Downtown Macon’s Irish tavern expands its reach in Middle Georgia. When will pub reopen?

A popular downtown Macon gastropub’s food truck that was born out of adversity is expanding its reach in Middle Georgia, stopping recently in Warner Robins.

The Bearfoot Tavern food truck started hitting the road in late January, setting up for a host of public and private events mostly in Macon over the last month.

Events included a Pet Vet Clinic at Tractor Supply Company, a Jen’s Market at the Howard Community Club, Food Truck Friday at The Ansley Apartment Homes, Valentine’s Day at The Society Garden, the grand opening of an AT&T store, a St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital event at Dillard’s and more.

Upcoming events for the food truck include setting up March 15 at the 2025 Dublin-Laurens St. Patrick’s Festival, a 50-day celebration of all things Irish now in its 60th year.

“It’s been a good thing,” said Mark Bell, the Irish tavern’s general manager, of rolling out the food truck. “We’ve gotten a lot of support, and people are missing the Bearfoot Tavern.”

The tavern at 468 Second St. remains temporarily closed after a catastrophic event last summer, with hopes of now reopening this spring.

The extensive damage resulted in a roof replacement followed by an interior renovation and remodel, which is ongoing.

The food truck gives the Bearfoot Tavern an opportunity to showcase fan favorites such as bacon pimento cheese sticks and the kickin’ chicken sandwich, and new menu options such as a beer-battered Irish sausage on a stick and a Guinness-braised brisket with rich brown gravy.

A stop in Warner Robins

Wednesday, the 16-foot, trailer-pulled food truck equipped with fryers, cookers, grills, freezers — a full kitchen basically — rolled into the parking lot of Lowe’s Home Improvement off Watson Boulevard in Warner Robins.

The food truck set up early — offering a breakfast menu in addition to its regular food truck menu as well as one for kids.

Isabella Smith, who learned that Bearfoot Tavern was bringing its food truck to Warner Robins through a Facebook post, made sure she was on site to pick up lunch before she went to work.

“When I seen they was out here, I was excited,” said Smith, who ordered a kickin’ chicken sandwich and loaded tots. “I wanted to try them. I don’t get to Macon often, so for them to come down here was pretty good.”

Smith gave both the fried chicken tender sandwich with Swiss cheese, kickin’ bourbon BBQ sauce, grilled onions and bacon and the tots topped with beer cheese, bacon and jalapenos a top rating of 5 out of 5.

Danyell Smith, no relation to Isabella Smith, also came out to meet the food truck — ordering the ruben eggrolls, banger dog sandwich, stuffed ruben burger and banana bread pudding to share with her boyfriend.

She was craving the food, having eaten at the pub before its temporary closure.

Why a food truck?

After months of an ongoing closure, the Bearfoot Tavern debuted its food truck in December by first stationing it in front of the establishment along with tables and chairs. The initial plan was to go mobile for events and catering once the tavern reopened.

The popular eatery is now taking advantage of the best of both worlds, setting up at its home base in downtown Macon and going mobile with expectations of traveling within about an hour of Macon for public and private events.

“When we don’t have something booked, we’re downtown,” Bell said.

A state law that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, made it easier for the Bearfoot Tavern and other food truck operators to expand their reach.

Known as the Food Truck Freedom Act, the law allows food trucks to operate statewide with a permit from their home county, rather than requiring permits and inspections in every county.

Food truck operators must notify local health departments outside of their home counties where they plan to set up, and food trucks remain subject to unannounced inspections in any county they operate in, according to the law.

“It’s made it a lot better to be able to open in different communities for all food trucks,” Bell said. “It’s a faster turnaround and offers flexibility to serve a wider audience.”

The Bearfoot Tavern posts its food truck events on its Facebook page.

Upcoming events

For Macon’s International Cherry Blossom Festival March 21-30, the food truck will remain at its home base except when it will set up with other food trucks for the festival’s Food Truck Frenzy and Cherry Market on the last two days of the festival, according to Bell.

The Ultimate Air Dogs Dock Diving Competition will take place March 22 and March 23 on Second Street near the food truck’s home base, Bell noted. The food truck also will be set up for Macon’s 2nd annual Taco & Tequila Crawl on April 5, he said.

The food truck is expected to return to Warner Robins on April 17 for the city’s Food Truck Roundup at Perkins Field at 105 Mulberry St. Its first stop in Warner Robins was for a Black History Month celebration at the Walmart on Booth Road on Feb. 18.

Melvin Edwards and Erika Watson walked over from The Imaging Center of Warner Robins to try Bearfoot Tavern for the first time when its food truck was parked Wednesday at Lowe’s Home Improvement.

Edwards ordered the lemon pepper wings and fries and Watson chose the chicken tenders and fries.

“It was delicious,” Edwards said.

Their rating? Another 5 out of 5.