A new meat market, pie place & more. Take a look at what’s coming to downtown Perry

A husband and wife team are gearing up to open up a full-service meat market in downtown Perry, their second independently owned and operated business in Middle Georgia.

Also, coming to downtown is a new pizza restaurant whose owners got their start selling their pies at pop-ups.

Additionally, a cookie artist who’s appeared on Food Network just set an opening date for his downtown storefront and a new clothing boutique downtown is in its soft opening phase.

Here’s a quick look at these new businesses and more:

Durden’s Prime Meats

Cody and Kallie Durden are opening this new meat market at 805 Commerce St.

The market will offer local grass-fed beef, free-range chicken, sausage, fresh local produce and more, Cody Durden said.

A large display case will feature steaks, chicken, pork, sausage, fish and seafood. A couple of coolers will hold pre-packaged meats to grab-and-go.

In addition to prime meats sliced on site, the new spot will offer lunch for takeout Monday through Friday with a smoker on site. Durden said he may add few tables outside.

Also available for purchase will be smokers and grills, along with pecan smoking wood and charcoal.

Durden, who previously worked in auto sales, will run the meat market.

His wife, Kallie, a floral designer, will continue to operate The Flower Co. at 233 Ga. 49, Unite 300, in the Freshway Market Plaza in Byron. The popular shop, which opened in 2021, has over 2,100 followers on Facebook.

Ghost Runner Pizza

From pop-ups to brick and mortar, this new pizza place with a funky name is coming to 742 Main St. in downtown Perry.

“There’s not much we like more than getting pizzas to the folks,” the owners posted on Facebook. “Bracing the elements, the load in and load out, the sellouts. It’s all been worth it. But the chapter is turning.”

Likening the decision to a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly unaware — something that was supposed to happen all along, the owners posted that they realized that “destiny was calling.”

The building, which has been gutted on the inside, will require an interior remodel before the new pie place can open.

“Give it some time,” the post ends. “We’ll call it ‘coming soon.’ Tell your folks.”

Eric Schultz, owner of Schultze’s Old Fashioned Soda Shop and co-owner of Patio 901, both in downtown Perry, had planned to place a pizzeria in partnership with Warner Robins pizza maker in the same spot. But Schultz said he sold the building when approached because of the costly renovation.

The future home of Ghost Runner Pizza is next to Main St. Bar. If passing by the new spot’s building on foot, look closely and you’ll find a small logo sticker for Ghost Runner Pizza.

Sweet Evelyn’s

Cory Jones, who Food Network fans may remember from the 2022 Christmas Cookie Challenge, plans to open his Sweet Evelyn’s storefront at 910 Carroll St. at 10 a.m. June 24.

Jones is best known for his decorated cookies that he hand-crafts one at a time. He’ll offer those cookies seasonally but is expected to feature daily his own drop-cookie creations such as browned butter bourbon pecan chocolate chip and banana pudding cookies.

Caty’s on Carroll

This new women’s clothing boutique is now open at 926 Carroll St. in downtown Perry. Most of the clothing is priced between $25 and $60, the owners commented on Facebook. The shop features plus sizes, too.

Also in the works

A sign marks the spot in a vacant field for a new chicken tenders restaurant coming to Perry just east of McDonald’s in the Publix shopping center off the Perry Parkway.

Danny and Trinette Rosales own the franchise rights for Huey Magoo’s in Houston County. Their first Huey Magoo’s opened at 711 Lake Joy Road in Warner Robins in late November.

Other business developments include a planned TownePlace Suites by Marriott and a Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter, a Jack’s Link manufacturing facility on 120 acres at 720 Perry Parkway and a VA clinic going into a building now under renovation in the Eastgate Shopping Center at 1309 Main St.

This story was originally published June 12, 2023 at 6:50 AM.