You’ll Have a Perry Good Time Here
Whether it’s dining, shopping or festivals, downtown Perry, GA, has something for everyone.
The secret is out: Downtown Perry is the place to be. Historic buildings with a modern vibe, charming restaurants and shops, and fun events all year make for good times for both visitors and “staycationers.” Here’s how to experience Perry’s city center the right way.
Dynamic Dining Scene in Downtown Perry
Start the evening with cocktails and music at the upscale Main St. Bar. The simple facade belies its sleek, stylish interior. After drinks, choose from restaurants that range from casual corner spots to upscale dining.
For the more laid-back side of the spectrum, The Swanson serves comfort food in a historic venue; Acres & Oak Kitchen specializes in grab-and-go meals that will feed the whole family; Patio 901 bills itself as “Perry’s premier patio”; and Schultze’s Old Fashioned Soda Shoppe serves up far more than ice cream.
Meanwhile, ‘Orleans on Carroll Street boasts a high-end vibe serving Southern food with a Cajun twist, says owner Curtis George.
Popular dishes at the restaurant – which opened in 2022 inside a historic building that underwent a multi-year restoration – include Cajun pasta, shrimp and jalapeño grits, and a blackened pork chop. Alicia Hartley, Perry’s downtown manager, says ‘Orleans on Carroll brought 40 jobs to Perry while maintaining the building’s historic appearance.
“That’s really what we like to see,” she says, “keeping that historic flair.”
Flourishing Florist
Plenty of charming storefronts line the streets of downtown Perry. Recollections by Lynn, a florist and home decor shop that’s been located downtown since 2019, is just one example.
When owner Lynn Matthews first launched the business in 2016 (“in a little itty-bitty shop,” she says), she was primarily a painter creating art and rehabbing furniture. But when she moved into a larger location on downtown’s Carroll Street, she began working with blooms and creating living art with flower arrangements.
The store grew so quickly Matthews had to relocate to larger digs once again. She remained in downtown Perry, and is doing brisk business out of her third building.
“Thank goodness!” she says of finding the perfect location. Now, Recollections by Lynn is a full-service florist that serves communities up to 25 miles away.
Matthews keeps the home decor side of the store fresh by selling candles, garden gnomes, live plants, wreaths and chalk paint. She even offers classes on repainting old furniture to encourage customers to flex their creativity and save money.
“We get all types of customers in,” she says. “Regular clients for flowers and some who just want to look. My shop is so different from any other florist because I stage everything … I have one section that’s kind of rustic looking, then I have another area that’s a bit funkier. I change it out so often. There’s always something in there that would pique somebody’s interest.”
Downtown’s To-Do List is No Chore
Alicia Hartley has been helping navigate development in Middle Georgia since she graduated from Macon’s Mercer University in 2019.
She’s been an events coordinator in both Perry and nearby Centerville, and in her current role as Perry’s downtown manager, there’s plenty of overlap between recruiting and supporting downtown businesses and putting on events throughout the year.
Notable happenings include September’s International Festival with dance, music and food from around the world; April’s Dogwood Festival, which brings artists and family-friendly activities downtown; and the Perry Presents concerts, a series of free summer performances. A Farmers’ Market also sets up in downtown Perry every Saturday year-round.
But one of Hartley’s preferred events is a wine tasting in downtown Perry.
“It is one of my favorite events because it brings all the businesses and community together,” she says. “For many people who attend the wine tasting, it’s their first time coming to downtown Perry.”
The event has grown every year and sold out in 2022, so in 2023 (the gathering’s fourth year) Perry will put on two tastings: one in spring and one in autumn. Guests stop in downtown businesses, where they pick up a glass of wine and indulge in some evening shopping.
Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses, though – so says a new mural in Ball Street Alleyway, which was recently given a makeover with fresh paint and new landscaping. In addition to other green spaces within walking distance of downtown, the Alleyway helps visitors navigate the area safely and enjoyably as they take advantage of all the district has to offer.
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