Fine dining to fast casual: These new restaurants are opening in Middle GA in 2022

From fine dining to fast casual, multiple restaurants are gearing up to open in Macon, Warner Robins and Perry in 2022.

Food offerings range from steaks and seafood to dishes from a variety of cultures to Jersey-style sub sandwiches and Southern fried chicken.

Some establishments are expected to open soon. Other restaurants are a few more months out.

Here’s a list:

Macon

Baldinos — Maconites and franchise owners Andy and Jan Clark are bringing back Baldinos Giant Jersey Subs to downtown Macon in the spring. The restaurant known for its Jersey-style subs will be located at 596 Cherry St. at the corner of Cherry and Second streets in the first floor of the building that houses the Barfield Lofts. The Clarks are also looking at opening two other locations, one in Macon and the other in Warner Robins, after their first spot gets off the ground. A Baldinos was once located at the corner of Walnut and Spring streets in the building that now houses 3 Countries Restaurant at 195 Spring St.

The Loom — This chef driven, street-level restaurant is located within Hotel Forty Five, a 94-room boutique hotel at 401 Cotton Ave. in downtown Macon opening in February. The renovated historic skyscraper also has a sixth-floor rooftop bar and an eclectic coffee and wine bar.

Zam Zam Market — Rashid “Ricky” Humayun and Shazia Choudhary are transforming a former shoe store space into a Pakistani market that will house a restaurant, grocery store, fresh meat market and hookah lounge at 1560 Eisenhower Parkway. They hope to open in the first or second week of January if all goes to plan. The restaurant will serve Pakistani, Indian, Mediterranean and American cuisine.

SL Sausage Company — An upscale country store featuring meats, produce, wines and beer is coming to the northwest corner of the intersection of Bass, Zebulon and Foster roads. The store is also expected to offer a hot bar for breakfast and lunch.

Sonny’s BBQ — Dirt has been turned at 5811 Zebulon Road in front of the Lofts at Zebulon for the 4,700-square foot restaurant known for its signature barbecue meats that are slow cooked over oak. No official word yet on when it’s expected to open.

Fatty’s Pizza —This popular pizza spot that’s still open at its original location at 344 Second St. in downtown Macon is expected to move into its new location a block away at 587 Cherry St. in mid-January. The vacated space is expected to house a sandwich shop..

Flavorz2 — Daaiyah Sultan is bringing a LGBTQ coffee shop and lounge to downtown Macon at 368 Second St. in the former Bodega grocery and convenience store location. She has her own brews and flavored tobacco used in hookah pipes.

Cake ‘n Shake — Vincent and Lakeisha Clayton of McDonough are opening a second Middle Georgia location of their family-owned dessert shop that serves up “extreme milkshakes” in Tobesofkee Crossing, 5581 Thomaston Road, Suite 100. They had hoped to open by December, but they’re now looking at the spring of 2022. Their other locations are in Warner Robins and at Tanger Outlets in Locust Grove.

Warner Robins

Fresco Italiano — Christian Torres is bringing a second location of his popular family-owned and operated restaurant in Tifton to Warner Robins, transforming the former Ole Times Country Buffet space into a casual, fine-dining Italian restaurant at 1208 Russell Parkway. Torres said he hopes to open in April or March. “We’re 90% ready,” he said.

Walk On’s — This Cajun restaurant with ties to NFL legend Drew Brees is expected to open in Warner Robins in the summer at the Rigby’s Entertainment Complex. The restaurant franchise touts its made-from-scratch Louisiana cuisine and family-friendly, game-day atmosphere.

Jack’s — Known for its Southern hospitality and fresh buttermilk biscuits made from scratch, Jack’s Family Restaurants is expected to open a Warner Robins location at 1284 South Houston Lake Road in early spring.

Chick-fil-A— After nearly 30 years at 1867 Watson Boulevard, this popular restaurant known for its chicken sandwiches is moving to a bigger store now going up at 621 Russell Parkway on property that once housed a bank across from Five Star Hyundai. The restaurant is expected to open in the in the spring of 2022.

McAlister’s Deli — This fast casual chain of restaurants known for its sandwiches, soups, salads and spuds expects to open a 2,985 square foot restaurant with a drive-thru at 760 Ga. 96 next to Fazoli’s in Warner Robins in the Bonaire community in early to mid-2022.

Huey Magoo’s — This national chicken tender restaurant chain plans to open a Warner Robins location at 711 Lake Joy Road within the first half of the year. The first Huey Magoo’s in Middle Georgia opened in Milledgeville at 1972 North Columbia St.

Perry

Oliver Perry’s — Eddie Bryant and his nephew, Pete Lamendola are opening a new fine dining restaurant and bar at 905 Carroll St. in downtown Perry. The restaurant is expected to open in late January or early February.

Stoner’s Pizza Joint — Matthew Howard and Eric Schultz are teaming up to bring an old fashioned style dine-in family friendly restaurant to 742 Main St. Howard, who already owns two Stoner’s in Warner Robins, said that while he’s keeping the same name for all three restaurants, the Perry location will be an old school pizzeria with a style and look all its own.

Commodore Building — A first-floor restaurant and three short-term loft apartments are envisioned for this two-story building under construction at 904 Commerce St. in downtown Perry. Owner Meredith Lockerman expects the project to come to fruition in the first quarter of 2022.

Chick-fil-A — After operating at 1600 Sam Nunn Blvd. for nearly 30 years, Perry’s Chick-fil-A is also moving to a bigger, updated and more accessible restaurant now under construction down the street at 1363 Sam Nunn Boulevard west of Interstate 75. The restaurant is expected to open in the spring of 2022.

‘Orleans on Carroll St. — This restaurant expects to bring a taste of the Big Easy to downtown Perry with its Southern food with a Cajun twist and distinct elements of New Orleans woven throughout the establishment. The restaurant, which houses a bar and grill and features a large outdoor courtyard, is expected to open at 807 Carroll St. in early 2022.

If you’re opening a restaurant in 2022 in Middle Georgia and would like to be included in this list or considered for a separate story, please email Telegraph reporter Becky Purser at bpurser@macon.com.