourself having one of those “Where should we eat?” conversations.

Demand to expand

I caught my buddy Freeman Sexton at Sexton Brothers Dog Food in Willard on the phone last week and he tells me the once-tiny homegrown feed mill has been growing and gaining international attention since my last visit to the rural community in Carter County.

Many bags of the hand-formulated food were featured in the cover photo of a dog-specialty magazine along with the nation’s top touring fox hound for the past two years, Sexton said, explaining the publicity brought considerable interest from sporting dog enthusiasts.

The family operation has also added a 30 by 80 foot addition to their warehouse space, he said, just to make room for the increased demand from hunting-dog enthusiasts and the average pet owner.

While some brand loyalists will tell you their dogs love Sexton Brother’s Dog Food because the mill applies animal fat to the outside of the food nuggets, Freeman himself says the explanation for the increased demand for their product is simple — in addition to being a field tested and proven product, he said their real secret is, “We keep the price down. That is the big thing.”

Anyone who can’t find the locally-produced dog food at their favorite feed store can contact the mill directly by calling (606) 474-5754.

If in Morehead ...

An unidentified caller left a message last week advising me to check out The Front Porch for a meal the next time I’m in Morehead.

“I don’t think you’ll find a cleaner restaurant in the Tri-State,” the caller said.

There was no further information, so if anyone is familiar with the restaurant please pass along any contact information and personal observations.

According to the restaurant’s Web site, The Front Porch is at 303 Old Flemingburg Road, Morehead. For more information, call (606) 783-1821.

Customer reviews

I received a note from Dave and Margaret King who report they’ve been enjoying meals at Lunchbox Cafe and Custom Catering at 1503 Argillite Road (across from Faith Christian Assembly), and find they can’t come to an agreement about their favorite meals there.

Margaret reports “Mom’s Chili Dog” followed by a helping of Caramel Pie is her favorite. “1960s Drive-in food!,” her husband exclaimed.

Dave goes for the “Beef Hotshot” followed by an order of Apple Delight, which he says, “just can’t be beat! It reminds me of those great open-faced roast beef sandwiches that I grew up on.” He reports they also have a friend who has declared the Lunchbox Cafe’s soup beans as “the best in the Tri-State,” and adds, “The coffee is great.”

Just to be fair, another local diner who knows a good meal when she gets one, said she enjoyed her food at the Lunchbox Cafe, but found it was not without flaws. My scout said the portion served was too small, the spaghetti sauce was a bit thin, and questioned if the meatballs were indeed made by hand.

I don’t expect the chef will appreciate the comments, but I’ve found good restaurant operators depend on such honesty as they work to perfect their menus.

Orders can be placed online at order@thelunchbox.com or for more information, call (606) 834-1110.

Two new at Kyova Mall

Officials at Kyova Tri-State Mall have announced the addition of two new retail shops near the food court.

Purse-N-Ality, which opened as a holiday shop, will remain in place with a full line of purses, jewelry, women’s accessories and more. For more information, call (606) 928-0366.

My Favorite Things Print Gallery is also doing business at the mall, with a shop full of prints, floral arrangements and additional home decor items. For more information, contact the mall at (606) 928-3835, ext. 202.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.