How To Spend A Spring Weekend In Thomasville, Georgia

As I walk through Thomasville, Georgia, on a quiet spring morning, a sweetness fills the air. On any given day in this small South Georgia town, the aroma of freshly baked breads and buns drifts downtown on the breeze, transported from Flowers Baking Company just a few blocks away. Wandering the streets paved with bricks laid by hand in 1907, I watch the town wake up. The signs turn from “Closed” to “Come On In,” and the bells on the doors of the Victorian storefronts jingle as the day’s first customers arrive. Neighbors nod to each other along the sidewalks on the way to work, with their hands cradling to-go cups of locally roasted Grassroots Coffee. The smell of espresso mingles with the fragrance of jasmine blooming along the side of a building to form a scent memory of Thomasville, a city that treasures its small businesses and has a knack for making you feel right at home.

The Shopping

Browse a Beloved Local Bookstore

“This was my happy place. I loved this store as a customer and realized even more people needed to know about it,” says Annie B. Jones, the owner of The Bookshelf on South Broad Street. She soon took the helm at the beloved local institution and now reflects, “It’s a privilege to stay in a place and get to know your neighbors. We watch babies become middle-grade readers, and we’re here for people during all the different seasons of their lives.”

Every single detail in The Bookshelf extends a warm welcome. With a big selection of thoughtfully curated fiction and nonfiction, a children’s section nestled in the back, and an artful array of gifts and paper goods, it’s easy to spend an afternoon browsing in the sun-soaked spot. Plus, programs and events—including book clubs, dinners, and retreats—bring together people from around town and across the country.

In 2014, Annie launched a podcast, From the Front Porch, which allows her to connect with new friends from near and far. Episodes are full of recommendations and chats about small-business ownership from Annie and staffers, who are passionate about books and those who love them. “The shop is for the community, and I owe it to our patrons to take good care of it,” she says, gesturing to the shelves and their rows of colorful spines. “It’s hard and worthwhile work to create a hospitable spirit both in person and online. When people walk into The Bookshelf, I want them to feel that they belong.”

Make Time to Stroll Downtown

The Bookshelf makes its home downtown along with inviting boutiques like The Hare & the Hart, which is stocked with pretty decor and Thomasville-themed toiles that highlight local landmarks; Firefly, an elegant gift destination that owner Nan Myers opened with her father in the 1990s; Blake Candle Company, with handmade products in scents like Thomasville Oak and Through the Pines; and the Fuzzy Goat, where owner Cadence Kidwell has skeins of rainbow-hued yarns for fiber projects. For families with small children, the two-story Imagination Emporium toy store is a must-stop.

There’s also Big Adventure Outfitters, which has hiking and camping equipment in a space suffused with a sense of wanderlust, and SouthLife Supply Co., where heirloom-quality fine leather goods are made and displayed in a historic storefront. New to the downtown scene is Abode, an upscale home decor shop, while Kevin’s Fine Outdoor Gear & Apparel has been serving residents and visitors for more than 40 years.

The Food & Drink

Grab Fresh and Flavorful Bites

Thomasville’s business owners are cultivating spaces for connection on every corner, including plenty of spots to enjoy a good meal and great conversation. The Kickstand started out as a food truck and is now a bicycle shop-taco shack hybrid. Owners Randell and Carson Chastain reimagined an old family property (the Chastains have been this area’s bicycle purveyors for over 100 years). The husband-and-wife team sells bikes up front and has a relaxed eatery in the back. Carson heads the kitchen, which is focused on what’s fresh, flavorful, and good for you.

“We’re a mom-and-pop establishment,” Randell says, explaining the inspiration behind the restaurant. “Every ingredient is chosen for a reason. We’re trying to provide the best for our kids, and now that extends to each person who walks in the door. We want to create delicious, healthy options for everyone.”

I carry my tacos out to a covered section in the backyard, which the Chastains call “The Shed,” and eat in a patch of shade. The watchful water tower rises nearby. It’s emblazoned with a red rose, a nod to Thomasville’s nickname (Rose City) and the annual Rose Show & Festival that’s been happening here every April for more than a century.

Set Up Your Own Little Picnic

Just a stone’s throw away, at a break in the brick lanes, there’s a pocket park filled with picnic tables, murals, and changing displays of public art. The town’s amphitheater, also close by, is where neighbors gather for outdoor concerts and shows. It’s often less crowded on weekday afternoons but fills up on the weekends and during events.

Make Time for Plenty of Dining

Newer eateries like The Kickstand are finding their rhythms alongside long-loved establishments like Jonah’s Fish & Grits, a restaurant with fantastic seafood and hush puppies; Liam’s, an upscale dinner spot with seasonal cocktails and a great wine list; and Sweet Grass Cheese Shop, which has a menu of sandwiches incorporating cheeses made in their nearby creamery.

Everyone has a go-to place to grab a bite, but many locals say their top pick is George & Louie’s just down the street. A regional favorite since 1981, it features stellar fish sandwiches, famous Greek salads, and an unforgettable baklava cheesecake—all of which are served with a side of sunlight streaming through the walls of windows. To try a sampling of cuisines, you can book the Taste of Thomasville Food Tour for an introduction to a variety of this town’s best eateries.

When it comes to drinks, be sure to check out Farmer’s Daughter Vineyards for local vintages and small-batch wines from third-generation farmers. Or head down to Hubs & Hops, a bike-themed brewery next to the amphitheater, to relax with a cold draft in hand.

The Community

Starting a New Chapter

“We’re breakfast people,” explains John Gregory. He and his wife, Anna Carroll, opened Empire Bagel and Delicatessen on West Jackson Street in 2017. The couple met while they were working at P.J. Clarke’s restaurant and bar in New York City, but on a drive to the airport after a visit to Thomasville (Anna Carroll’s hometown), her father, Don Sims, convinced them to relocate and build something of their own.

“A good bagel, egg, and cheese sandwich was a staple for us when we were living in the city, and we just couldn’t find one here, so we started thinking about opening a deli,” John says. They got to work creating a space that incorporated a little bit of New York and some of Thomasville too. They began naming the dishes on the menu after places that are significant to them. Their bagel offerings change regularly, and the restaurant also sources ingredients seasonally from area farmers. The microgreens, for example, come from Edgar Roberts of Pasco Farms. He sells his produce in Pasco Farmshop & Grocery, which is a new market space and coffee bar located in the back of Relish (a kitchen store that’s a small wonderland for those who love cooking and all of its accoutrements).

Once the Gregorys opened their doors, folks showed up in a big way. “When diners arrived, it felt like we were inviting them into our living room,” Anna Carroll says. “On the first day, there was a huge line. We were overwhelmed by how supportive everyone was, but we still had to earn our customers,” John continues. Travelers are drawn in by the storefront (painted in a vibrant shade of teal that was chosen from samples of yarn provided by Cadence at the Fuzzy Goat next door) and leave happy with a cup of strong coffee and one of the best bagels in the state.

Over the past few years, the closeness of this community has been more important than ever. Anna Carroll says that at the beginning of the pandemic, when hometown shops experienced so many unknowns, “people came together to support small businesses. There was a new awareness of how important it is to patronize local establishments.” There’s a palpable sense of camaraderie among entrepreneurs in the area. Everyone I meet in town asks me where I’m headed next and then points me to a friend’s store or a neighbor’s restaurant. This kind of hospitality is the bread and butter of a small town.

As for Anna Carroll’s father, who made the case to bring the couple back to Thomasville, he’s in Empire every week, sitting at a table with friends to swap stories and enjoy breakfast sandwiches and toasted bagels smeared with cream cheese. Whenever friends ask why they ended up in Thomasville, John answers, “Because we chose it.” Anna Carroll adds with a smile, “And thank goodness we did.”

After leaving the deli, I venture off the downtown bricks and onto a residential street where moss-draped oaks shade rows of Victorian houses painted in hues of evergreen, cream, and aquamarine. Cars and bicycles wheel past. I stop at the corner of Crawford and Monroe Streets to see the most venerable tree in town, a towering live oak that’s more than 330 years old. The Big Oak, as it’s affectionately called, stretches its arms across the road, filtering the light. It has seen each of Thomasville’s chapters, watching as the years pass, the pages turn, and the story continues.