Restaurants, loft apartments, brewery, more: Check out Forsyth’s new business boom

Billed as a bakery and bistro with New Orleans-style food, craft beers and a boutique, a popular Locust Grove eatery opened a location in historic downtown Forsyth in February.

The French Market & Tavern is located in the former Minori’s Italian Ristorante location at 22 West Main St. Above the restaurant, Ingram Entities is developing the loft apartments.

The restaurant and coming lofts join more than a half-dozen businesses that opened shop in the historic downtown in the past year. In addition, nearly 20 other developments are in the works.

Tammie Pierson, the city’s economic development director, who prepared the report, attributed the growth in part to the city’s small town charm, interstate accessibility and its prime location between Atlanta and Macon.

“Our square is close to the interstate, so accessing some of these downtown shops, special boutiques and specialty restaurants is easy for people to get off the interstate,” she said. ”Everybody loves the courthouse and the feel of the downtown.

“We’ve got more restaurants, more shopping so we’re fulfilling the overall live, work and play and shop experience that every community wants to provide for their residents.”

New to downtown

Here’s a quick look at some of the businesses that opened up shop downtown in 2020:

• Fox City Brewing Co. — a brewery, restaurant and entertainment venue at 45 North Kimbell St.
• Sols Tacos & Tequila — a Mexican restaurant that also has a bar at 12 West Main St.
• A Girl & a Goat — a shop whose owner sells handmade soaps from goat’s milk along with bath bombs, chap stick and facial creams at 14 East Main St.
• Maurice Mowersports — a business offering small engine repair for four-wheelers, lawn mowers and such at 70 West Main St,
• M & W Heating and Air — A Lizella-based heating and air business that opened a satellite location at 10 East Main St.

• Eagle Point Accounting & Tax Inc. — a business that provides services needed to resolve tax issues at 8 North Jackson St.

• The 1823 Artisan Guild — Although this nonprofit of local artists moved into the old city hall building before the end of 2019, it’s still considered new to downtown and worth noting, Pierson said. The nonprofit offers art shows and classes.

Moving dirt

Multiple projects in the works include:

• Big Peach Car Wash —The car wash recently broke ground on North Lee St. Construction of the building has not started yet, but the ground has been leveled and they’re working on the driveway.
• Valero Station — The new gas station on North Lee Street is under construction, with about three-quarters of the work completed. The building is up and they’re working on the gas pumps and on the interior and exterior of the building.
• Town Creek Center — This new retail space is located on Cabiness Road and features nine spots, two of which have been leased to a restaurant which is going in a corner spot, Pierson said.
• Shane’s Rib Shack —The first tenant of the Town Creek Center is expected to open in a couple of months. “When you start putting the awnings over the store fonts and things like that, then you are starting to work on some exterior architecture, so you’re getting the ball rolling there,” Pierson said.
• QuikTrip — A 7,500 square foot QuikTrip is coming to Ga. 18. The popular Oklahoma-based convenience store and gas station chain has obtained a permit for the Forsyth location. Construction has not started yet. The store will have gasoline pumps in the front and diesel pumps in the back, so it will function like a small truckstop, Pierson said.
• Harbin’s Repair — This is an ongoing renovation project at 27 South Lee St. The computer and other electronics repair business is renovating one of the downtown buildings but they haven’t started yet. Their design plan has been approved and they’re now working on infrastructure, Pierson said.
• State Farm/American Craftsman Office Building—A two-story building is coming to Railroad Avenue. Site plans for the State Farm Insurance office with room for additional office space have been approved. American Craftsman/All American Exteriors plans to use part of the offices.
• Apartments above French Market —New loft apartments are coming to downtown above the French Market restaurant via Ingram Entities. Water lines and electrical work are now being done, Pierson said.
• Juliette Crossing Phase 1 —About 80 homes were built last year in this subdivision on Johnson Lane, with the Phase 2 now in the preliminary approval process.
• Manor at Montpelier Phase 2 — About 80 homes are to be constructed under Phase 2 of this subdivision’s development, which will double the number of homes. All the Phase 1 homes have been built, with the road to be extended to start building the new homes, Pierson said.
• Eagle PreCast —Part of a national chain, this business makes those temporary barriers that motorists likely have seen during construction projects. It’s Forsyth plant is under construction off Town Creek Road.
• Old Mill Market Co. — This new business is coming to 98 Adams Street and is expected to have a bakery and offer fresh produce, fresh meats and some gift items. “It kind of reminds you of that Joanna Gaines silo look,” Pierson said. The Old Mill Market Co. is expected to open in April.

Most recent projects

While the city is beginning to reap the hard work of the previous year, the new year also has been promising.

Here’s a glance at what’s already on the way and new for 2021:

• Starbucks — The first Starbucks location is coming to the city of Forsyth at 318 Russell Parkway. A preliminary site plan has been approved and the issuance of a permit is pending.
• Candy Factory — Based in Milner, Swint’s Pecans & Candies plans to open a manufacturing and retail space off of Industrial Park Drive. It will be their second location.
• Juliette Crossing Phase 2 — This is the addition of 80 homes for the Juliette Crossing subdivision.
• Gas station & retail space — Super 8 Motel wants to add a gas station and retail space at its location on Tift College Drive. The motel has been encouraged to move forward with development plans, Pierson said.
  
  
• Willingham Place — A planned low-income, tax-credit multi-housing apartment complex is seeking a rezoning and conditional use permit to build an 80-unit complex off Industrial Park Drive. It’s expected to have 80 units.
• Public Service Telephone Company — This Reynolds-based business is moving into the old Monroe County chamber building that’s also been a Bank of America.

“I can’t say any one of those on that list are completed. They’re either in construction or in the permitting process. Most of those have already been through their design and review — meaning they’re fixing to get their building permit or they’ve already gotten their building permit,” Pierson said. “It’s just their timing on digging the dirt and getting started. But most of those … like the Starbucks, the QuikTrip, The State Farm and the American Craftman … are a couple of months of starting to turn dirt while the others are in the middle of it.”

This story was originally published March 12, 2021 at 5:00 AM.