Brunch, seafood more: These new restaurants and businesses are now open in Middle GA

A seafood market, an upscale brunch bar and grill and a Mediterranean restaurant recently have opened their doors in Middle Georgia and more restaurants and other new businesses are coming.

Here’s a quick roundup of what’s opened and what’s coming soon:

• Saltwater Outpost — Leslie and Josh Sharpe celebrated the grand opening Tuesday of their seafood market in Warner Robins. The market offers fresh unprepared seafood and choice meats as well as specialty groceries to help customers prepare their seafood and steaks at home. The market is located at 4027 Watson Blvd., Suite 110.
• Vibez — This upscale brunch, bar and grill in downtown Macon celebrated its grand opening July 3. Bud Dupree, an outside linebacker for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, is behind the new restaurant at 401 A Cherry St. Dupree, previously a Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, also played football at the University of Kentucky and for Wilkinson County High School in Irwinton. The already-popular restaurant has a business-casual dress code and a two-our seating limit, according to its website.
• Wrap and Kebab — This new Mediterranean restaurant and grocery store in Centerville had its “soft opening” July 6. The large restaurant building at 103 Gunn Road also houses a hookah cafe, which has not opened yet. Mohammed Magayreh, a Jordan native and Byron resident, said he plans to have a grand opening for his restaurant, grocery store and hookah lounge once he’s fully staffed. Rudolph Williams, an Air Force retiree who was stationed in Turkey during his military career, said he’s been driving by expectantly watching and waiting for the business to open. He was checking out a wide variety of seasonings offered at the grocery store on a recent visit.
• Fried Green Tomatoes — This popular restaurant offering Southern food with multiple locations in Middle Georgia announced on social media that a Warner Robins location is planned at 747 Russell Parkway, the site of a former Krystal’s restaurant. A targeted opening date has not yet been announced.
• Culver’s — This new restaurant replacing the Metro Diner at 3710 Northside Drive in north Macon is steadily coming along. “We’re moving slowly but surely,” said Kyle Garretson, Culver’s operating partner for the Macon location. ”I’m hoping we’ll be getting open by early September.” The restaurant is currently looking to fill management positions with training to take place at the Newnan location. Garretson also is a partner in a Culver’s restaurant in McDonough. The Macon location will have a drive-thru window and covered patio for outside seating in addition to the dining room. Online ordering also will be available. “We’ll be excited to take care of the community and feed everybody some Butter Burgers and frozen custard when we get open.”
• Five Below — The familiar blue and white colors of this discount store geared to delight teenagers have been painted on the building that previously housed Pier Imports at 2622 Watson Blvd., Suite A, in Warner Robins. The interior remodel is underway. No word from corporate on when the store will open.
• Sunset Slush of Middle Georgia — Patrick and Jessica Watson, owners of the mobile Sunset Slush of Middle Georgia, opened a storefront July 8 in the Village Shops in downtown Perry at 736 Carroll St. They offer more than 30 flavors of classic Italian Ice. “We can swirl and mix any of those flavors and it has that consistency of sherbet, so it’s really smooth.” They also plan to continue to operate their mobile unit.
• The Batter Babes — Cake bakers Arwen Gingerich and Amanda Beam are opening a store front also at The Village Shops in Perry. They specialize in custom, sculpted and special occasion cakes. The cakery is now expected to open in mid-August.
• Big Lots — A Big Lots coming to the Rivergate Shopping Center in north Macon remains on target for soft opening in late August and a grand opening in early September, according to an email from spokesperson Dominique Wiggins. The discount store will be located in about 33,000 square feet of the 47,800 square foot former Publix anchor site within the shopping center at 121 Tom Hill Sr. Blvd. The Dollar Tree in the same shopping center is also expanding.
• Waffle House — Construction is expected to be completed by month’s end of the well-known restaurant chain opening a store at the site of the former Breezy Hill Fire Station on Forsyth Road in Macon. But it’s expected to take a few weeks before it’s fully up and running, with a targeted opening in early to mid-August, according to an email from Njeri Boss, vice president of public relations for Waffle House.
• Mini Dixie Donuts — This shop known for its smaller doughnut sizes in Warner Robins announced on Facebook that it’s going to move across town to 1003 Russell Parkway in front of Van’s Pawn Mart. Right now, it’s still operating at its current location at 4027 Watson Blvd., Suite 220. A moving date is expected to be announced on its Facebook page.
• Macon Bagels — This new shop in downtown Macon has posted its menu online and its owners hope to open by month’s end, according to a Facebook post Wednesday. Owners Lauren Bone and Patrick Rademaker moved from Florida to open shop at 470 3rd St. after falling in love with downtown Macon on a stopover to visit the north Georgia mountains.
• Baja Fresh — This Mexican fast food restaurant with a drive-thru is expected to reopen under new management in Warner Robin in the Century Market Plaza at 810 Ga. 96., according to a sign posted out front.
• The Taco Shed — This popular gourmet taco shop near the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins is opening another location across town at 670 Lake Joy Road, Suite 400, Kathleen, said owner Derrick Baas. The new location is expected to be open by month’s end in a spot previously occupied by a Shane’s Rib Shack.
• ‘Orleans on Carroll St. — This new restaurant that plans to bring the Big Easy to downtown Perry with its southern food with a Cajun twist remains on schedule to open in early 2022. It’s among several new restaurants, including a family-owned pizzeria, coming to the downtown area, along with loft apartments and a new event space in an old theatre being given new life.
• Potato Po-Ta-Toe —This new Warner Robins restaurant that’s billed to take a 16-to-20 ounce potato to the next level with a variety of toppings, including a special cheese sauce, held its grand opening Thursday. The restaurant, which is owned by Phillip Hinson, and his fiancee, LaVerne Whipple, had its soft opening in June and already is popular. Located at 778 Ga. 96, Suite 135, within The Shoppes at Houston Lake, the restaurant switches up the menu 100% on Sundays by offering only soul food.
• Greek Village Express — A sister store to the popular Greek Village restaurant owned by Adriana Ivanus in Warner Robins, the Greek Village Express just down the road on Watson Boulevard is expected to feature fan favorites such as the tzatziki appetizer, shawarma and gyro platters, spinach pie, and Greek salads with chicken or gyro meat. Greek Village Express at 600 Watson Blvd., Suite 300, is expected to open this month.
• Fresco Italiano — An interior remodel is underway at the former Ole Times Country Buffet to transform the building into a casual, fine-dining Italian restaurant at 1208 Russell Parkway in Warner Robins. The restaurant will be the second location for Christian Torres of his popular, family-owned eatery in Tifton. The restaurant is targeting a fall opening.

This story was originally published July 16, 2021 at 5:00 AM.