New in Columbus from state health permits: Taco Bell on Airport Thruway, Amber & Oaks Coffee, Bloom Pastry & Pop and Chester's Barbeque.

Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. This is the first monthly roundup, covering Aug. 1 to Oct. 5, 2026. Items come from the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Muscogee County inspection database, which records the first (“initial”) inspection under a new food service permit. A new permit can mean a new business, a new location or a new owner; we say what the record shows. The roundup is rebuilt each month.

Public records often show a business arriving before any announcement. In Columbus, food service businesses need a permit from the health department, and the department’s first inspection under that permit is posted in the state’s public database. Between Aug. 10 and Sept. 29, 2026, 11 Columbus food service permits had their first inspection.

Who to call

  • Opening a business in Columbus: Occupation Tax Section, ground floor, 3111 Citizens Way; Finance Department, 706-225-4087
  • Certificate of occupancy (needed first): Inspections and Code, 706-225-4126
  • Food service permits: Columbus Department of Public Health, Environmental Health, 706-321-6170
  • Ribbon cuttings: Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber, Ashley Jenkins, 706-257-1197
  • Tell us about an opening: send us the details with a link to your announcement

Restaurants, cafes and caterers

First inspections under new food service permits, from the state database:

First inspection Business Address Score
Aug. 10 Bloom Pastry & Pop 211 13th St., Suite 103 100
Aug. 13 Mark’s City Grill 6801 River Road, Building K7 100
Aug. 21 Chester’s Barbeque 2501 Airport Thruway 100
Sept. 8 JD Wings 1841 Wynnton Road 88
Sept. 14 Harvest Food & More 1820 Midtown Drive 100
Sept. 16 Amber & Oaks Coffee 2511 Airport Thruway, Suite G 100
Sept. 24 K & B Catering 1204 2nd Ave. 100
Sept. 29 Taco Bell 2401 Airport Thruway 100

JD Wings already had a permit at 3507 Macon Road; the Wynnton Road permit is a second location in the database. Airport Thruway picked up three new permits in six weeks.

Senior living and institutional kitchens

  • Maple Ridge by Windham, 4500 S. Stadium Drive: first inspection Aug. 27, score 100.
  • 8601 Queen Bee Drive: two new permits, “White Water Bistro Extension #1” and “Assisted Living Dining Extension #3,” both first inspected Sept. 15, each scoring 100.

Scores and full reports are in the Muscogee County inspection database; search by name. See our restaurant inspection scores guide for how the grades work.

Earlier this summer

The database also shows first inspections in June and July 2026 for Touchdown Wings, 3527 Macon Road (June 30), the Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center kitchen, 801 Front Ave. (June 25), and Sandy’s Food Truck, 2357 Warm Springs Road (July 2).

How to open a business in Columbus

From the city Finance Department’s business and alcohol license page:

  1. Certificate of occupancy from Inspections and Code, third floor, 1111 First Ave., 706-225-4126. Home-based businesses need the department’s approval before they open.
  2. Business license (occupation tax certificate) from the Occupation Tax Section, ground floor, 3111 Citizens Way. The administrative fee is $75; the occupation tax itself ranges from $1 to $6 per $1,000, as the section calculates it.
  3. State license for regulated professions, from the Secretary of State.
  4. Food service businesses also need a health department permit (706-321-6170).
  5. Alcohol: a separate application, with a $50 application fee, from the Occupation Tax Section.

Applicants sign a SAVE affidavit on lawful presence and an E-Verify affidavit.

What this means for you

  • Airport Thruway has three new food permits: Taco Bell, Amber & Oaks Coffee and Chester’s Barbeque.
  • Bloom Pastry & Pop is new at 211 13th St.
  • Opening a business? Start with the certificate of occupancy, not the license.

Related: restaurant inspection scores, brunch in Columbus and building permits and zoning.

Frequently asked questions

What new restaurants opened in Columbus, Georgia, recently?

State health records show first inspections under new food service permits for Bloom Pastry & Pop on 13th Street (Aug. 10), Mark’s City Grill on River Road (Aug. 13), Chester’s Barbeque on Airport Thruway (Aug. 21), JD Wings on Wynnton Road (Sept. 8), Amber & Oaks Coffee (Sept. 16) and a Taco Bell at 2401 Airport Thruway (Sept. 29).

How do I get a business license in Columbus, Georgia?

Get a certificate of occupancy from Inspections and Code (706-225-4126) first, then apply for a business license, or occupation tax certificate, at the Occupation Tax Section, ground floor, 3111 Citizens Way. The administrative fee is $75.

How can I get my new Columbus business listed here?

Send us the business name, address, opening date and a link to your own announcement through our contact page. We list openings from public records and the business’s own announcement.