What’s now open, what’s coming to Middle GA? These restaurants & business developments

In spite of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple new restaurants and businesses across Middle Georgia are opening soon, are under construction or are in the works.

That’s in addition to the more than 50 new restaurants and businesses that opened in the Macon, Warner Robins and Perry areas last year — not to mention those that have already opened this year.

Only supply issues are holding some restaurants and businesses from already opening, while others are in the planning stages.

Here’s a look at what’s close to opening, what’s opened so far this year, what’s going up and what’s in the works.

If your new restaurant or business is not in this list and you’d like to be considered for possible inclusion in this list or one like it, please email bpurser@macon.com.

Getting close

These restaurants are getting closer to opening:

• ‘Orleans on Carroll St. — Billed as “Cajun with a Southern twist,” this new restaurant is now targeting to open in late April or early May at 807 Carroll St. in downtown Perry.
• Oliver Perry’s—This new fine dining restaurant at 903 Carroll St. has been testing the water with private events as its gears up to open to the public soon. No opening date has been announced yet but the restaurant could possibly open next month.
• Hello Boba Cafe — Renee Tu is opening a Boba tea shop soon at 359 Third St. She also offers Bubble Waffles with a variety of toppings as well as prepackaged Asian snacks. She’s now expecting to open by late March, if not sooner.
• 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 now hopes to open in mid-March.

Just open

Here are some new restaurants and businesses that opened within the last two months:

• Loom — This new chef-driven, “Southern revival” restaurant attached to the lobby of Macon’s new 94-room boutique Hotel Forty Five at 401 Cotton Ave. opened with the hotel with dishes like chicken chowder, pork belly carbonara, a Southern Cuban sandwich and caramelized banana pudding.
• Hightales Rooftop Bar — Also now open at Hotel Forty Five, this rooftop bar atop the sixth floor offers cocktails named after hits of Macon artists as well as small plates of deviled eggs, shrimp ceviche and chicken chicharrones.
• Reckon Coffee & Wine Bar — Like the Loom, Hotely Forty Five’s eclectic coffee and wine bar also offers a rotating seasonal menu with morning dishes such as challah French toast, a bacon breakfast skillet and cast iron skillet frittata and evening offerings of flatbread, chimichurri steak and roasted corn and shrimp fritter.

• Enterprise Truck Rental — From box trucks to cargo vans to tow-capable pickup trucks for both business and personal use, Enterprise Truck Rental opened its first Middle Georgia location at 2460 Riverside Drive in Macon on property next to a Enterprise Rent-A-Car branch.

• Dunkin’ — Franchisee network QSR Group opened their eighth Georgia location of this popular coffee and doughnut shop at 404 Ga. 49 in Byron just off Interstate 75. The new 1,800 square foot “Next Gen” store features a dedicated drive-thru lane for its DD Perks members who order ahead via Dunkin’s Mobile App.
• The Sassy Alpaca —Specializing in homemade natural skin care and bath and shower products, soap maker Joshua Hess opened a storefront at 2371 Ingleside Ave., Suite A. He plans to keep his rotations at the Perry Farmers Market, International City Farmer’s Market in Warner Robins and indoor kiosks at the Base Exchange at Robins Air Force Base. His products may also be ordered through his website.
• Zam Zam Market — Rashid “Ricky” Humayun and Shazia Choudhary opened a Pakistani market 1560 Eisenhower Parkway complete with a restaurant, grocery store, fresh meat market and hookah lounge.
• Penelope’s Farmhouse Furniture — Heather Peebles opened a home decor storefront at 102 East Heritage Blvd. in Byron after what started out as a hobby became a successful online business for her made-to-order, handcrafted furniture.
• Bombay Curry — This restaurant offering authentic Indian cuisine opened at 3892 Bloomfield Village Drive in Macon in the same spot where it once operated under different ownership and management.

• Mr. Pingo’s House — Jessica and Leandro Lacerda opened a bakery and restaurant that’s based on a traditional Brazilian snack food at 3001 Vineville Ave. in Macon. The restaurant ran out of food their first day in business.

Going up

These restaurants and businesses are under construction:

• 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.
• Rock N Roll Sushi — A third Middle Georgia location of this restaurant is coming to 5801 Zebulon Road in Macon along with a Tropical Smoothie Cafe in a 10,000-square foot building under construction in front of the Lofts at Zebulon across the street from the Sonny’s BBQ under construction. Rock N Roll Sushi is targeting a March opening.
• Sonny’s BBQ — This restaurant known for its signature barbecue meats that are slow cooked over oak is going up at 5811 Zebulon Road in front of the Lofts at Zebulon.
  
  
• Dunkin’ & Jersey Mike’s Subs — A new plaza, which will house both the doughnut and subway shops, is going up on Sam Nunn Boulevard just west of Interstate 75 next to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.
• Chick-fil-A — New Chick-fil-A stores on Russell Parkway in Warner Robins and Sam Nunn Boulevard in Perry are expected to open in the spring. Both are replacing their current locations.
• McAlister’s Deli — This restaurant known for sandwiches and spuds is opening a fourth Middle Georgia location at 760 Ga. 96 next to Fazoli’s in Bonaire by mid-year if not sooner.
• Cook Out — This burger restaurant chain also known for its multiple shake options is under construction on the east side of Sam Nunn Boulevard at the site of the former Taco Bell.
• The Cottages at Warner Robins — A build for rent, multi-family development with 251 cottage-style units is under construction along South Houston Lake Road just south of Southside Baptist Church.

In the works

These restaurants and business are in the works:

• Amici Italian Cafe & Brewery — Known for its signature pizza and wings, local franchisees of this restaurant closed on property at Perry Parkway and Washington Place with hopes of opening by year’s end. While most locations have bars, only four have breweries, and the Perry location will be the first brewery to locate within Perry.
• Taco Mac — A 7,500-square-foot Taco Mac restaurant with a covered patio is expected to be built at 5433 Bowman Road on a 1.13 acre outparcel at the Bass Plantation Shopping Center. Founded in Atlanta, this casual dining restaurant that serves up American cuisine is known for its chicken wings and a variety of draft beers.
• Woodward Hotel/Clovis & Quill — A joint venture between NewTown Macon and local developer Wes Griffith, the boutique hotel will offer four rooms on the top floor with two featuring balconies, including one that extends over the rooftop lounge. No opening date set yet but most likely it will be later this spring or summer.

• MHI RJ Aviation Group — This aviation group is expanding its Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul network with the opening of a new facility in Macon at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport, which is expected to create 200 jobs, according to a Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority news release. The aviation group is now hiring. Visit www.mhirj.com/en/careers to apply for a job.

• The Butcher Shop — Amy and David Dean plan to open a second location of their popular Warner Robins meat and specialty market at 4420 Forsyth Road, Suite 125, in Macon, possibly as early as March but that could get pushed back.
• Baldinos — First-time franchise owners Andy and Jan Clark are bringing a Baldinos Giant Jersey Subs back to downtown Macon in a new spot at 596 Cherry St., possibly as early as late April or early May.

• The Salad Spot 2 - Patrice Scott is expected to open storefront for her online order and personal delivery salad-making business at 2440 Shurling Drive, Suite 102, in the spot of a former Subway restaurant in east Macon. She’s shooting to open in March.

• The Commodore Building — Construction of this two-story building at 904 Commerce St. in the heart of downtown Perry is complete with the first-floor designed for a build-to-suit restaurant. The building’s three loft apartments are expected to be available for short-term rental in March.
• 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.
• 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” at Tobesofkee Crossing, 5581 Thomaston Road, Suite 100. They now expect to open in the spring.
• 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. in 2021.
• 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.
• Church Hill on Cherry — Local businessman Bruce Riggins, in partnership with his son, Nicholas, is bringing an upscale, luxury cigar bar and lounge to 557 Cherry St. NewTown Macon assisted with a loan as well as training through its Developer’s Academy.
• Zaxby’s — Known for its chicken wings, chicken fingers, sandwiches, salads and fried mushrooms and other sides, a second Perry location of this restaurant will be constructed off Perry Parkway in front of Skweeky Clean Car Wash beside the Wendy’s restaurant.
• Mavis Tire & Brakes — This retail tire and brake center is expected to be built at 5591 Thomaston Road. The site, which is just under an acre, is an out parcel within the Lake Tobesofkee shopping center at the intersection of Thomaston and Tucker roads.

This story was originally published February 17, 2022 at 11:30 AM.