BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (WTXL) - Downtown Bainbridge continues to grow and local business owners are excited to see what the future holds for the city.
If you've ever been to downtown Bainbridge, you've likely wandered by "The American," a restaurant with a vintage theme, fresh foods, and owners who love what they do.
"We really want to create an experience for people that want to come out and forget about the stress and the junk they have to deal with all day," said Tyler Thomas, Co-Owner of The American. "They come out for a couple of hours and they want to just enjoy themselves, we just want to shower them with hospitality, great food, and hopefully they like the ambiance and atmosphere as well."
And people from all over have enjoyed all that The American has to offer. In fact, the homemade "Heirloom Tomato Pie" has been listed on Georgia Eats "Top 100 Plates Locals Love."
"We are very honored, and very flattered, and very grateful. It's definitely a really neat thing," said Thomas. "People have been coming in asking about the Heirloom Tomato Pie saying, 'I saw it here' or 'I heard about it here.' That's really exciting."
The American, with it's classic feel and all, has had a wonderful first year and the owners hope that the second will be even better, especially with all the incoming businesses and developments.
"The city recently created an 'open container district,' so the historic district downtown, you're able to purchase an alcoholic beverage, can walk around on the square and shop," said Heather Thomas, Co-Owner of The American. "We're hoping to be with the brewery, that will kind of keep that going and people can just come inside, outside."
Although businesses may be in competition with each other, the store and restaurant owners in downtown support each other as they grow.
In an effort to draw even more visitors to the area, the Thomas's recently purchased the second floor of the Belcher Building, across the square from them, to create boutique lodging space.
