Excavators, bulldozers, and construction workers are busy along Hwy 82 W in Lee County, Georgia on a new piece of land acquired for commercial use.
The land sits next to the Raceway gas station on the corner of Hwy 82 and Fussell Road. It’s one of many pieces of land that developers have been eyeing for growth along the edge of Lee County close to Northwest Albany.
A view of the lot under construction next to the Raceway gas station on US 82 W.
Plans for the lot
229 Life is told plans are in place to build a new coffee shop, which has not yet been publicly named. A new liquor store will be built there as well. Finally, a third commercial unit is set to be built, but the details of what it will become have not been finalized.
A view of the Lee County land along US 82 W primed for construction, with initial leveling complete and concrete culverts visible.
Initial thoughts on the Lee County development
The coffee shop news is a somewhat expected development for this part of Lee County, alongside residential growth in the immediate area.
A new liquor store on the west side of Lee County also makes sense as county residents voted to allow package stores inside the county limits in 2022.
Lee County’s first liquor store has already been built along US 19 N. It is expected to open its doors for the first time in May 2024.
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A view from the construction site of the intersectin of US 82 and Fussell Rd in Lee County, GA.
More construction projects are moving forward or underway in the county, which means many primary thoroughfares will look quite different in just a number of months.
What do you make of the new developments along US 82 W in Lee County? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Spring is here, the flowers are blooming, and the pollen is pollen-ing. There are lots of South Georgia events happening in April that you need to know about.
This list is not all-inclusive, but covers notable events across different cities.
Don’t see your event? You can add it to the 229 Life Community Calendar HERE. Let’s take a look at what’s in store.
Thanks for checking out this list of monthly events. It will be updated as more are added to the list. Don’t forget, you can add your event to the Community Calendar page. We welcome all event submissions.
There are lots of events happening across South Georgia, and 229 Life wants to make sure you’re aware of them.
When it comes to things to do in Albany, GA, things to do in Leesburg, GA, things to do in Thomasville, GA, and every South Georgia city we cover – we want your experience to be the best it can be.
P.S. Our newsletter subscribers received this list first 🙂
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As South Georgia grows, more developers are choosing the Albany area to build and grow their restaurants and businesses. And it’s been quite evident over the last year. But now, some are looking to build sustainable community entertainment destinations. The latest is what’s best described as a Dave & Busters alternative, set to offer gaming fun and food for everyone.
The new Albany, GA business is called Dimension X, and its owners tell 229 Life it will be a destination for young and old alike with a mix of technology, games, and food. Best of all, it’s set to open this summer.
Here’s what we know
What we know so far is this: Dimension X will host a fully featured arcade with prizes, virtual reality games, private bowling lanes, a variety of food options to choose from, and an onsite bar serving drinks. Let’s take a closer look.
Fully-featured arcade
A rendering of the arcade games at Dimension X. Image courtesy: Dimension X
Arcade games for individuals, pairs, and teams will take up a lot of space at Dimension X, as gaming and fun is a primary anchor of the new place. These games will include plenty of video games, skill based games, and classic games for more than one person.
In addition, the location will have dedicated virtual reality games and experiences for visitors to immerse themselves in during their visit.
Private bowling lanes
A rendering of the private bowling lanes at Dimension X. Image courtesy: Dimension X
Another part of the location will be a set of private bowling lanes people can reserve for play, where they can also host gatherings and birthday parties. These full size bowling lanes at Dimension X will be limited in number, to offer extended play options while keeping a more intimate environment for guests and players.
Different food choices
A rendering of the food options and eating space for guests. Image courtesy: Dimension X
An integral part of the experience will be easy access to the on-site food options, featuring popular hot and fresh choices to refresh and refuel guests as they continue their fun. We don’t yet have specifics on these food choices, so this is an item that we will need to revisit in future coverage.
Arcade bar
One of the most unique parts of this fun and games location is the onsite bar, which will offer a mix of cocktails, beer, and wine to guests age 21 and up. This will be the first arcade and entertainment destination in the Albany area with a bar onsite.
Let’s talk location
Dimension X is already in development and is set to open to the public this summer within Albany’s city limits. Its location has not yet been confirmed to 229 Life but there is a good chance it will welcome guests in the central or northwestern part of the city.
Concluding thoughts
The early information on this landmark business for Albany is promising a lot to future visitors. The list is substantial, but I don’t see anything that’s out of the question or in some unproven territory.
While most people cheer new businesses coming to the area, there appears to be some kind of fatigue with the types of businesses opening lately. Albany has seen an influx of new business, especially in traditional and fast-casual restaurants, smoke and vape shops, and car washes.
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It’s not that these businesses won’t succeed- they will all likely do well. But the perception and complaints from area residents lately has been condensed to the idea of someone building a new business just like another one down the street.
They aren’t all like that, but the expressed desire is clear and on display: Albany area residents have been sharing their disdain for “one more car wash” on and off social media, and it is well understood.
So, I imagine this new business will be a breath of fresh air for most people, and especially those searching for more variety when it comes to things to do in Albany.
What do you make of this new business coming to Albany? Share your thoughts in the comments.
When I first heard about The Palace Restaurant in Sylvester, GA I got the feeling something was different about this place.
The main reason? The restaurant resides in the front of the actual Palace Theater in downtown Sylvester. In true theater style it has a tall vertical illuminated sign, proudly proclaiming its presence.
But once inside, the restaurant shows its true colors, quite literally. A theme of deep, dark greens and black tones are highlighted with gold and amber hues across the restaurant.
The interior walls, which extend two stories high are deliberately covered in framed artwork. I don’t just mean the restaurant just has a lot of artwork — which it does. What I mean is the walls of the main dining room are covered from top to bottom and from back to front with frames pieces of art.
One of the walls covered in curated art at The Palace Restaurant in Sylvester, GA
Large paintings, small photos, and medium-sized selections of art adorn the walls all over the venue. More than that, the owner told me each piece was selected and placed in a specific spot.
It’s easy to get lost in the mesmerizing collection in the front half of the restaurant, and even more so in the curated selection of Salvador Dalí framed pieces towards the back. But I came primarily for the food and drink, so let’s continue there.
One of several illuminated framed Salvador Dalí prints at The Palace Restaurant in Sylvester, GA
Let’s get to the food and drink, shall we?
I went for dinner on the second night that The Palace began offering their full menu. The restaurant’s atmosphere immediately set the mood, and I was ready to begin.
Appetizers
From the appetizer menu I ordered something I thought would be interesting and tasty: “Devils on Horseback.” This shareable dish offers almond and blue cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon. The result was a compact starter that was sweet, savory, and delicious. And as someone who doesn’t enjoy blue cheese (think salad dressing and crumbles) I actually enjoyed all the blended flavors.
“Devils on Horseback” – an appetizer at The Palace Restaurant in Sylvester, GA
The Palace Restaurant cocktail menu
The Palace Restaurant has a signature cocktail menu that offers a wide variety of drinks to imbibe. Top choices include an Angels Old Fashioned and a Peach Bellini. I spoke with several guests who raved about a number of other signature drinks available. While I’m not sharing the cocktail menu here, I can confirm the list is not short.
Salad and main course
For the main part of the meal I ordered a ribeye steak with cheese grits and a Caesar salad. The Caesar came out first, with crisp, cold romaine, croutons, a light house caesar dressing, and lightly topped with parmesan cheese. The salad wasn’t anything earth-changing, but it delivered everything I anticipated it would.
Then, not too soon, the ribeye steak and cheese grits arrived. Its temperature was hot and glistened on the plate, topped with seasoned melted butter and The Palace Restaurant’s own in-house steak sauce.
A ribeye steak and cheese grits at The Palace Restaurant in Sylvester, GA
Cutting into the steak, it was red, tender, and flavorful. I ate most of it with only the butter garnish, but ventured to try the in-house sauce. The Palace Restaurant’s own steak sauce is not like others you’ll find elsewhere. It is red-orange in color and has the texture of a puree while bringing an almost salsa-like flavor. It’s hard to describe the taste, but I enjoyed it, and found myself coming back to dipping pieces of steak into it during my meal. The cheese grits complementing my steak were hot and tasty, with just the right amount of flavor. Nothing bland at all.
Going for dessert
There were no listed dessert items on the main menu I ordered from on my visit, so I asked my waiter if they had a dessert menu. He told me yes, and informed me they had a special fried ice cream dish. I knew I had to try it, so I placed an order. When it arrived, it was presented in a large shiny bowl topped with whip cream, drizzled with chocolate sauce, and dusted with powdered sugar. Wow.
Fried Ice Cream at The Palace Restaurant in Sylvester, GA
Cutting into this monster dessert, the outside was crispy and warm and the inside revealed a cold ball of ice cream. The entire dish was delicious. I couldn’t finish it by myself, so I recommend enlisting the help of others (or a date, perhaps) to enjoy.
Lastly, I asked if I could have a cup of coffee and was shortly presented with a fresh cup, along with a miniature pitcher of cream. The coffee was hot and not bitter, and just what I wanted to finish things off.
Overall conclusions
The Palace Restaurant in downtown Sylvester, GA is an experience all its own. The atmosphere is deliberate and inspiring, and the service is welcoming and thoughtful.
It’s a good idea to call ahead and make reservations at least one day in advance if you plan to dine at The Palace. There are only so many tables available and in my experience they seemed to fill up quickly.
The restaurant offers larger tables for groups, tables for two, and a bar that seats at least 10 people. If the bar is full or you don’t wish to sit up high, you can wait for your table or order a drink and relax in a cozy sitting area towards the back.
A view of leather arm chairs in the sitting area inside The Palace Restaurant in Sylvester, GA
The Palace Restaurant seems to be following a method of authentic nostalgia, a revival of cherished, storied historical buildings, and an atmosphere of food and gathering that seems to be hitting a high note with guests.
Will I be back? You bet.
Have you visited The Palace Restaurant? How was your experience? Share your thoughts in the comments.
The buzz around a new Crumbl Cookies location being built in Albany has been palpable leading up to their grand opening, but what’s more interesting is their operating schedule. The sweets shop in Albany is open late most nights, and even later on the weekends.
According to the schedule posted on its windows, Crumbl Cookies Albany will be open Monday – Thursday from 8 am to 10 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 8 am to midnight.
When Checkers opened their location just across the parking lot, the business adopted a similar schedule. The Checkers in Northwest Albany is also open late, from 10 am to midnight Monday – Thursday, and 10 am to 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays. They are also open Sundays from 10 am to 11 pm.
Just down the road, you can find these restaurants open later than most:
Austin’s Firegrill: Open until 10pm 5 nights a week
These schedule choices could indicate a return to places choosing to open later into the evenings for the Albany area. It could also point to stronger demand overall.
Before the Covid pandemic, a wider variety of restaurants and shops were open until 9 pm or later. Once mandates and other rules subsided, many shops and stores chose to continue on a limited opening schedule.
For example, Publix locations around Albany tested a schedule of closing at 9 pm for a while, then later resumed closing at 10 pm. Albany’s primary Starbucks location reduced their hours dramatically from a closing time of 10 pm and 11 pm to closing at 7:30 pm. Since then, they have adjusted their schedule to close at 8:30 pm. Temp Coffee on U.S. 19 made a similar change, moving from closing at 9 pm and 10 pm to their current schedule of closing at 8 pm.
With their location and availability, Albany’s Crumbl Cookies could see reasonable traffic into the later evening hours. Only time will tell.
Trays of chocolate chip cookies inside a Crumbl Cookies location.
Crumbl Cookies in Albany is one of 800+ bakeries in the US under the franchise. Based out of Utah, it is the fastest-growing cookie company in the United States. Its core menu includes milk chocolate chip and pink sugar cookies. Outside of that, Crumbl offers a weekly rotating menu of unique cookie offerings inspired by a variety of foods and flavors.
Crumbl Cookies Albany is set to host their grand opening on Friday, February 9th beginning as soon as they open that morning.
What do you think about their opening hours? Do you think other Albany restaurants and shops should stay open later?
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