Despite the sluggish economy, many new restaurants have come to Griffin in recent years.

“I think, especially in the downtown area, we’ve seen a resurgence in new restaurants,” said Griffin Director of Planning and Development Frederick Gardiner.

He said this resurgence has been going on for the last three years. Though the resurgence is primarily downtown, there are new restaurants elsewhere in Griffin.

Gardiner listed the restaurants that have arrived in the last year including Tequila Mexican near Lowe’s, Blue Sakura in the former Milano’s location on Taylor Street, Mr. Fuji’s on North Expressway, Sixth Street Pier, Joe’s Hometown Sandwich Shop and Corner Cafe.

“It’s hard to say,” he said when asked why Griffin is attracting so many restaurants even in a poor economy. “People are still wanting to spend, (though) not as much as they were before, to eat out.”

He said the crowd at Sixth Street Pier on weekends is out the door.

People might be eating out only once a month as opposed to once a week, but they are still eating out.

The trend shows no sign of stopping, with three new restaurants possibly coming to Griffin in the near future. One of them, a Firehouse Subs that will be opening downtown on Taylor Street, will hopefully open up before summer. Gardiner said two national chains, which he was not at liberty to identify, may set up in Griffin as well.

“We’re glad to see the investment,” he said. “Even in these tough economic times, people are willing to venture out.”

He said these restaurants provide jobs, even if they are not particularly high-paying ones.

“This particular building, we’ve had it for such a long time and it was time to open it up,” said Tom Higdon, who co-owns Corner Cafe at the intersection of Hill and Solomon streets.

He said in general, more restaurants have opened up due to people who have lost their jobs liquidating their 401Ks and deciding to follow a dream.

“Most startups, especially in the restaurant business, are during down times,” he said.

There has been less restaurant growth outside of the city itself.

“I haven’t tracked the opening of new restaurants,” said Spalding County Director of Planning and Development Chuck Taylor.

He said most of the new restaurants opening up in the last few months have been in the city limits of Griffin. He said there have been a few new restaurants in unincorporated Spalding County, but there has not been a sudden increase.