New international cafe set to open in this downtown Macon location

A new restaurant is set to open at the beginning of a September in the former Spud Dogs location in downtown Macon.

Bossa Novas, an international cafe, will move into the location under the same ownership but under new leadership until Spud Dogs owner Scott Long is able to return to the restaurant following open-heart surgery.

Arlin Bleclic, who will run the new restaurant, said that he and Long have built a bond over the years; he was a regular customer at Spud Dogs. With Long set to have surgery, Bleclic saw an opportunity to help a friend out and try a new concept in downtown Macon in the form of an international cafe with a focus on healthier options.

“Scott and I are friends, so I talked to him about coming in and essentially running the place for him while he’s recovering,” Bleclic said. “That was the kind of a plan. Change the format, change some things, change the menu around, kind of give the place a face lift and try to keep the restaurant going for him while he’s recovering.”

Long has been the face of Spud Dogs and that corner of Cherry Street for nearly six years. He recently went in for a checkup because he was fatigued.

His physician ordered a nuclear stress test which revealed some blockage in his heart that required triple-bypass surgery. Between the economic challenges created by COVID-19 and the surgery, Long recognized that he was going to have to shut down the restaurant during his recovery. Then, during a casual conversation with Bleclic, he decided there was another option that would allow the restaurant to stay open.

“The timing is perfect. I have I couldn’t imagine trying to recover and feeling forced or rushed,” Long said. “I have great peace. It is just the lords helping hand… Arlin was one of my earliest customers when I first opened and we just had a love for music together.”

The new restaurant will be Brazilian-themed with various international dishes as well as espressos, cappuccinos, coffees and smoothies. The goal is to create a cafe vibe that is inviting for customers who may want to try out some new types of cuisine. Bleclic said he wants to be able to separate what Bossa Novas offers from other places in town. It is a chance to give downtown Macon something that it doesn’t already have.

“We’re trying to incorporate a vegan menu into the format and a little more international-style dishes,” Bleclic said. “We want to contribute to building a better downtown. I live here in Macon. My family is in Macon and we enjoy coming downtown.”

Long said one of the greatest joys of owning a business is being a part of the downtown community, something he is eager to resume once he recovers from his surgery. He’s happy with what he was able to accomplish with Spud Dogs, building an environment where everyone was welcome. He hopes the new venture will continue that.

“That’s been one of the greatest rewards: being involved in the downtown community and making friends of all varieties,” Long said. “The relationships, the interactions, seeing life in downtown Macon, helping overcome bad reputations, and just being a safe place and a fun place has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my life.”

For updates on the new restaurant, follow Bossa Novas on Facebook. Bleclic plans to have a preliminary menu out in the coming days, with plans to reopen in early September following a makeover: new counters and a setup that focuses on social distancing and other COVID-19 best practices. The restaurant will provide takeout via an online ordering system as well.