Locust Grove will be home to a new container restaurant & microbrewery, following zoning approval by the city council. The new business will be located off Carter Lane in the downtown area.
Council members approved a zoning change for the property at the February 6 meeting. They held a public hearing in January.
Container Restaurant & Microbrewery
The new restaurant & microbrewery will be located on Carter Lane. The property is west of Southpoint Locust Grove Church and Cleveland Street.
The new business plans an innovative use of shipping containers. Preliminary plans call for four containers: a kitchen, the microbrewery, restrooms and, finally, a storage area. An outdoor open air patio will connect the space.
The applicant, Nathan McGarity, has a brewery in Greensboro, GA. He co-founded Oconee Brewery Company in 2017. Locust Grove marks their first expansion with a microbrewery. This concept enables the craft beer production to begin in Greensboro and finish on-site.
The open patio design seeks to take advantage of existing green space on the property. Presently, the one-acre lot is a grassy field with several mature trees. The development will disturb few, if any, of the existing trees. To further reduce impacts, most parking will be at the public lot across the street.
The city council voted 5-1 to approve the rezoning request. Council member Boone voted against the project. The zoning approval allows for commercial use. Previously, the property had an office zoning district.
The council also approved an amendment to the alcohol distance license ordinance. The ordinance exempts the downtown area from house of worship distance requirements. This enables downtown restaurants to receive their alcohol license. The change enlarges the exempt area to include the subject property.
Featured image shows a concept of the new container restaurant. Architectural Collaborative photo.
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