Here are Macon’s top restaurant openings and closings of 2019

A variety of new restaurants opened in Macon in 2019, from fine dining restaurants to sport bars and taprooms.

Macon has seafood, soul food and even French cuisine in these new places that replaced some of the food that was lost due to other restaurant closings.

Here is a list of some of the restaurants that opened, closed, moved locations and opened new locations in 2019.

Openings

▪ Christian’s, owned by Christian Losito, opened in the same spot where Pietro’s and Mirko pasta closed at 1693 Bass Road. The fine-dining restaurant features a variety of French cuisines.

▪ Ma Duke, a southern food restaurant, opened in August next to the Piggly Wiggly on Rocky Creek Road.

▪ Touchdownz Seafood Bar and Grill opened July 15 where JR Tavern used to be on Riverside Drive. The restaurant offers a variety of seafood and nearly 20 televisions to watch the latest sport broadcasts.

▪ Macon Beer Company Taproom and Kitchen opened in November on Second Street next Bearfoot Tavern. The taproom offers a selection of the brewery’s beers and a unique menu.

▪ Louvenia’s Seafood Market, owned by Jason and Michelle Walker, opened on Brookhaven Road in November. The restaurant started as a food truck that will continue to travel around Georgia while the restaurant is closed.

▪ Glory Days, a sports-themed bar and grill franchise, opened Dec. 19 on Arkwright Road where Logan’s Roadhouse closed in 2016.

▪ Cashman’s Pub opened in April at 370 Cherry St., and offers a wide variety of burgers, wings and seafood.

▪ Lazy Susan Tapas Bar, a mid-century modern lounge and tapas bar, planned to open in September at 428 Second St. Lazy Susan is open 12-3 p.m. and 5-11 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

Closings

▪ The Metro Diner closed its doors two years after it opened in July. The restaurant, at 3710 Northside Drive, was a chain restaurant based in Jacksonville, Florida, and was known for serving “traditional diner food with a twist.”

▪ The Cherry Street pizzeria, Doughboy Pizza, closed its doors at 518 Cherry St. in August.

▪ Sauced Pizza in Mercer Village closed in December, but JAG’s Pizzeria and Pub plans to open a restaurant at the location in early 2020.

New moves

▪ Overtyme Bar and Grill planned to open a new location in downtown Macon in October with the same menu as its Pio Nono Avenue location.

▪ Kudzu Seafood moved from its Third Street location to Poplar Street. The new restaurant is much larger with a rooftop bar.

▪ Ricky’s Taco Shop moved to downtown Macon where Doughboy Pizza was located. The restaurant offers a variety of tacos, burritos and quesadillas.

This story was originally published December 26, 2019 at 5:00 AM.