Bobwhite Coffee Co. plans to take flight to a new location

ALBANY – An Albany coffee shop is looking at picking up and moving to a new location after 14 years on Meredyth Drive, using the literal definition of picking up and moving.

Later this month, an Atlanta moving company is scheduled to load the 584-square-foot building that houses the Bobwhite Coffee Co. up for the short drive to the Albany Mall.

Bobwhite owner Chad May said that the Phoebe Putney Health System did not renew the lease for the drive-through so he is looking for a new home for the business.

“The engineers are going to prep the building, put it on a low boy (trailer), and we’re going to roll it down the road all of a mile and a quarter,” May said during an interview following an appearance before the Albany City Commission this week.

The commission heard a request for approval of special use zoning for development of the 0.549-acre site on the mall property. The property currently is zoned C-7, mixed-use planned development district, which would allow for the proposed use but requires approval by commissioners.

The Albany-Dougherty Planning Commission recommended approval in a 5-1 vote. If approved the current size of the business would be expanded to 714 square feet, May said.

“I hope so,” he said of approval. “We’ve built a nice little business here, and we’d like to stay here. I’m trying to save not only the business but the people who work for me. I’ve got some good kids who work for me.”

A total of about 15 employees work at the establishment, the owner said. The commission is scheduled to vote on the request later this month.

The departure from its 2854 Meredyth Drive location is not acrimonious, May said.

“Phoebe has actually worked with us and helped us out,” he said.

Last month the commission approved rezoning of a site at the mall property for a 55,000-square-foot Academy Sports + Outdoors location. The store represents a $12 million investment.

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]