Villa Rica, GA

Main Street Momentum

This Dynamic Municipality is Advancing Downtown Revitalization, Business-Friendly Growth, and Community-Centered Development

In the City of Villa Rica, progress is taking shape where it matters most: in the heart of the community. With renewed emphasis on downtown revitalization, streamlined business processes, and targeted infrastructure improvements, city leadership is working to strengthen Villa Rica’s identity while creating the conditions for long-term economic and community development.

Mayor Leslie McPherson believes that a historic downtown is not simply a backdrop for civic life, but one of a community’s most valuable assets. While large shopping centers and national retailers can be found in almost any city, a distinctive historic district provides something far harder to replicate: locally owned businesses, one-of-a-kind storefronts, and the sense of place that gives residents pride and draws visitors to stop, explore, and spend time.

For Villa Rica, that philosophy is translating into a deliberate strategy to support local entrepreneurs and elevate the downtown experience. The Mayor points to businesses that combine character, story, and quality as examples of what makes the city’s historic area special. One such standout is Chat and Choo, a diner located just off the railroad tracks in a building shaped by a significant moment in local history.

Originally a pharmacy, the structure was impacted by a gas explosion in 1957. Restored to reflect its historic look and role in the community’s story, it now operates as a local gathering place offering a mix of traditional Southern cooking and dinner options that keep the space active throughout the day.

Downtown energy has also been strengthened by newer additions and strategic wins that reflect the city’s broader revitalization efforts. Leadership highlighted the arrival of Café Bloom and emphasized the successful return of a popular Cajun-Creole restaurant, Gabe’s Downtown, to the historic district.

Bringing the restaurant back into the downtown core, in a substantially larger space than its previous location, has been viewed as more than a business recruitment success. It has served as a signal that Villa Rica’s downtown is moving in the right direction, with local businesses regaining confidence and residents and visitors responding to new options.

Behind these visible changes is a deeper municipal focus on becoming more business friendly. The Mayor is clear that this does not mean offering incentives that rely on public dollars, but rather removing friction that makes it difficult to open and operate a business. In practical terms, the city has been collecting direct feedback from business owners to better understand where processes feel slow, confusing, or unnecessarily burdensome.

The goal is to ensure that permitting, licensing, and approvals are efficient and coordinated, while also acknowledging that some elements involve partners outside direct city control, such as health department processes that operate under broader state and county frameworks.

To strengthen communication and alignment, the city is launching a business owner outreach forum in March. Interim City Manager Jennifer Hallman describes this initiative as a way to create stronger ongoing relationships with the downtown business community through better updates, clearer education around city ordinances and processes, and more proactive communication.

While many municipal processes exist for legal and regulatory reasons, the city recognizes that businesses experience them differently, and that improving understanding, predictability, and responsiveness can directly impact the pace and success of downtown investment.

Villa Rica’s downtown revitalization is also supported through physical improvements that enhance walkability, safety, and overall experience. A streetscape initiative is advancing through public input, council concept planning, and engineering development, including coordination with the railroad that runs through the center of downtown. The intent is to create a more inviting and functional public realm, with improved walkways, added green space, multi-use gathering areas, and opportunities for outdoor dining.

The city’s vision includes making downtown feel more like a destination, where families can spend time, businesses can extend activity outdoors, and residents can enjoy a more connected, community-oriented environment.

Safety and usability are being addressed alongside aesthetics. The city recently partnered with Georgia Power to improve downtown lighting, increasing brightness and efficiency in key areas to support a walkable environment that feels secure. Wayfinding improvements are also in motion, with updated signage expected to help residents and visitors navigate downtown more easily as the area becomes more pedestrian oriented and activity expands.

Infrastructure remains a critical underpinning of the city’s growth strategy. Leadership noted recent roadway improvements in downtown, including milling and repaving work, new striping, and refined parking areas. The city also created additional parking in a targeted location to better support restaurants and businesses.

At the same time, Villa Rica is addressing deeper capacity constraints, working with the state to expand service capacity and pursuing intergovernmental agreements with neighboring counties to strengthen supply options. These measures are designed to ensure the city can support new development while also sustaining quality of service for existing residents and businesses.

Housing is another central issue, and Villa Rica’s position reflects both national realities and local capacity. The Mayor acknowledges the broader housing shortage, but notes that Villa Rica has already experienced significant residential growth over the last two decades, including single-family homes, apartments, and townhouses. With water and sewer capacity now posing a limiting factor, the city’s focus has shifted from accelerating new residential approvals to catching up and strengthening the infrastructure needed to support what has already been built. In other words, Villa Rica sees itself as having done its share of regional growth and is now prioritizing stabilization, service capacity, and sustainable pacing.

On the economic development front beyond downtown, the city has continued to see commercial activity and business investment. Leadership pointed to major additions and expansions, including a significant trucking-related facility near I-20 that was described as a high-end destination for truck sales and repairs, reflecting Villa Rica’s strategic location and accessibility along a major transportation corridor.

The city has also seen local production strength reflected in notable bakery operations, including Turano Baking Co, and the presence of multiple significant bakeries whose products reach far beyond local shelves. Leaders also emphasized that expansions among existing employers are often as meaningful as new recruitment, signaling that businesses already in the city are healthy enough to grow and reinvest.

Looking ahead through 2026 and into the first half of 2027, Villa Rica’s priorities center on continuing the work already underway. Streamlining business processes and improving communication with business owners will remain a key focus as the March rollout of outreach initiatives takes effect. Downtown improvements will continue to advance through the streetscape engineering and coordination process, with the goal of creating a more walkable, connected, and vibrant downtown environment.

Community development priorities are also prominent. Recreational investments are moving forward, including the addition of new pickleball courts as tennis courts are refurbished, reflecting changing demand and the city’s intention to keep amenities aligned with resident interest.

At the same time, the city is working with a group of veterans to develop a dedicated Veterans Memorial Park, a project that would fill a meaningful gap in local civic recognition and provide a more comprehensive space to honor service members and the wars in which they served. Notably, this park is envisioned for the downtown area, reinforcing Villa Rica’s goal of connecting revitalization with community identity.

Villa Rica is also preparing to recognize a significant milestone year, marking the city’s 200th anniversary alongside the broader national movement toward the country’s 250th anniversary. While plans are still being refined, city leadership anticipates incorporating special recognition into major events, including the community’s Independence Day celebration, with support from local history-focused volunteers and organizations.

Across all of these initiatives, the throughline is clear. Villa Rica’s leadership is focused on strengthening what makes the community distinctive while removing barriers that slow progress. By prioritizing downtown revitalization, improving the business experience, investing in infrastructure, and advancing community-first amenities, the city is laying the groundwork for a more vibrant, resilient future built on local character and intentional growth.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Villa Rica, Georgia

What: A community focused city with a focus on a beautiful and walkable downtown for its cherished residents

Where: Carroll County, Georgia

Website: www.villarica.org