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City of Forsyth sees business boom despite COVID-19 pandemic

In 2020, the city of Forsyth logged 30 business license requests, so far this year, there have been 36.

FORSYTH, Ga. — The small city of Forsyth has seen a big boom in businesses this year. 

Recently, the city opened a Shane's Rib Shack, a new Starbucks Coffee just opened on Friday, and a QT gas station is being built.

Aside from the city getting big businesses, they've also gotten a lot of small new businesses, too. 

If you crave Southern Creole cuisine, Chelsia Ogletree says Her Majesty Pop Up Kitchen and Catering is the way to go.

Ogletree is the owner, and her restaurant is one of many businesses new to Forsyth's downtown Square. 

"We came to this location the Valentine's Day before the pandemic hit in 2020," Ogletree said, and closed their doors just a few weeks later due to the dangers of COVID-19. 

"I opened back up officially the next Valentine's Day. It's just been one of those things where you start off not knowing what to do or how to do it," Ogletree said.

Ogletree says business has been great this year, despite the pandemic. 

"We get customers locally, so we have Forsythians coming in, we have people driving in from Macon, Jackson, Barnesville, Warner Robins," Ogletree said.

Ogletree says her business and others downtown have seen a lot of traffic.

"People are tired of being shut down from COVID, they're wanting to get out and about. You've got a lot of that coming up, that's the "explosion," so to speak, from having to sit still and sit back for awhile," County Commissioner Greg Tapley said.

Tapley says businesses are popping up because Forsyth is north of Macon and south of Atlanta which means, "The two worlds are converging, so you've got that going on and more people are moving in. We've got a lot of residential growth based on the projects that we are doing with the water line and internet expansion, and with all of that, you're going to bring folks in, and when you have more people come in, you need more businesses to support them," Tapley said.

Ogletree says she hopes it doesn't slow down anytime soon.

In 2020, the city of Forsyth logged 30 business license requests. So far this year, there have been 36.

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