A spinoff of the popular Wilson’s Bakery is coming to Perry

A spinoff with a twist of the popular and long-standing Wilson’s Bakery in Warner Robins is coming to Perry.

W.B. Sweets & Coffee Company is envisioned to be a mercantile offering Wilson’s Bakery goods as well as products from other Georgia Grown vendors such as pecans, honey and coffee, said Wendy Wilson, owner of Wilson’s Bakery.

Her aim is not to create a Wilson’s Bakery No. 2 but instead a community storefront that’s more  “like a sister or cousin” to Wilson’s Bakery where her brand can grow while also showcasing other brands.

“It’s an outlet per se, but in a bigger way because we are going to be venturing off with some other people, Horne Pecan Company, and some other vendors,” Wilson said. “We’re going to be allowing some other people to showcase their products as well.”

“W.B. Sweets” in the mercantile’s name is a nod to Wilson’s Bakery, while “& Coffee Company” reflects Wilson’s collaboration with Kelly Zegalia of Valdosta-based Horne Pecan Company. The multi-generational, family business is best known for their Schley pecans as well as their specialty coffees. 

The Horne Pecan Company also has a storefront in the historic Windsor Hotel in Americus.

Wilson is hoping to attract other quality vendors of products that aren’t run of the mill but harder to find unless at a farmers market or a festival.

“This would allow that vendor to have a place all the time without having the brick and mortar building, but actually having a little shared space,” she said.

Wilson envisions guests being able to walk into W.B. Sweets & Coffee Company not only for K-cups of gourmet pecan coffee, but also to grab an iced coffee, a baked good and maybe a gift basket to go.

At W.B. Sweets & Coffee Company, Wilson expects to showcase four or five of the top sellers of Wilson’s Bakery, including what the family-owned bakery is best known for, their Fingernut Cookies, as well as cake squares, iced butter cookies and seasonal favorites.

In addition to their gourmet coffees such as Snapping Turtle and Bourbon Pecan, Horne Pecan Company is expected to showcase their pecans, pecan candies, including Sweet Georgia Heat and chocolates, as well as gift baskets.

Similar to anchor stores in a mall, Wilson’s Bakery and Horne Pecan Company are the anchor brands of W.B. Sweets & Coffee Company.

Additionally, the new store is expected to serve as a pickup site in Perry for goods ordered at Wilson’s Bakery in Warner Robins though an online ordering app now in development, according to Wilson.

Before Wilson’s Bakery in Warner Robins, her father, Thomas Wilson, had a bakery in downtown Perry in the 1970s in The Village Shops off Carroll Street. The bakery was located where Sunset Slush of Middle Georgia was most recently housed before returning to an all mobile business earlier this year.

In 1979, Thomas Wilson purchased Nygaard’s Pastry Shop, rebranded as Wilson’s Bakery and moved his baking operations to Warner Robins. Nygaard’s Pastry Shop was originally started in 1953 on North Davis Drive by Isak Nygaard of Norway, who moved the bakery in the 1960s to its current location in the Miller Hills Shopping Center. Wendy Wilson purchased the bakery from her parents in 1989 at age 21.

With the coming W.B. Sweets & Coffee Company, the flagship Wilson’s Bakery at 1719 Watson Blvd. remains steadfast as a Warner Robins mainstay.

W.B. Sweets & Coffee Company is expected to open in the spring of 2027 in the new The District Downtown at 1325 Washington Street. 

The mercantile is going into Suites 9 & 10 in front of the 13,434-square-foot building that’s bordered by Washington Street and Ball Street. The store will be on the Washington Street corner of the building.

The District Downtown is owned by Atlanta-based The Loudermilk Companies, which renovated the former Rite Aid building. The company has a regional office in Perry.

“When we saw that the property came up for sale, we wanted to be able to take that prime piece of property and turn it into something amazing and repurpose an old Rite Aid building,” said Lindsay Bryant, development manager for Middle Georgia for The Loudermilk Companies.

The Loudermilk Companies has invested about $5 million in the project to date, Bryant said.

Other businesses coming so far to The District Downtown, according to Bryant, include:

Macon-based and family owned and operated Ricky Heath Plumbing, Heating & Cooling is opening its new Perry location in Suite 3.

A mother and daughter team are expected to open Willow & Mane, a hair salon that specializes in hair color and extensions, in Suite 8. Six stylists are expected to work at the hair salon.

A pediatric dentist who specializes in special needs of all ages and abilities is going into Suites 6 & 7. The office is expected to offer sensory rooms for kids and low lighting.