Last Thursday, Metropolis held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of its new location with a crowd of friends, family, and government officials showing support for the Kumar family.
The relocation and renovation of the beloved Greek and Indian restaurant has been in the works for three years with many moving parts. Deepak Kumar, the owner of the eatery, credited project developer Mike Couch, the team at Garbutt Construction, Carlee Schulte from Milledgeville Main Street, and many others who helped make the project possible.
“There’s been a lot of ups and downs, but we are here today,” said Kumar.
Metropolis was originally opened in 2009 on North Wayne Street by Kumar along with his father, brother and cousin. The owner said the first thing that led him to imagine relocating was the need for a bigger kitchen as his customer base grew.
“We already had a restaurant in Macon and Warner Robins… There was no restaurant here offering this variety of menu,” said Kumar.
District 4 City Councilman Walter Reynolds attended the event and spoke in support of the restaurateur, saying that his original renovation of the restaurant in its early years was the first of many successes that would lead Metropolis to become the anchor for the remodeling of North Wayne Street.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones appeared at the ribbon cutting to offer well wishes and congratulations to the Kumar family and Metropolis staff. Also in attendance was Senator Rick Williams and County Commissioner Henry Craig who each spoke at the event.
“It’s (Metropolis) a symbol of what can be achieved when passion meets opportunity and is a testament to the limitless possibilities of our great country for those who dare to dream big,” said Reynolds.
Many of Kumar’s friends and colleagues spoke of his unwavering dedication to pursuing the American dream. Originally from India, Kumar received his citizenship about three months ago.
“This is the American dream right here. This family has been in this country for close to 40 years. They’ve invested their labor, energy, their treasures, and this is the result of that investment, caring, and becoming a participating citizen in our community,” said Couch.
After short speeches from supporting friends and peers, attendees were seated for lunch, courtesy of Metropolis. Tours of the upcoming retail shop next door were also offered.
The new restaurant promises to offer an unforgettable dining experience with the same treasured menu along with a few new additions. The space itself has a different atmosphere than the previous restaurant with a more sophisticated dining room that still holds the familiar cozy energy of the original location.
Metropolis is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.