Chick-fil-A closes temporarily, new restaurants. Here’s a list of developments in Middle GA
A beer garden known for its live music in Macon now has its own restaurant, and a dessert shop known for its frozen treats now has a store in Perry.
Also, a new cooking school designed for children is open in Warner Robins.
Additionally, a new fitness studio is gearing up to open in Warner Robins, and a new Starbucks is close to opening in Byron.
Meanwhile, two Macon stores of a popular chicken-sandwich franchise are temporarily closing to improve services — one soon and the other next year.
Here’s a look at these business developments:
Lilliana’s at The Garden
The Society Garden, a popular outdoor beer garden and live music venue in Ingleside Village in Macon, now has a full restaurant on site. Lilliana’s at The Garden offers Italian street food from fried bites to salads to sandwiches and entrees from 5-9 p.m., according to its Facebook page.
The Society Garden is at 2389 Ingleside Ave. Hours are 5 p.m. to midnight Wednesday through Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and 3-9 p.m. Sunday. Children and pets are welcome until 9 p.m. The number is 478-200-0800.
Pure Barre
Chandler Schindler is opening a Warner Robins studio of this franchise brand known for its low-impact, high-intensity workouts inspired by ballet, yoga and pilates. Schindler posted on Facebook that she’s been teaching at the Macon studio and decided to open a studio of her own at 114-A Sutherlin Drive, Suite, C, in retail space below the Lofts at Houston Central.
The classic workout incorporates mostly body-weight exercises and small isometric movements with other class formats on cardio, functional strength training or stretching also offered. Pop-up classes are now being offered in advance of the studio opening. The studio number is 478-952-9283.
Chick-fil-A
Two Macon stores of this popular franchise restaurant known for its chicken sandwiches and friendly service are temporarily closing for improvements. The Chick-fil-A at 1569 Bass Road announced its short-term closing Monday for a remodel to improve services with plans to reopen Sept. 12.
The Chick-fil-A at 5920 Zebulon Road is expected to be torn down for the construction of a larger, 5,112-square-foot Chick-fil-A that will have an expanded kitchen and dual drive-thru.
Demolition of the existing store is expected in early spring of next year. The new store is expected to open in early 2025. The store’s footprint will be larger after the purchase of .78 acres from Bibb schools directly behind the existing restaurant.
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice
This dessert shop known for its Italian ice, soft-serve ice cream and a layered combination of the two called “the gelati” now has a Perry store at 1506 Sam Nunn Blvd., Suite C. This is the third Middle Georgia location to open this year for sisters Monica and Manali Patel, who purchased the franchise rights for Middle Georgia and brought the brand’s first store to Warner Robins.
A Macon location also is in the works. Jeremiah’s Italian Ice has more than 40 Italian Ice flavors, with 24 flavors featured daily — including seven that rotate. The Perry’s store hours are noon to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The number is 478-313-5370.
Starbucks
This popular coffee shop brand is close to opening a new store at 321 North Ga. 49 in Byron. The new spot is at the corner of Ga. 49 and Peachtree Parkway next to a new Taco Bell and near a nearby Dunkin’ across the street that opened last year.
Young Chefs Academy
This national franchise cooking school for children is now open at 115 Margie Drive, Suite D, in Warner Robins. Skills taught include food preparation, kitchen safety, proper food handling, cooking and baking techniques, presentation and table setting.
The classes which are geared to age and skill level, are open to children age 4 through high school. Also, “YoungChefs@Heart” workshops are offered for adults. The number is 478-333-2494.
This story was originally published August 15, 2023 at 10:38 AM.