Casting a New Line: During pandemic, one of Millington’s newest business modifies operations

By Thomas Sellers Jr.

The long awaited arrival of A&J Catfish Station to 7838 Church Street in Millington was one of the host topics this past summer.
Just the second location of A&J was building up traffic after the August opening, March brought the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s been kind of rough for us,” A&J Catfish Station Millington owner Andre’ Meyers acknowledged. “We’re predominately a restaurant people tend to want to dine in more so than take to go.
“But here lately it’s starting to pick up some,” he continued. “Our Memphis store they do quite a bit more of to-go instead of dine-in. So it hasn’t affected them as much as this.”
For more than a decade Meyers and business partner Janis Anderson have gain a loyal following setting up Station at 5950 Knight Arnold in Memphis.
In the Plaza Shopping Center of Millington, A&J Catfish Station was on the verge of becoming the centerpiece.
“It came at a horrible time,” Meyers said. “We were actually starting to see numbers increase and a growth in business about three weeks prior, until COVID-19 took place.”
These days A&J Catfish Station has modified its business practices by offering curb-side service and teaming up with delivery services like DeliveryMe Millington.
“If you don’t patronize your local businesses, later on they won’t be here,” Meyers said. “You’ll look around and they’re gone.
“It means everything in the world and we value our customers business and hope they will still come out periodically,” he added, “and at least do take-home with us.”
Meyers said in addition to the signature catfish, there are lunch specials starting at $5.99, desserts, tradition fish-fry fixings and more.
“We just appreciate the business,” Meyers said. “And our service is second to none. We have a product we take pride in and our cleanliness is second to none. We are a family-friendly establishment. We appreciate all of those who are fighting this COVID.”
A&J’s staff is increasing the efforts in cleanliness, taking additional measures for customer safety and more.
“I really feel for everybody because it has really tough for us too,” Meyers said. “I think God we’re at least able to do to-go orders. Many businesses have shut down completely. They can’t do anything.
“People are struggling out there and I know it’s tough out here,” he concluded. “They’ve just issued some stimulus money here in the last couple of days. Hopefully that will help some of the people. We need to continue to pray and wait for this thing to be over.”