Mink’s on the Park has been sitting next door to Bikini Beer for four years now, right there in plain sight, on College Hill Road across from the Sky Mart. I was shocked to find out that this little jewel had been tucked away there for the last four years, going largely unnoticed by the people who rarely venture far from the Square in search of a good time.
To say I was pleasantly surprised with the establishment is an understatement. I came in to cover “Songwriters in the Round,” which is hosted by Mink’s the first Wednesday of every month. But I came away from there with a burning desire to let the rest of Oxford and the surrounding area know what they’re missing by not patronizing this unique, bohemian, classy, and comfortable establishment.
On this particular night, we were in for a treat as the lead singer for The Wineskins, Keith Moore, sat in to practice songs in preparation for the recording of his album. Greg Johnson, local favorite upright bass player and a member of The Wineskins, was there to provide support on the upright bass. Chris Busby of Abbeville, not affiliated with The Wineskins but there for the open mic aspect of the show, sat in to provide guitar where he could as he intently watched Keith’s hands to learn where to fall into place with Keith’s originals, as Busby was mostly unfamiliar with them. But he did a great job, and Busby brought some Abbeville local color of his own to the show by playing such old school country favorites as Merle Haggard’s, “Are The Good Times Really Over For Good” and Hank Williams Jr.’s “All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down.”
But before I get too into how good the music was, you must know more about this little gem of a spot that had me from the moment I realized they sold original Coke in a bottle. Missy Wildmon, manager at Mink’s, began to tell me all the cool things about the place and, as I looked around, I really wanted to tell her that she need not say more. The homemade smoothies are made to order and they are out of this world—using only the best ingredients to make these healthy delights that, if you choose, you can get spiked with the liquor of your choice. Owner Amy Donnelly prides herself in providing her customers with the best quality product available to her, even (and especially) if that means she must hit the local farmers markets to get the best produce to make her specialty smoothies, gourmet sandwiches, salads, and breakfast items.
The menu at Mink’s is just dreamy. There is a very reasonably priced breakfast menu that is offered all day, as well as their signature sandwich list made fresh either traditionally (on a hoagie-style white or wheat), on a toasted croissant, toasted oat-nut bread, or wrap-style with options including spinach, wheat, tomato basil, or jalapeño. They use Boar’s Head meat, which is just about as good as it gets when it comes to deli meat in the South. I hear the “Johnny McPhail” is a big hit with the customers—made up of tavern ham, rosemary ham, honey ham, Vermont cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato & honey mustard (I’m guessing our local acting phenom loves him some ham).
Mink’s also has a full bar—stocked with whatever you may be in the mood for—and featuring some of the best of Oxford’s local craft beers. Kevin Hindman is a bartender at Mink’s, and he is also a musician. Kevin stood in for a couple of songs with Keith and Chris that night. Kevin is working toward a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Mississippi. I asked him what he planned to do with that, and he said, “I want to go work at Gipson [Guitar Factory] in Nashville.” In the meantime, he is a member of one of the most popular under-the-radar local acts in town, The Whiskey Barrels.
This not just a breakfast and lunch place that closes down in the afternoon. This is a local hangout that stays open all day—with great music, atmosphere, food, drinks, and people. They also provide free Wi-Fi, and there is a convenient drive-through window around the back of the building for picking up call-in orders or just driving up for a supremely good smoothie.
Mink’s is open Monday through Friday, 7 am to 10 pm (most nights—if there’s a good crowd, Amy will stay open until midnight). On Saturdays, she is open from 8 am to noon. Closed on Sundays.
