Bruster’s return to Warner Robins is on the back-burner. Here’s why and what’s coming

A Bruster’s Real Ice Cream shop planned for a former bank building in Warner Robins is now on the back-burner, with a pre-owned auto dealer leasing that space.

Terry and Sarah Scott of Florida purchased a Bruster’s franchise for Warner Robins and Centerville with plans to place their first ice cream shop in a former BB&T building at 127 Russell Parkway.

Shared in February, their preliminary site plan also included space for a compatible restaurant and the addition of an outdoor patio dining area.

Revised plans

But based on their latest marketing research, Terry Scott said they are now looking at demolishing the former bank building and constructing a larger building capable of housing up to six food tenants.

“We’re exploring that right now, and in the meantime, we just rented the building and the land to a pre-owned car dealer who’s moving on the site this month,” Scott said. “He’s going to sell cars there but I have the ability to move on our development plans when we’re ready.”

The couple have signed a short-term lease to rent the property to pre-owned auto dealer Branndon Veale, owner of Parkway Automotive Sales, Scott said.

Parkway Automotive Sales now has a small lot and office at 4800 Russell Parkway shared with a convenience store and gas station. The move will give Neale the ability to have an inventory of 20 to 30 pre-owned cars on the lot at 127 Russell Parkway, while also offering greater visibility, Neale said.

“Our lease is for a 24-month time period,” Neale said. “Now, if they go longer on their’s, he (Scott) said, you know, we’ll work that out. But if something happens and they decide they’re going to move forward with their plan, we have an arrangement made between us that, you know, we would be compensated and move to a different location.”

Leasing the 127 Russell Parkway location is a win-win for both parties.

“It’s sitting there vacant, and you know, it could be a year or two or more before we pull this all together,” Scott said. “So, it’s just nice to get the revenue while it’s sitting there.”

Parkway Automotive Sales

Parkway Automotive Sales is new startup business, having been in business operation for about a year.

“We were very pleased to see what we saw and welcomed him to come and expand his business where we’re at,” Scott said of Veale. “So, there’s nothing gonna keep that man down. He’s ambitious.”

Parkway Automotive Sales sold their first car Feb. 1 of last year. Neale previously operated a CBD business at the 4800 Russell Parkway location .

“During COVID, a lot of people’s businesses dried up through that time frame,” Neale said. “But we adapted and overcame and had a successful first year with the automotive industry and we’re ready to expand.”

At Parkway Automotive Sales, customers can expect from five to 10-year-old vehicles for sale from sports cars to large SUVs, Neale said.

“We’re a small organization ... and we have certain level that we want to grow to,” Neale said. “We’re not looking to be a CarMax or anything like that.

“We’re just trying to give people, you know, good deals on vehicles that are affordable, and that’s kinda our goal.”

He expects to be open at the new site by early to mid-May.

A new building

Before starting construction of the new building, Scott said he wants to have all the tenants pre-leased that will occupy it.

Scott was asked if there was a possibility that he and his wife may abandon the project and the car dealership remain on site.

“No, no, that’s not going to happen,” Scott said. “This is just a short-term lease with the car dealer … This is not an abandonment at all. This is a changing of our plans.”

Through their marketing research, Scott said they experienced a greater demand for that site than expected.

“So, we’re retooling the entire site to include a complete demolition and enhancement of space to accommodate more food users,” he said.

This story was originally published April 21, 2022 at 5:00 AM.