Four new businesses open in Macon. Think loaded teas, tires and brakes, restaurants
From a well-known national tire and brake store to a shop offering low-sugar caffeinated teas and high-protein shakes, Macon has four new spots.
Two are new to downtown, one to west Macon and one is new to Mercer University.
Here’s a roundup of the four new businesses.
New to downtown
The Burrow Nutrition @ Downtown — Jeff and Crystal Hooks transformed the former Downtown Motors at 609 Second St. in downtown Macon to open her new business that offers sugar-free caffeinated teas and high-protein shakes and iced coffees.
“That’s what caught me,” Crystal Hooks said. “We looked at different areas. “But once we found that building, I just fell in love with it.”
Her husband spent about three months working on the front of the shop, from replacing 72 window panes to mounting inside a railroad tie from which the menu hangs.
Depending on how well The Burrow performs, Hooks said they may renovate the back of the shop in the future to create cafe-like seating. They’ve already set up free WiFi.
Hooks started drinking the loaded teas when she started a Keto diet and cut out iced lattes in the morning.
The teas at The Burrow are a green tea base and then sugar-free flavorings are added. The shop also features high-protein shakes as well as high-protein iced coffee. She has over 100 flavors on her menu boards. These are Herbalife Nutrition products.
Part of the Herbalife family, Hooks owns and operates The Burrow. She worked in insurance before the COVID-19 pandemic and her husband owns a heating and cooling company in Forsyth, where they make their home. They have four children, one in college, one in high school and two in middle school.
The Burrow is open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“I hope to extend those hours once our name gets out there a little bit and we start building a larger customer base,” Hooks said. “But that’s what we’re starting with right now.”
She also hopes to get the signage up for the new spot once approved by the Macon-Bibb County Planning and Zoning Commission.
New to west Macon
Billed as one of the largest independent tire and service providers in the U.S., a new Mavis Tires & Brakes store with eight bays is now open at 5581 Thomaston Road.
This is Macon’s second Mavis Tires & Brakes location and among more than 120 Georgia locations.
“It is a privilege to be part of the Macon community and continue our tradition of providing affordable, quality tire and car-care services for our neighbors,” Brian Sisson, senior vice president of retail operations said in a Mavis Tire & Brakes news release. “We also offer tires and services at the prices customers want and we are excited to welcome more drivers to the Mavis family.”
According to the release, Mavis Tire & Brakes offers new tires from over 20 major brands and their installation, flat repairs, brake repair, oil changes, new wiper blades and installation, wheel alignment, suspension repair, new shocks and struts installation, new battery replacement, muffler and exhaust repair, and AC repair.
The stores also offer free tire pressure checks and visual inspections.
Customers may make online reservations for services at mavis.com. Hours are 8-6 Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; 8-8:30 Thursday; 8-5 Saturday and 9-5 Sunday.
Another Mavis Tires & Brakes is expected to open soon on an out parcel at the Publix at Gunn Battle shopping center in Warner Robins near Watson Boulevard and U.S. 41. The Publix at Gunn Battle at 6015 Watson Blvd. is within the city limits of Warner Robins but has a Byron mailing address.
Based in Millwood, New York, Mavis Tire & Brakes has 850 stores across 21 states, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.
The company, which employs about 1,100 team members across Georgia, is hiring. Visit mavis.com/careers for more information.
New to downtown
Known for its Philadelphia-inspired frozen treat, Macon Water Ice closed its first storefront at The Shoppes at River Crossing and relocated to 490 Cherry St. in downtown Macon.
Water ice is a concoction of water, sugar and flavoring that’s mixed together before frozen and is creamy like ice cream. It’s gluten free and dairy free but has lots of sugar.
Flavors from sour cherry to orange cream to strawberry kiwi are posted daily.
The new downtown spot in the former Bossa Novas location also serves up cheesesteaks, hot dogs, wings, loaded fries and “chopped cheese.”
Chopped cheese is a cut-up hamburger with melted cheese, mayo, ketchup, fried onions, lettuce and tomato on a 6-inch roll.
Macon Water Ice is owned by four friends: Andre Roberts, Jesse Ussery, Antwan Andrews and Delvin Montford.
Roberts, a Philadelphia native, introduced his friends to water ice. The men started out selling water ice at festivals and events like the Pan African Festival in downtown Macon.
In April 2021, they opened their first storefront for Macon Water Ice The Shoppes at River Crossing. While they were doing a pretty good business at their former location, Roberts said they expect downtown Macon to prove a better fit.
Macon Water Ice is open late on Friday and Saturday for those looking for a bite to eat when most restaurants are closed or are no longer serving food.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
New to Mercer University
Former teachers Shurrod and Joi Dickey of McDonough expect to open their new restaurant in Mercer Landing next week.
The Georgia Potato Factory at 1530 Mercer University Drive, Suite 500, is the first restaurant for the Dickeys as well as the first Georgia Potato Factory for Macon and Middle Georgia.
The franchise restaurant offers 15 loaded potato options from a classic spud of butter, sour cream and green onions to the meat lovers with steak, bacon, chicken and cheddar cheese.
Other loaded potato options include chili and cheese, bacon and cheddar, Philly steak and cheese, corned hash and cheese, “anytime breakfast,” classic sweet potato, corned beef, veggie, BBQ chicken, buffalo chicken, BBQ pulled pork, and broccoli, chicken and cheese.
Customers may also build their own spud with a choice of up to one meat and three toppings.
All potatoes come with sour cream or ranch dressing and butter. Customers may choose between a russet or sweet potato.
The Dickeys may add loaded fries in the future but they expect to start with the mainstay of loaded potatoes upon opening.
The new restaurant is in the former Glazed Donuts spot behind Amici Italian Cafe and next to Osaka Hibachi & Sushi.
Other restaurants in Mercer Landing include Papa John’s Pizza and The Library Taphouse and Kitchen, which opened earlier this year.
The Georgia Potato Factory will offer dine-in, takeout, drive-thru and delivery via DoorDash.
The Dickeys are shooting for a Dec. 19 soft opening. A grand opening is expected in January.
