Popular downtown Macon pizza joint is moving — and co-owner has plans for vacant space

When the popular Fatty’s Pizza moves down the block to its new, larger location at the corner of Second and Cherry streets in downtown Macon, customers can expect the same great pies, friendly service and cozy decor, its co-owner says.

But with more room to work with, Chrissy Lee said customers also can expect something new: a separate entrance for third-party delivery pickups and grab-and-go pizzas.

And with the move comes a new restaurant.

Lee said she plans to open a sandwich shop in the current Fatty’s location at 344 Second St. Fatty’s Pizza also has a second location at 120 Tom Hill Sr. Blvd., which opened in August of last year.

Fatty’s Pizza, which first opened on Second Street in July 2016, is known for its made-to-order, hand-tossed New Jersey-style pizza. The best selling pie is The Mother Klucker with its toppings of grilled chicken, bacon and ranch drizzle.

The traditional cheese pizza and the carnivore, an all meat pizza of pepperoni, beef and bacon, are the other top selling pies. Also popular are the baked wings with Mike’s sauce, which is a mild sauce mixed with lemon-pepper.

Fatty’s Pizza is also known for its $5.26 lunch special of two hot pizza slices and a drink. The pizza joint also offers calzones, salads and desserts.

The transition

A lot of moving parts are in play in opening the new location at 587 Cherry St. — from potential delays in delivery of new equipment due to supply chain issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, to moving the stove from the current location into the new one, to even the seamless transition of Internet service.

Ideally, Fatty’s Pizza in downtown Macon will only be closed a day or two for the move from the current location to opening at the new spot, Lee said.

“It’s trying to line up the perfect day where everybody can come together and do their needed job within 48 hours,” she said. “But if it doesn’t turn out that way, then, if I have to close down longer to get everything moved, then, of course, we’ll do whatever we have to do.

“But I’m really hoping that the beginning of December is going to be a comfortable time for us to actually be in the new space.”

The main entrance to the new Fatty’s Pizza location will be at the corner of Second and Cherry streets, Lee said. The dining room will only be accessible through the main entrance.

The other entrance will be on Second Street for third-party delivery services like Grubhub and DoorDash and for customers to pick up a premade cheese or pepperoni pizza. This part of the restaurant is expected to be open into the early-morning hours.

Lee said she also plans to use this secondary space to build her Fatty Pizza’s merchandise brand, noting that she only had 15 tie dye T-shirts left out of 200 she’d recently offered for sale.

The new store will mimic the decor of the current downtown location, including the pizza chef statute that stands outside. Lee plans to move it to the new spot.

She’s seeking approval of a new sign for the Cherry St. location that she promises will be “really extraordinary.”

Sandwich shop

Once the move is complete, she’ll next concentrate on developing the new sandwich shop.

The shop will offer freshly sliced meats, which provides for a better product while also curbing costs, Lee said.

Lee will own the new shop, with plans to turn over its operation to a general manager, Jessie Gilleland, who now manages Fatty’s Pizza on Second Street.

The new eatery is expected to open in early 2022.

Other restaurants

Moving the original location to Cherry Street not only adds much needed space to grow but also is more convenient for Lee because it’s right across the street from her first restaurant.

Parish on Cherry St. is a Creole-Cajun restaurant serving up Louisiana dishes at 508 Cherry St.

Lee is usually running back and forth between Fatty’s Pizza and Parish on Cherry St., and the restaurants share supplies and workers as needed. Lori Smithberger is the general manager at Parish on Cherry St.

With three successful restaurants, the pending move to better the original Fatty’s Pizza and a new sandwich shop in the works, Lee said she often feels like she’s winning American Idol every day.

The restaurant industry comes with its ups and downs, headaches, obstacles and heartache along the way, but Lee said she’s doing what she is truly passionate about.

And Lee said she couldn’t have done it without those who work along side her every day.

“I love what I do,” Lee said. “I’m so blessed.”

This story was originally published November 13, 2021 at 8:00 AM.