Written by NEIL MONROE | Photos Courtesy of THE BEARDENS

For several years, brothers Robert and David Bearden, and their wives, Janice and Lela, have been eating out once a week, usually on a Wednesday, at restaurants across Fayette and Coweta Counties. 

After a time, their choices narrowed to a few favorite spots, and an age-old conundrum set in: a bit of boredom.

Many of us have been in the exact same situation. We look at a friend, our spouse, our kids and say, “Hey, let’s grab some dinner.” The response is usually, “That sounds great…but where?”

After yet another discussion about where to eat, Janice saw the July 2022 issue of Newnan-Coweta Magazine (NCM) and came up with a somewhat brilliant solution: visiting each of the restaurants from the magazine’s 2022 “Best of Coweta” (BOC) competition. 

In the ensuing months, they’ve made a big dent in the list, eating at 15 of the 29 restaurants listed in the competition. They are anxious to hit the ones they’ve missed in coming weeks.   

“It’s been an adventure for us,” Janice says. “We go out to eat once a week and plan to keep going until we’ve hit all three first, second and third place winners in each food category, using the ‘Best of Coweta’ rankings as our guide. It’s like
a vacation.” 

“We all order something different and then discuss the food, the atmosphere and service,” she adds. “We even check out the bathrooms, the building, and talk with management if they’re receptive.”

Not only have the Beardens hit 15 of the 29 BOC restaurants, there is also a written record to prove it. After their meal, the Beardens discuss their visit, and Janice compiles written notes on each restaurant. She shared her notes with NCM, which include comments such as “a few too many tables…good food…lots of memories.” They’ll even discuss parking and the location of restrooms.

Given their thorough approach, the Beardens don’t always agree with the BOC rankings. One unnamed spot, given a number one ranking in its category, did not impress the group. “We all agreed that we could not understand how this place got a first place ranking,” David said. “It wasn’t decorated well, and the food just wasn’t very good. But we still had a great time going. That’s what’s fun about this adventure. We never know what we’re going to find, because nearly all of these places are new to us.”

How dedicated are the Beardens to their goal of hitting all 29 restaurants? Very dedicated. They’ve even gone to restaurants featuring Mexican food, which as a group, they don’t really like. 

This dedication to the BOC rankings has enabled them to come to some conclusions about which restaurants do well. “Proximity to the square in Newnan is a big factor,” Robert says. “People enjoy walking the square. It’s just a wonderful place.”

While the group has several stops to go, they have a list of favorites – subject to change, of course. 

Their top three restaurants, so far: 

• Redneck Gourmet

• Goldens on the Square 

• Partner’s Pizza at Summergrove

For a combination of good food, value and lunchtime entertainment, the Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse gets a thumbs up from the group. And for dessert, they’re very impressed with Rock Salt Milk Bar. 

“They’re all good, that’s for sure. As for whether we agree with each list, probably not. Some could certainly be rearranged,” Robert says. 

Lela encouraged others to use the list to eliminate some of the indecision that many of us face when we’re looking for some place to eat. 

“It’s such a fun chance to experience some place you wouldn’t normally visit,” she said. “It gives you a reason to go, and even if it’s not the best, you know you went with a purpose.” NCM

“Best of Coweta” Winners Excel After Big Win

Written by NEIL MONROE

For local businesses, winning a “Best of Coweta” award can have an important impact on their success, even if they're an institution in the local community for more than 50 or 60 years. 

That may sound somewhat surprising, but two longtime Newnan companies, Coweta Greenhouses/Morgan’s Market and Knox Furniture, will quickly vouch for the benefits. 

Pandemic + Plants = Number 1 in Coweta

Since 1972, Coweta Greenhouses has cultivated plants and flowers for large retail chains who distribute their products throughout the Southeast. Once a year, the greenhouse would open the 10-acre farm to the public for a single week, drawing droves of local gardeners looking for quality products at a good price. 

“After I bought the business in 2017, I saw the support we had from the public during those one-week sales. It was clear we needed a constant retail presence,” says Tommy Morgan, owner of Morgan’s Market. “So, in 2020, we took the plunge and opened Morgan’s Market.” 

While that wasn’t the best year to open a new enterprise, the business worked through the worst of the pandemic with a keen focus on customer service. “From the beginning, we wanted to be able to help each customer understand the nature of the plant they’re buying so they can be successful with it,” Morgan says. 

That approach paid off, and in 2021, Morgan’s Market won the first of its two consecutive first place awards for “Best Plant Nursery/Greenhouse.” The result was increased awareness in the community and a surge of new business growth. 

“Honestly, we can’t expand fast enough,” Morgan says. “However, our ability to serve the customer is vital, so we’re being conservative with our growth so we can maintain or enhance customer service.”

“We’d love to win for a third time because that means we’re doing something right,” Morgan concludes.  

“Best of Coweta” even while recovering from the tornado

Knox Furniture first opened its doors in Newnan in 1955, now serving the community for nearly 70 years. But the tornado of 2021 damaged their long-time building on Greenville Street, forcing them to relocate first to a facility on Savannah Street, and then to their warehouse on Corinth Road. 

The disruption has been difficult, but customers clearly value the company and have followed the business through each move. With long-established standards of service and a diverse product line, Knox was voted best furniture store the past two years. 

“We’ve been through challenges since my grandparents opened this store in 1955, but nothing quite like this,” says Sara Knox Rund, the store’s owner. 

“We were heartened by the support of the community last year, and without question, the distinction of being a Best of Coweta winner has been a very positive asset for us.”

“We appreciate the chance to serve this community,” she adds. “I don’t know if we’ll finish first again, but I do know we’ll do everything we can to do it. And, hopefully by this summer, we’ll be able to enhance our service by being back in our original location.” NCM