After nearly a year Zaxby’s has officially broken ground
The official groundbreaking for the new Zaxby’s location in Blackshear took place during a March 4 ceremony attended by a crowd of local officials, business owners, chamber of commerce ambassadors and other well-wishers. Taylor Hawkins (above center) threw out the symbolic first shovelful of dirt ably assisted by (l-r) Pierce County Manager Thomas Sauls, Third District County Commissioner Randy Dixon, Pierce County Chairman Neal Bennett and Blackshear Mayor Keith Brooks. Hawkins also had his two biggest supporters with him, wife Carley and young son, Camp. The restaurateur estimates the grand opening of the Blackshear location will be in just four months. “From buying the land to opening the doors, it usually takes four months,” said Hawkins. “This one has taken the longest to get going, over a year. I opened two other locations already, one in Folkston and one in Hazlehurst, since getting this one started.” In spite of the delays, Hawkins is still eager to get things going in Pierce. Impressed by the community and the schools, the franchise owner says he is considering permanently relocating his family to Pierce.
