Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1541815
December 2025/January 2026 | maconmagazine.com 49 NewTown Macon is an independent nonprofit, making Downtown Macon safe, beautiful, fun, affordable, and locally led. Their comprehensive approach to downtown development has resulted in 83% storefront occupancy, 89% loft occupancy, and 1M+ annual event attendance. back our iconic drink menu. Everyone fell in love with it last year. We have made some slight adjustments, but everyone's favorite staples will still be available, as well as some new exciting options. Our favorite part is the looks on people's faces when they walk in. They are always blown away by the transformation, and nothing beats the pure joy they have. DOWNTOWN MACON HAS SEEN SO MUCH GROWTH IN RECENT YEARS. WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE TO PUT DOWN ROOTS HERE? We are both from Macon, so we have seen downtown change and grow a lot throughout our lives. Downtown is a melting pot of small businesses, and we wanted to be a part of that "family." HOW DO YOU SEE SWITCH-MACON (A THEME BAR) FITTING INTO (AND CONTRIBUTING TO) THE ENERGY OF DOWNTOWN? We want to be more than a bar. We hope to be a community hub for special events with local artists and vendors as well as host mashups with other downtown businesses. NEWTOWN MACON HAS BEEN A BIG DRIVER OF DOWNTOWN MACON'S REVITALIZATION. HOW HAS THEIR WORK SUPPORTED OR INSPIRED WHAT YOU'RE BUILDING? NewTown has been a huge driver behind our small business. They have always been a huge supporter of Macon Drinks. Their Entrepreneur's Academy program taught us so much valuable knowledge about growing our business. They helped us market Blitzen last year to help make it a success, and they are also a large part of our financing for our permanent space. YOU'RE PART OF A REALLY COLLABORATIVE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. WHO HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE NEIGHBORS OR PARTNERS TO WORK ALONGSIDE? Downtown has a lot of great business owners. Tony and Ashley Doolin at Monkey's Paw and Nikki and Matt Hammock with Oliver's Corner Bistro have both been a huge help to us getting started. They've been answering tons of new "brick and mortar" questions. Visit Macon has also been a huge help in helping us promote and market our new space. WHAT'S YOUR PERFECT DAY IN DOWNTOWN MACON MACON LOOK LIKE — FROM MORNING COFFEE TO LAST CALL? We would start our morning with coffee at Reckon, breakfast at Famous Mike's, Lunch at Piedmont Brewery and Kitchen. Then we would check out the vendor market on Poplar on Wednesdays, donate some stuff or thrift shop at Wear, and have dinner at Oliver's, followed by a few cocktails at The Monkey's Paw. Want to build up Downtown Macon yourself? Go to newtownmacon.com to sign up for business resources today. HAS GROWN INTO A BRICK- AND-MORTAR LOCATION. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TURN THAT FESTIVE EXPERIMENT INTO A PERMANENT CONCEPT? We started this business as Macon Drinks, Central Georgia's premier event bar service. We have always had a passion for events and event bars. We wanted to open a completely new concept that would also take us back to our roots. Blitzen was such a huge success that we knew Macon wanted this concept permanently. EACH SEASON BRINGS A WHOLE NEW THEME FOR SWITCH- MACON (A THEME BAR). HOW DO YOU DREAM UP THOSE TRANSFORMATIONS? WHAT'S YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS LIKE BEHIND THE SCENES? It takes months of precise planning. We scout out estate sales, yard sales, and buy old decor from friends and family. We work with local event designer Donna Pilkey, Ross Chaplin and our amazing floorset crew. They are a huge driving force behind helping bring our themes to life. Our admin Ross is also a HUGE part of pulling the design together, he works tirelessly shopping, organizing, and developing spreadsheets for each theme. WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO BRING BACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, AND WHAT MIGHT SURPRISE RETURNING GUESTS? We are most excited about bringing "NewTown has been a huge driver behind our small business... Their Entrepreneur's Academy program taught us so much valuable knowledge." What's on the docket at Blitzen for Switch-Macon? After a sold-out start, here's how you can join in on the holiday fun this season during the Blitzen blitz while also supporting community organizations and local artists: Sip and Paint with Sarah Tinsley Parker | December 2 and 11 Christmas with the Queens: The Empire and Macon Pride | December 14 The Great Christmas Wine Mixer | December 9 Cookies and Cocktails: Macon's best cookie competition | December 21 Get tickets and reservations now at Switch-Macon's social media pages or switchmacon.com