Twist & Swirl opens with ribbon cutting

Published 6:56 pm Thursday, December 11, 2025

A longtime Meridian business owner embarked on a new adventure with a ribbon cutting Thursday for Twist & Swirl in the Meridian Crossroads shopping center.

Specializing in soft pretzels and frozen yogurt, the new storefront is a merging of Yoo Yoo Yogurt and Pretzel Twister in the Uptown Meridian shopping mall.

wist & Swirl Owner Christine Barham speaks Thursday at the ribbon cutting for the new business in the Meridian Crossroads shopping center. Photo by Thomas Howard

“After 27 years of the Pretzel Twister and also eight years of Yoo Yoo Yogurt, we’re so excited to bring them together as one, Twist & Swirl,” said Owner Christine Barham.

Helen Sims, membership director for the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation congratulated Barham on her new business venture. Twist & Swirl, she said, is one of 55 new businesses to have joined the EMBDC in 2025.

“We’re so excited because I get to work with great individuals, but today is extra special be she’s also a friend,” Sims said. “She’s a friend that’s cost me a lot of money over the years because no trip to the mall would have been complete without having pretzels.”

Sims said people like Barham who invest in their communities and work to make their towns and cities even better are worth celebrating.

Craig Hitt, chief administrative officer for the city of Meridian, also thanked Barham for investing in the Queen City adding the city is ready to help out in any way it can.

“Anything that we can do to support you going forward, please feel free to call on us,” he said.