What’s Opening Next In Perry: From Perry Parkway To Downtown
Perry is in the middle of a clear, measurable growth cycle, and residents can see it in the storefronts, cranes, and curb cuts along our key corridors. The recent surge isn’t random; it’s tied to steady residential building and the spending power of new households. More people means stronger demand for dining, services, hospitality, and financial options. That’s why Perry Parkway now feels like the city’s active frontier. We see completed openings like KidStrong, a Pilates studio, a Waffle House, and a new convenience center with Holy Pie Pizzeria. Each arrival signals confidence from operators who study traffic, rooftops, and revenue before they invest.
Looking forward, Perry Parkway continues to stack commitments across retail, services, and food. Permits are moving for Flow and Glow Wellness, Surcheros, Meridian Craft Kitchen, and a nail salon. A combined Dunkin’ and Baskin Robbins adds a daily driver for commuters and families, while site plans in review include Jack in the Box, a Five Star Credit Union, and a Valvoline oil change facility. These are not splashy megaprojects; they are everyday essentials that reduce outflow spending and shorten errand time. The pattern matters: when a corridor clusters fuel, food, fitness, and finance, it anchors routine trips and keeps dollars local.
Sam Nunn Boulevard tells a story of reinvestment. The corridor now blends new hospitality with adaptive reuse. The Hilton Garden Inn is open with a bar and restaurant, catering to visitors and local gatherings. The old Chick-fil-A parcel will be rebuilt for Aspen Dental and Piedmont Urgent Care, shifting peak-hour strains while expanding healthcare access. The former Zaxby’s is set to become a Sonic, a nostalgic draw with drive-in convenience. A long-vacant Applebee’s is planned to be a sit-down Japanese hibachi. Even the Hampton Inn prepares for a major renovation, signaling sustained confidence in Sam Nunn as a gateway corridor.
Downtown continues to evolve as a walkable, mixed-use neighborhood, not just a destination. The Chalet Lofts added 12 apartments above ground-floor restaurants and retail, with Fuego Fresco delivering lively Mexican fare and Ciao Bella introducing an Italian market, espresso bar, and fresh panini. Another loft project with 36 apartments is next, backed by a housing study that confirms demand for living close to amenities. These units keep energy on the streets after office hours and support local merchants. A brewery, Left at the Pig, is underway on Jernigan Street, adding craft culture and gathering space.
Citywide, anchors are rising to meet regional demand. A dual-branded Marriott at the Georgia National Fairgrounds, split between TownePlace Suites and Fairfield Inn, adds rooms, a restaurant, a beer garden, and strong amenities for event traffic and family travel. Jack Link’s manufacturing is open and operating, reinforcing Perry’s industrial base and jobs pipeline. Nearby, the UGA Grand Farm research site tests ag-tech innovations, creating a quiet but strong link between startups, growers, and applied science. These investments extend Perry’s identity beyond retail into hospitality, industry, and research, giving the local economy resilience through multiple business cycles.
What ties it all together is population growth. New homes add a few thousand residents every couple of years, and that scale tips the math for franchisees, medical providers, and service brands. As demand grows more diverse, Perry can support not just another burger option but an urgent care, a credit union, boutique wellness, and elevated dining. The city is working to channel that momentum into quality, sustainable growth – placing new uses where infrastructure can handle it and where they reinforce existing strengths. That approach turns raw growth into community value: shorter drives, better choices, stronger tax base, and a lively downtown.