Family-owned chicken and waffle restaurant may open near Mercer University in Macon
A family-owned restaurant in Warner Robins known for its chicken and waffles, all-you-can-eat seafood Fridays and soul food Saturdays may be coming to Macon near Mercer University.
Cluck N Waffles owner Leonard “LC” Ashford Jr. said he’s “99.9%” sure the restaurant will move into the former Momma Goldberg’s Deli spot at 1530 Mercer University Drive, Suite 100.
“I think it would be a good location for us,” Ashford said. “I think it’d bring also a more diverse clientele as it relates to college students and it’s close to downtown.”
He and his wife, Rebecca, also own The Georgia Dog, a walk-up, gourmet hot dog restaurant in the Houston County Galleria in Centerville, and The Foodie King, a food truck.
‘Not goodbye, it’s see ya later!’
The Ashfords announced on Facebook the Saturday closing of Cluck N Waffles at 6011 Watson Boulevard, Suite 380, in the Publix at Gunn Battle shopping center, with plans to reopen elsewhere.
The restaurant celebrated its grand opening in Warner Robins on Dec. 5, 2020. The shopping center is within the city limits of Warner Robins but has a Byron address.
Although the restaurant has a loyal customer base, Ashford said he wanted to expand and move to a better location.
The new space is about 2,784-square-feet, which will give him nearly an additional 600-square-feet.
Big plans
For someone who hasn’t signed on the dotted line yet, Ashford has big plans for the new space.
In addition to his regular chicken and waffle menu, which features a variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner combinations, Cluck N Waffles also offered an all-you-can-eat seafood Friday nights from 5 to 9 complete with karaoke.
Every other Saturday, the restaurant also featured soul food from noon until sold out.
The couple plan to build on that at their new location. They’re considering adding Sunday brunch as well as possibly offering draft beer and wine, he said.
They also plan to eventually provide delivery service.
Already, Ashford said they’re lined up to feed about 200 college students their signature chicken and waffles via their food truck for a late August event for QuadWorks, Mercer’s student run entertainment programming board.
He also plans to reach out to nearby hotels to see if he can develop partnerships to provide catering for employee and/or guest events and direct delivery to guest rooms.
Ashford said he’s working out the logistics with the landlord of the Macon space to do some renovations and upgrades.
He hopes to open in the new location, which is next to The Library Taphouse and Kitchen, in late August.
“If everything goes according to plan, we’re looking at probably the end of August,” Ashford said.
On Friday, the Ashfords posted on Facebook for Cluck N Waffles’ customers to come out and make their last two days in operation in Warner Robins count.
“Hey Clucksters ... it’s not goodbye, it’s see ya later!,” the post read.
