The Top 10 Downtown Newnan Storefronts

Picture this:

You’re walking. Your feet work. You’ve got three gold bars in your pocket. You’ve got a lovely dame by your side who is wearing a sundress and some o’ them big sunglasses with the fake jewels around the lenses. You stumble onto a Downtown area. But this isn’t just any Downtown area. This one has been talked about. Whispered of. Rumors that have swirled like a nerd in high school getting a swirly from Chad Boneswick. You turn a corner. Bam. In your face is a shop. One you ain’t ever set eyes on before. You have a choice to make. Do the dame and your gold bars go inside? Does it speak to you? Is it worthy of your attention?

These are the types of questions that locals don’t even consider. But what is Newnan Time with Harold if not the greatest, most intelligent, most facial-hairied local of them all? I do what others don’t. Which is often a bad thing. BUT NOT TODAY!

Today, thanks to the help of three out-of-staters, I answer the question that locals are too blinded by prejudice to answer: What are the Top 10 best storefronts in Downtown Newnan?

Question 1) What is a Storefront?

A storefront is the front-facing, ground-level, or street-level facade of a shop/store, typically featuring large display windows, signage, and an entryway designed to attract customers. It acts as the physical, public-facing, or sometimes digital (e-commerce) interface used to showcase products and create brand identity. 

Question 2) What matters about a Storefront?

I’ve broken it down to 3 categories that I think accurately represent what people are looking for: clarity (what do they offer), creativity (how do they stand apart), customer curiosity (how do they entice my dollars).

Question 3) How will you score it?

After taking into account those three areas, I have asked myself and my three out-of-towners to assign points to our 10 favorites. The most favorite receives 10 points, the second most favorite receives 9 points, the third most favorite receives 8 points, and so on and so forth, and there and back again, a Hobbit’s Tale by Bilbo Baggins. Those points will be combined to name THE TOP 10 BEST STOREFRONTS IN DOWNTOWN NEWNAN

Question 4) Who is choosing The Top 10?

Facebook polls are used as a tie-breaker.

Question 5) Does this matter?

Uhhhmmm, OK, rude.

Yes! This list celebrates the best Downtown Newnan has to offer. This is free publicity and compliments to some of the small businesses that make Newnan special. If you find a reason to get upset at this list, then chances are you’re the worst. And why be that? Why not be something else?

And while I did take my own photos of 102 Storefronts in Downtown Newnan, I will likely use photos of better quality on my list. If you want me to remove your photo, just ask. I ain’t trying to make you offended if you hate fun.

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Number Ten: Goldens on the Square

Although I’m a fairly new customer to INSIDE Goldens (review here), I’ve been admiring the Goldens on the Square storefront from afar for years, like it’s the popular kid in school and I’m the awkward homeschooler pretending I totally didn’t plan to walk by them and smell their hair (I miss you, Lexi…) It’s clean, it’s bold, it’s known in the best possible way, and half the time there’s a giant KIDS EAT FREE sign in the window like a lighthouse guiding exhausted parents safely to shore, creepy keeper not included. I’m sorry, but if that doesn’t attract my gold bars, I don’t know what will. I’m basically one of those duck moms at the park, except instead of a serene line of ducklings, I’ve got 3–8 chaotic goose babies (geeselings? goslets?) orbiting me at all times, asking for stuff.

The location doesn’t hurt either. You see it from across the street, from down the block, from inside your own self-doubt. And somehow the exterior manages to stay fresh and welcoming without advertising that the average customer inside has strong opinions about early-bird specials and owns at least one jacket with their pharmacy embroidered on it. It’s like the building itself is saying, “Come on in, we’ve got comfort food and air conditioning,” which, frankly, is a message I respect.

But that’s the magic of the place. The storefront promotes simplicity, warmth, and zero confusion about what you’re walking into. No mysterious minimalist branding, no fonts that look like they were designed by a Scandinavian ghost. Just honest, visible, welcoming vibes. And shout out to K-Pop Demon Hunters, cause now the word “Golden” is cool again.

Number 9: Redneck Gourmet

Honestly? And I’m gonna be honest here. I am honestly shocked that this place isn’t more honestly placed in The Top 3. I had to take into account my parents’ vote, and they got this one wrong IMHONESTLYO.

You can just tell that this place has been in the community forever. The food may not be “good” but it tastes like fried nostalgia and I bet their coca cola tastes better than at every other restaurant for some reason. Peepaw approved. – My Brother Andy

Redneck Gourmet promotes itself in creativity, fun art, obvious service type, and fun name on TWO SIDES of the street! You can’t escape the branding! You can’t escape it. Trying to fall asleep at night? Don’t crack one eyelid, because somewhere in your subconscious, that Redneck Gourmet sign is looming like a benevolent fried-food guardian angel. Open your eyes too fast and boom: you’re mentally ordering.

Scrolling Tinder? Next profile won’t even be a person. It’ll be that scrawny little cartoon fella from the sign, leaning on a pitchfork, whispering, “Girl, you look like you could use some loaded fries and emotional stability.” And honestly? He’s not wrong.

Putting your kids’ drawings on the fridge? Better inspect that crayon masterpiece real close, because there’s a non-zero chance they accidentally recreated the Redneck Gourmet mascot from memory. That branding seeps in. It’s in the walls. It’s in the air. It’s probably in your cholesterol now.

That’s the charm. It’s loud, it’s goofy, it’s unmistakable, and it tells you exactly what you’re getting before you even cross the street.

Number 8: Fabianos

Man, I’m just a sucker for an old metal sign. It just looks like they’d have good food even if I had never been there. Like some greasy stoner is going to make you a delicious pizza and it’s going to be brought out by a bored-looking kid with a septum piercing while Rush plays in the background. Look at those big dumb stars. Amazing. – My Brother Andy

Stars. Pizzeria. Names that begin with F. Big, beautiful glass windows that let you peer inside like you’re judging an Italian baking competition. One of those adorable wooden sidewalk sign things — you know, the little folding stand with the handwritten specials? A sandwich board. That’s it. Not a chalk stool. Not a chool. A sandwich board, which is a wildly misleading name because I have yet to see one actually holding a sandwich. But they do often board me to look at (hey oh!).

Benches out front. Flyers for local events taped up with the optimism of people who still believe we all read bulletin boards. Little touches that tell ya “Yeah, someone cares about this place.” And that’s the stuff that makes Downtown Newnan feel like a real-deal small town instead of a movie set pretending to be one. It feels lived in. It feels like people actually stop, sit, talk, and argue with real emotional investment. Just think about all the divorces that were decided in this place!

Now, I’m not entirely convinced that counting Fabiano’s and The Alamo separately is within the strict rules of list-making ethics. Some might call it cheating. Some might call it bending the system. I call it having full control over my own keyboard. And spoiler alert: The Alamo is showing up later on this list, because I am nothing if not doing whatever I want.

Nice pizza place cool vibe – dad

Number 7: Leaf & Bean

An absolute favorite of mine (both inside and out) is Leaf and Bean. Honestly, what is there not to like? The logo on the window and up top. The Leaf. The Bean. The And. The &. Big windows. Outdoor seating. A quick mention of their main services. There is nothing not to like about Leaf & Bean’s storefront, except maybe you have to have a customer stare into your eyes while you’re trying to take pictures… nothing to see here, sir… just a fake journalist.

They do a really good job of making it obvious that they’re the “preferred” community coffee spot. Like, I would immediately gravitate to them for coffee without even thinking about/looking at the other coffee places. – My Brother Andy

While I appreciate the “community” of hanging posters in the window, I actually really like the cleanliness that their storefront offers by moving promotional material indoors in various areas. They still WANT to support others, but they aren’t going to glunk up their windows to do it.

The “And” vs “&” is a little weird, though.

There’s something about this storefront that feels like it read a handbook titled “How to Look Like the Coziest Spot in Town Without Doing Something Illegal.” It’s the architectural equivalent of someone wearing a cardigan that can “totally pull off a cardigan.”

The big front windows are the real MVPs, though. They let you see the whole of it before you even touch the door: warm lights, people working, people chatting, that one person pretending to do homework while really just scrolling HotOrNot.com.

Number 6: Ace Growlers

Deciding what counts as their “storefront” is a bit complicated, but my judges agreed to count this. And Ace Beer Growlers has gotten a ton of love for it!

It’s a tricky thing to try and be “cool” in a town filled with snooty, upper-middle-class church-goers but somehow Ace manages to walk that line. They have just enough “edgy” things in their store front to make Linda’s eyes roll when Tim goes in to buy a $17 four-pack of “Dirty-Dale’s IPA.” Know your customers. – My Brother Andy

As I praise Leaf &/And Bean for their commitment to crispiness and cleanliness, Ace Growlers goes in the exact opposite direction with a proudly curated “organized chaos” look — and somehow it absolutely nails it. This isn’t messy. This is intentional personality. It’s the difference between a teenager’s bedroom and a cool uncle’s garage where every object has a story and possibly a bottle opener attached to it.

But let’s be honest here: I do not actually know what a growler is. Is it a jug? A system? A lifestyle? An angry raccoon? A commitment? No clue. Zero.

Could I Google it? Yes.
Will I Google it? Probably not.
Am I too nervous to ask someone inside in case it reveals I’ve been pronouncing it wrong in my head for years? Absolutely.

But here’s the thing: you don’t need to know the terminology. You spot Ace Growlers from down the street and immediately understand: this is where you go when you want good beer, good atmosphere. And yes, before anyone accuses me of burying the lead, they do have the best beer in town. I will stand by that claim with the confidence of someone who has no idea what half the menu words mean but knows when I’m happy.

The name and appearance just fit. Nicely done! – Mom

Number 5: The Red Letter Merchant

The signage itself can easily go missed when you’re exploring the streets of rage, but when you get your first glimpse into the storefront windows, you immediately see that this place is special. You can see “sale” signs, forgotten memories, retro logos, a pop culture clash that actually works, and 100 other things that make this place feel different, before even opening the door!

My favorite! This place is tastefully done but with the red flair of excitement. A combination of the old town but with bright new possibility. I love it! – Mom

Honestly? I can’t even do this place justice with my review, so I asked the dude who was a model for the logo to do it for me:

I am Baron Reginald Throckmorton III, possessor of a monocle, holder of rail-bound fortunes, and husband to three very patient, very elegant wives who, I assure you, tolerate my eccentricities with remarkable grace. Now, about this storefront…

That red brick corner, oh, that corner. Bold, unapologetic, like it knows exactly how much it’s worth, and maybe winks at the street as if to say, “Yes, I know you’re all trying, bless your little foundations.” I wouldn’t be surprised if it holds secret meetings with the more ambitious lampposts around the block, plotting who gets to stay and who ought to be politely reminded of their inferior angles over a glass of bourbon.

That sign, one must admit, possesses an almost pedagogical authority, as though it could dispense lessons in decorum and etiquette to the most incorrigible of humans. Impeccably clean, imbued with a confidence bordering on audacious, it radiates the unmistakable aura of an individual—or in this case, a sign—who curates a vinyl collection of rarefied distinction and harbors opinions of such unwavering firmness that any inquiry into pressing quality would be met with a lecture both erudite and mildly intimidating. It is, in truth, not merely a sign; it functions simultaneously as a pronouncement, a subtle provocation, and an enigmatic invitation, each layer asserting its presence with refined insistence and unmistakable flair. I dare say, it was modeled after a perfect gentleman.

Number 4: Georgia Chocolate Factory

This place looks like it smells like happiness and calories in the best way. The orange awning has the confidence of a man who owns suspenders and isn’t afraid to use them. Those big candy props in the window feel like they’d come to life and help Woody finally get that snake out his boot, WHICH HASN’T BEEN SOLVED IN LIKE FIVE MOVIES!

Love fudge. Like the building a lot – Dad

It’s bright without being annoying, nostalgic without being dependent, and honestly, the brick-and-cream combo is cleaner than Keith Brady’s high school report card (I don’t even get this joke). It bothers me that it uses the word “Georgia” instead of “Newnan,” making it feel less like an awesome local spot and more like a corporate location that missed its landing from Ashley Park. But that’s unfair judgment, because the quality of this place, inside and out, is some of the absolute best in Downtown! Savannah, GA wishes they had this.

“Hell yeah” on everything – My Brother Andy

Number 3: Vinlylite

Music store. Old building. They kept the old signs. Nice vibe – Dad

This place feels rooted. The brick and that slightly weathered awning give it this kind of earned cool, like it didn’t wake up one day and decide to be interesting; it just kept showing up long enough that interesting sort of happened to it. Same way I became interesting: I ain’t going away ever!

Guitars, records, boards: none of it sticks out like a bride’s dress or a chocolate mascot, but all of it quietly insists on being noticed. It’s not cluttered; it’s curated. The kind of place where every object looks like it earned its square foot of real estate. It feels like it would still be here if the rest of the block changed clothes three times. Wearing cornerstone overalls and a fedora. If Main Street had a heartbeat, this would be one of the thump spots. Just one of ’em reliable pulses that keep the whole thing alive.

And yeah, I’m not sure how many times a heart thumps in a day. Sixteen feels low, medically speaking. But metaphorically? Sixteen’s perfect. You don’t want too many thumps — then it’s panic. You don’t want too few — then it’s a ghost town.

I love this storefront because there are big windows and I can clearly see a ton of stuff that I would personally like to look at and buy inside – so maybe I’m biased. That being said, I also really respect when a business cares about preserving the history of the area. So the fact that they still have the old “Scott’s Bookstore” signs up gives them bonus points for me. – My Brother Andy

Number 2: Rock Salt Milk Bar

This place makes me want to ride my bike here with a dollar in my pocket and no responsibilities. The blue trim is so cheerful it feels like it knows my third-grade secrets and would be a good enough friend to keep them secret (I once threw away peas and told my mom I ate them). Those little tables out front? That’s where root beer floats taste colder, and summer somehow lasts longer. Science. The sign up top lets you know that their milkshakes truly do bring all the boys to the yard. It’s clean and classic but not stiff, more like wholesome. Walking past it doesn’t just make me want ice cream, it makes me want to be ten again and believe that a sundae can fix absolutely everything. “UNBREAK MY HEART, ROCK SALT!”

My kid won’t pass this place without asking to go inside, and while we’re not officially judging based on what my kid likes, as a dad, I have to consider it at least once a year.

Love the name. Love the paint job! – Mom

Very cool looking ice cream place. Love the colors – Dad

Number 1: The Alamo

The neon light and marquee are just too big and bold and cool to not be number one. Anytime I see a downtown with a spot like this, it makes me want to stop and look around. Big A- though for having no live music adverts on the marquee 😦

“DJ”?? more like “Disk Jockey” am I right? lmaooo – My Brother Andy

The Alamo storefront doesn’t just exist on the square: it runs it like it’s been appointed Mayor even longer than we had Brady. It’s the Roman Reigns of Downtown Newnan: ACKNOWLEDGE ME. Those marquee lights feel like they’ve witnessed decades of life unfolding — first dates, bad dates, great dates, apologies, celebrations, and at least one guy who absolutely went in for a hug when the situation was clearly handshake-only. It has survived over 65,292,171 “Remember the alamo?” jokes and somehow is better for it.

It’s got that old-school glow that says, “We used to play beer pong with butter churning buckets and a goose egg.” It doesn’t try to reinvent itself every six months. It knows what it is. It’s playful, sure, but you can tell somebody actually thought this thing through. It’s balanced. It’s classic. It feels built for the long haul instead of the Instagram moment.

On the surface, yeah, it’s silly fun: trivia nights, DJs, pizza, live music, booty dancing, places where I’ve made out with my girlfriend, places where I’ve booty danced on my girlfriend. But underneath all that, there’s real history baked into the place. You can feel it in the bones of the building. It’s like shaking the hand of a President’s Skeleton (that I dug up and keep in freezers–a few pieces spread out across four different freezers). And sometimes, there’s even a SECURITY GUARD with strong arms, dreamy eyes, floofy hair, and a b–you know what, nvm, we gucci here.

HONORABLE MENTION – WOWSNO