Entrepreneurs in the Robins Region Are Always Thinking Big
With a supportive community, low cost of doing business and a growing population, the Robins Region of Georgia provides a solid foundation for emerging entrepreneurs who are eager to ask, “What’s next?”
The entrepreneurs behind Acres & Oak Kitchen and The Muse Theatre did just that. Since opening, both have experienced considerable growth and continue to expand.
Setting Up Shop Across the Region
Acres & Oak Kitchen originally opened 30 years ago as the Casserole Shop and was sold in 2019 to Tonya Grossnickle, who later sold it again to her son, Evan Acres. With Acres at the helm as owner and operator, the name became Acres & Oak Kitchen in 2021. However, the business is still focused on crafting remarkable pre-made, ready-to-go meals for families.
In all the transitions, the company has seen tremendous success, and in more recent years, Acres & Oak Kitchen has focused on franchising, wholesaling and e-commerce.
“Last October, we launched our e-commerce platform. The best way to serve a community is to be available, but also bring jobs and funding into the area. We couldn’t create a large enough net to reach the communities we wanted to without an e-commerce platform,” Acres says. “Opening additional storefronts was important to us. We chose to operate through franchising because local owners have a better chance of investing and serving the community than we do at the corporate level.”
The first Acres & Oak Kitchen franchise opened in Perry in January 2024, and the owners of that storefront are Justin Collins and his wife, Afton.
“I’ve known Evan Acres for several years and believed in his pre-made, ready-to-go meals idea, so I decided to change careers and started the first franchise operation here in Perry,” Justin says. “I have received great advice along the way from the chamber and other businesses that want us to succeed.”
The franchise model has proven valuable. Mutual partnerships strengthen the business and community, as they rely on each other during good and more challenging times.
“We opened our Perry location right before the pandemic took off, and less than two weeks after our ribbon cutting, things started shutting down in Georgia,” Acres says.
“We partnered with local hospitals to deliver meals to support staff. The community response was amazing; people showed up for us. This reminded me that we’re meeting needs beyond just providing pre-made, ready-to-go meals.”
The company’s future includes focusing on its leading platforms, specifically e-commerce, to continue reaching a national audience and opening locations statewide.
“We’re excited to continue reaching a larger audience,” Acres says.
Elevating a Historic Event Venue
Chad Bryant and Marty McLeod recognized the need for an upscale event venue in downtown Perry but also had a desire to save a historic building. They purchased The Muse Theatre in March 2021, with plans to transform what was once a 1950s movie theater. Renovations began immediately, with completion just eight months later.
Not long after Muse Theatre wrapped up initial renovations, Bryant embarked on another project to expand the space further. Activating the space and cleaning up the corners of Ball and Jernigan streets, they say, could become a catalyst for future growth and development of downtown.
“The building expansion has been a dream come true,” Bryant says. “It is the gateway to downtown. Since the renovation, events hosted by The Muse Theatre have brought 300 people (on average) to the downtown area, which floods the local eateries and shops.”
Patrons can also enjoy local eateries within the venue.
“The service industry is not what we do, so we’ve partnered with local restaurants to provide food services to the theater. Our expansion will bring more restaurant offerings, and we’re working to operate a drink space,” Bryant says. “I can visualize music festivals with bands playing in both gardens and the ballroom on Saturday nights. It’s exciting to think about.”
Bryant says the supportive community and city programming helped bring the idea to life.
“A project of this magnitude is risky, costly and can’t be done without city officials’ support,” Bryant says. “They helped guide us through the process. Overall, we have been very appreciative of the support the Robins Region has provided. They’ve helped us get the word out, which is our most effective form of advertisement.”
The Muse Theatre is staying true to its original form, bringing people together to celebrate the culture and community that makes the Robins Region special. “One of my favorite comments from patrons is they can’t believe this is offered in Perry, Georgia,” Bryant says.