Four businesses close in downtown Macon, but more have opened in 2022. Here’s a breakdown

Although downtown Macon lost four businesses recently and five others earlier this year, the overall momentum of downtown revitalization doesn’t appear to be slowing down with more measurable gains than losses.

Recent closures include two restaurants, a coffee shop, and a tire and repair shop. At least two of the businesses closed their doors because of staffing shortages. One of the closures makes room for new loft apartments.

Closures

Ricky’s Taco Shop at 518 Cherry St. closed Oct. 14. But foodie fans can still enjoy Ricky Perez’s popular huge burritos and authentic tacos via his food truck.

Perez has been setting up recently at 4515 Hartley Bridge Road and posting on Instagram when he’s open.

In operation less than a year, the Lazy Donkey also closed its doors at 379 Third St.

“We struggled to find help,” co-owner Enrique Lopez said. “These days, it’s hard to open a restaurant.”

Lopez said he’d like to reopen if he could find enough workers.

The space is currently available for lease.

A staffing shortage was also the reason given when the owners of the Taste and See Coffee Shop and Gallery announced Oct. 28 that they were closing shop.

In business for more than nine years at 546 Poplar St., the owners hope they’ll be able to bring the popular shop back to downtown in the future.

Oct. 14, Larry Bush announced, also via social media, his retirement and the closure of his longtime tire business at 595 Second St. to make way for new downtown apartments.

Crescent Corners residential lofts are expected to be constructed at Second and Plum Streets where Larry Bush’s Riverside Tire was located.

Earlier losses

Earlier this year, five downtown restaurants closed for a variety of reasons from the COVID-19 pandemic to staff shortages to the owner’s health.

These former restaurants include Lazy Susan’s Tapas Bar at 428 Second St., La Bella Vita Italian Kitchen at 347 Cotton Ave., Bossa Novas at 490 Cherry St., Ladda Bistro at 442 Cherry St. and Michael’s on Mulberry at 588 Mulberry St.

But plans are in the works for new restaurants in at least three of those spaces. Macon Water Ice, which closed its spot at The Shoppes at River Crossing, is expected to reopen in the former Bossa Novas space.

Ron Whidby and his business partners are expected to open a new restaurant and cocktail bar in the former Lazy Susan’s Tapas Bar location, and the Washington Lofts project includes renovated restaurant space that once housed Michael’s on Mulberry.

New this year

In February, Hotel Forty Five, a 94-room boutique hotel with a restaurant, rooftop bar, and coffee and wine bar opened at 401 Cotton Ave.

Also, four restaurants opened this year in downtown Macon: Pearl Passionate Cuisine and Cocktails at 470 First St., Baldinos Giant Jersey Subs at 596 Cherry St., Philosophie Wine and Charcuterie Bar at 616 Poplar St. and Chick’nCone at 860 Forsyth St., Suite 102, across from Atrium Health Navicent.

Additionally, Sixth Ave, an upscale sneaker store, opened earlier this year at 482 First St., while Vertigo Vinyl, a record business, opened a storefront at 1305 Linden Ave. in Mercer Village.

And don’t forget The Woodward Hotel, a new a nine-room boutique hotel on the corner of Second and Mulberry streets. The hotel is also home to Quill, a new craft cocktail bar off Mulberry Street.

Recently, NewTown Macon announced the opening of the new Lee Lofts at 536 Third Street. This mixed use space includes 29 lofts ranging in size from studio to three-bedroom apartments as well as three commercial units on the first floor.

Meanwhile, a host of other projects are in the works for downtown Macon from the future Otis Redding Center for the Arts at 436 Cotton Ave. to the coming DT Walton Housing Complex at 743 Plum St. to the Central City Commons project.