From garage to storefront, popular Macon catering shop opening new spot in Perry

The Casserole Shop started as a catering business in 1993 out of a garage in Macon and moved to its first storefront on Forsyth Road in 2001.

After Tonya Sadler sold the business to her son, Evan Acres, in July 2019, they recognized their customers were coming from different areas, said Nicholas Ashmead, business development manager for the store.

Most of the store’s business came from Macon residents, but they had several customers traveling from Perry and Warner Robins to purchase their casseroles and baked goods, Ashmead said.

To serve these customers, the store is opening a second location and plans to have a grand opening event March 11 in Perry.

“We wanted to provide a storefront where families could be reached down there without it being such a big hassle,” Ashmead said. “Our main focus is really to serve the community that we’re in.”

The Perry location, at 1030 Ball St., will be open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, according to the store’s website.

Custom cookies and cakes won’t be available at the Perry location, but customers will be able to purchase appetizers, sides, entrees and some desserts and snacks, Ashmead said. The food will be transported by a refrigerated trailer from the Macon location to Perry daily.

He said one of the scary aspects of opening a new location is keeping up with production, but he said he feels that they are prepared for the transition.

At the grand opening celebration, the store will be giving away a card for one free casserole per month, and they will have snacks and assorted items. The business decided to expand to Perry because Perry was a small community that needed some comfort food, Ashmead said

The goal of the Casserole Shop is to serve people who might be sick, just had a child or have had a death in the family, he said.

“It really helps people who don’t have time to cook or just don’t have the energy to,” Ashmead said.

The store is hiring customer service employees for their Perry location, and they have one opening at their Macon location, Ashmead said. The Perry location will have around eight employees. To apply, submit a contact form through the store’s website at www.thecasseroleshop.com/ourteam.

This story was originally published March 6, 2020 at 1:00 AM.