Q&A Bobby Wiggns of Italian Oven

How long have you lived in Henry County? 30 years

Where are you from? I grew up in Morrow Georgia and graduated from Morrow High School (1979).

When did Italian Oven open? The Stockbridge location opened in 2001 and the Peachtree City location opened in 1995.

How long have you been with Italian Oven and when did you take ownership?

I became the General Manager (GM) of the Peachtree City location in 2003 and became the GM of the Stockbridge location in October of 2004. I’ve been the owner of both locations since January of 2020 after purchasing Italian Oven from Jim Dunn.

What sparked you to become the owner?

I’ve worked with really great people, like our current manager Liz Elam for many years, so that made it a pretty easy decision. It’s also been a great place to work for over twenty years!

Interesting Fact?

I’ve worked in the food and beverage industry since I was 15-years-old.

What do you love about Henry County?

I love that even though we’ve experienced a lot of growth, we still have that small-town charm and atmosphere.

What separates Italian Oven from larger chain-style restaurants?

While we sell in large quantities, we still adhere to utilizing fresh high-quality ingredients.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of working in this industry?

Connecting with families over several years and watching kids become adults and start families of their own. You become a part of their family’s story and that’s a great feeling and honor.

Why do you believe Italian Oven has been successful all these years?

It’s our employees; we really strive for every guest to feel as if they’re a guest in our home. We’re providing patrons with a good meal and great service.

What’s your favorite dish, dessert, and drink at Italian Oven?

The seafood marinara, tiramisu, and the Italian Margarita.

Q&A Katy Bell of Macon Street Tacos

Full Name: Emily Katherine Bell but have always gone by Katy

How long have you’ve lived in Henry County? 11 years

When did you open? August of 2018

What makes Macon Street Tacos special? We are a family-owned and operated

business and truly believe in our community, and being involved with our community.

We are more than tacos!!! We are a place for friends and family to gather, visit, laugh, and enjoy the rest of historic downtown square.

What do you love about McDonough and Henry County? We enjoy the small town feel.

What inspired you to open a restaurant? We grew up in the restaurant industry and things just fell into place to give it a try.

Why did you choose the McDonough Square? Such a quaint community! All of the small town feels without being stuck in a large parking lot.

What has been the most rewarding experience of opening and owning a restaurant? Working with the community, being accepted into the community, giving back, hosting events that bring people together, and being able to have the flexibility to spend quality family time! My son Luke is in 5th grade now, and I’ve been able to attend all of his school functions. We’ve hosted his birthday parties here, and it’s also become a hangout spot or him, as well as , a place for him to learn and help with the restaurant. We’re also able to close for his breaks so we can vacation together. Luke gets to see first hand what it’s like to be an entrepreneur and he gets to work alongside his Momma and Aunt B.

What’s the most popular items on your menu? Our buffalo chicken tacos are always in the tops along with our beef and chicken flautas! The buffalo chicken taco is our grilled chicken breast chopped and tossed in a our buffalo sauce and put in our soft & crunchy taco shell. We then top it with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, cotija cheese, and our buffalo ranch. Same combo also served over french fries, tater tots, or in a quesadilla. We feature our Mash Burger every Wednesday and have a regular following for it! Single or double hand-pattied beef smashed, topped with cheddar, house made pico, pickles, and taco ranch. All stuffed in a quesadilla shell and grilled to perfection!

What events do you have coming up between October to December? Weekly open-mic night, every Wednesday at 6:30. Third Saturday of the month we always feature local singer/songwriters. We host monthly trivia, (October 10, November 7, December 5).

Anything you’d like to let our community know about your restaurant? We are always family-friendly and make our food fresh to order. We love what we do and love being a part of this community! Our food is fun and flavorful but it is not Mexican. Lastly, we are so much more than tacos!

Q&A Gadson Woodall of Serafino’s Italian Bistro

How long have you lived in Henry County? I have lived in Henry County for 42 years. My wife Lynn has lived in Henry County for 53 years.

Where are you from? I am from Macon, Georgia and my wife Lynn was born and raised in Henry County.

How long have you been with Serafino’s and when did you take ownership?

I have been a client of Serafino’s since 2007, so roughly 18 years. I purchased Serafino’s on April 17, 2017.

What sparked you to become the owner? Serafino’s has always been one of the Best Restaurants in Henry County. We love the cuisine and the people who work there, as well as the clients that we have met over the years. When it became available, I thought about it for 12 hours and closed on the acquisition of the restaurant in a week. The prior owner remained on staff for 3 months while I learned the Serafino’s business. Our vision was always to expand the footprint and offer a unique dining experience in Henry County so clients would not feel compelled to drive to Buckhead for the experience we have here.

Interesting Fact About You- I am very driven and I love people. I have managed businesses since I was 17 years old. It is a wonderful feeling to have loyal staff and clients that are there for you.

What do you love about Henry County? It is the gateway to the South. Close to most anything you like to do.

What separates Serafino’s from large chain establishments? Quality meats and produce, all prepared fresh and cooked to order.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of working in this industry? Meeting a lot of great people and enjoying some awesome food and wonderful wines.

Why do you believe Serafino’s has been successful for so long? We have a very loyal client base that loves Serafino’s.

What’s your favorite drink, dish, and dessert at Serafino’s? Mettler Cabernet Sauvignon is my favorite wine. Veal and Shrimp Francese or our Prime Filet Mignon are my two favorite entrees and the Million Dollar Cake is my favorite dessert.