Hazard’s in downtown Perry, Ga, rebrands as Patio 901

Perry

A popular spot in downtown Perry has rebranded with a new name to reflect its own identity and raising of services to the next level.

Hazard’s on the Green is now Patio 901: Perry’s premier patio. Co-owners Eric Schultz and Charlie Shimp unveiled their new brand Wednesday.

The popular outdoor venue at the corner of Carroll and Ball streets offers small plates and a variety of beers in a courtyard setting. People place orders at the back near the small kitchen.

“The plan is to go to table service and offer some affordable cocktails and just that family friendly environment — the hangout that Perry’s come to know and love — just taken to the next level,” Schultz said.

Schultz and Shimp added a custom-made bar with a herringbone top and distressed wood that was crafted by Heather Peebles, owner of Penelope’s Farmhouse Furniture in Byron. The shelving behind the bar is expected to go up within the next couple of weeks.

Patio 901

Most important to Shimp is “just to have a fun family atmosphere — a place for people to hang out.”

In April 2021, Schultz and Shimp took over ownership of the outdoor venue that had been open for about nine months but leased the property.

The business partners successfully marketed the outdoor venue as a family-friendly spot to hang out and enjoy a beer and a light bite to eat.

“Parents want to go out but they don’t always have someone to watch their kids and they want to go somewhere safe,” Schultz said. “Your kids can play in our play area and (parents can) still have a nice night out and feel like the whole family had a good time.”

The patio is situated against an “L” shaped brick wall and enclosed with iron railing. It has an overhang against the longest wall, a pergola, and a small covered stage for live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

In February, the business partners purchased the property.

“We decided now that we actually own the physical property to start investing more money into it,” Schultz said. “ So, we added the draft system and that’s why we’re adding some liquor choices and just expanding our capabilities and offerings as we can.”

They’ve also figured out ways to overcome the natural elements of blazing hot Georgia summers and cooler temperatures in winter.

“That’s what we always tell people about the temperature difference on the patio because we have the fire tables and the heaters now,” Schultz said. “And next year, we’re adding more fire tables as we go … The patio itself retains heat very well and with all of our outside heating, it’s really good.

“And for the summer this year, we’re putting in new misting fans that will honestly be like air conditioning for the whole outside area to keep it cool.”

The way the patio is situated also offers a shield against the wind. A light to moderate rain is manageable with some shelter under the overhang. A storm can close the venue.

Simplicity

Schultz and Shimp keep the menu simple.

“We only have one little half oven in the back and we don’t actually have a cooktop or deep fryers or anything,” Schultz said. “So the amount of food that we pump out there with little resources we have in the back is actually amazing right now.

“We try to keep it simple. We cross utilize a lot of our ingredients to try to not only to keep it so the food can come out faster but also so we can keep costs down.”

They’re also considering adding a simple Sunday brunch.

Another reason for the rebranding, Schultz said, was to eliminate confusion over the old name which could be found on social media as Hazard’s, Hazard’s on the Green and Oliver Hazard’s.

The new name also distinguishes Patio 901 from Oliver Perry’s, a new fine dining restaurant at 905 Carroll St.

At one time, the previous owners of Hazard’s also owned the building that Oliver Perry’s is now in and their plan was that the two spots would be sibling restaurants, Schultz said. That’s why they had similar sounding names — nods to Oliver Hazard Perry, a War of 1812 hero for whom the city of Perry is named.

Patio 901 also best reflects the niche the business partners have created downtown.

In addition to being a popular hangout, Patio 901 is the perfect starting or finishing destination for a night out in downtown Perry— especially with new restaurants opening nearby like Oliver Perry’s around the corner and the anticipated ‘Olreans on Carroll St. down the street, Schultz said.

“We’re in that niche, right?” he said. “ We know what we are and we’re trying to make sure that we stick to it and do a few things but do those few things well.”

The outdoor space was previously home to the Perry Farmers’ Market. A bank once stood on the site before it was destroyed by a fire.

This story was originally published April 29, 2022 10:35 AM.