Leslie Martin and her sister, Kelly Mullins, opened their boutique Simon and Pine in July 2025 in the Colonial Building on Ridley Avenue. Fourteen months later they cut a ribbon at 8 E. Lafayette Square. Martin told the LaGrange Daily News the new space was bigger and more visible. She also gave a simpler reason: "There's just so much more traffic up here."
She was specific about where that traffic comes from. "You've got coffee shops and other stores, so that's really helped bring in people," she said. She described people coming out after dinner and walking the Square.
That's what happened downtown this year. New places to eat and drink opened within a block or two of the Square, and shops followed the foot traffic onto it. If you live in Troup County and haven't been downtown in a while, here's what changed, block by block.
Three shops moved onto the Square in six months
Simon and Pine wasn't the only one. Between April and September 2026, three downtown retailers held ribbon cuttings at new spots on or facing Lafayette Square.
| Shop | What it carries | New spot | Ribbon cutting |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Dapper Den | Men's apparel, gifts and barber services | The Square | April 21, 2026 |
| The Local Luxe Consignment | Women's, baby, children's and teen clothing | 11 N. Lafayette Square | Reported July 17, 2026 |
| Simon and Pine | Women's apparel, accessories, game day gear | 8 E. Lafayette Square | Reported Sept. 25, 2026 |
The LaGrange-Troup County Chamber called The Dapper Den's April event a "grand re-opening" to celebrate its move to the Square. The Local Luxe is a consignment shop, so you can bring in eligible clothing to sell as well as shop the racks. Simon and Pine carries mostly University of Georgia and Auburn game day gear, along with some local high school items. It has also added smaller goods like sunglasses, candles and perfume. It's open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All three already had customers. They moved to be nearer the morning coffee and evening dinner crowds, which brings us to the food.
Mornings: enough new coffee for a crawl
Downtown LaGrange ran a Coffee Crawl from Sept. 23 to 29 to mark National Coffee Day. Nicole Spivey, director of marketing and promotions for Downtown LaGrange, told the Daily News it was created to honor the day "and all of the new coffee shops in downtown." Five shops took part:
- Starbucks inside the Courtyard Marriott, 25 W. Lafayette Square
- Cafe Brûlée & Dessert Bar, 115 Bull St.
- Coffee B4, 3 E. Lafayette Square
- Circa Coffee LaGrange, 202 Greenville St.
- Maison de Crêpes, 112 Main St.
Every stop on that list is within a short walk of the fountain. The two newest are the ones to try first.
Coffee B4 is the newest. It's owned by Katie and Darrick Brunson, and by Sept. 4 the Daily News was calling it downtown's newest coffee spot. The paper said it offers espresso drinks, teas, sparkling drinks and a place to gather. A local business profile says the name comes from the family name and the size of the household. On the online menu you'll find the B4 Sunrise, a sparkling drink made with Sprite, peach, coconut and pineapple. The menu also lists specialty "Rush" energy drinks, frappes and cinnamon rolls. Online directories don't agree on its hours, so check the shop's own channels before you go.
Maison de Crêpes cut its ribbon on Main Street in January. It serves sweet and savory crêpes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Most coffee stops close by late afternoon, so a crêperie that also serves dinner is a little unusual.
The other three on the list are already familiar. Circa Coffee has been on Greenville Street since its ribbon cutting in February 2024. It's part coffee shop and part vintage emporium, with pastries, quiche and curated home decor. Cafe Brûlée & Dessert Bar on Bull Street describes itself as a mix of European coffee shop and American bakery and dessert bar. It serves fair-trade coffee, homemade sandwiches, desserts and signature cocktails. Visit LaGrange says its handcrafted cakes tend to sell out quickly.
Midday: Bull Street adds a taqueria
Walk down Bull Street from the Square at lunchtime and you'll find El Callejón GTO on the corner of E. Broom Street. "El callejón" is Spanish for "the alley." Aldo Ramirez's taqueria, at 133 Bull St., was welcomed by the Chamber in June. It serves Mexican street-style dishes with house-made tortillas and specialty meats. You order at the counter, according to the restaurant's website, which makes it a quick lunch on a workday.
With El Callejón and Cafe Brûlée & Dessert Bar now a short walk apart, that stretch of Bull Street gives you a taco lunch and a slice of cake in two stops.
Evenings: Main Street at dinner
Martin pointed out that people walk the Square after dinner. Main Street now has more dinner spots that send people that way.
Ramirez La Familia is at 111 Main Street, in the former home of YAMA. It's the Ramirez family's third restaurant, after Tallapoosa and West Point. The family planned to open in late December 2025 and held its ribbon cutting in May 2026. Before opening, the family said to expect soups and weekend specials, and the preview story mentioned tacos and caldo de res.
Brûlée took over 300 Main St., the space that used to be Nutwood Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar. Nutwood still runs its Tasting Room & Vineyard Cafe at 1339 Upper Big Springs Road. When it was announced in June, no opening date had been set. Brûlée's website now says it's open for dinner and private events, steps from Wild Leap Brew Co. The site describes a menu built on fresh Southern ingredients, seasonal flavors and locally sourced products, plus handcrafted cocktails and an outdoor patio. It's a good fit for an anniversary or a night out with friends. The name isn't a coincidence. The City Menus reported that Brûlée is part of Brulee Brands, the local group behind Café Brûlée, Local Groundz and The Rail District.
Down the block, Main Street Botanicals at 108 Main St. planned a soft opening for Dec. 20, 2025, and held its formal ribbon cutting in April.
A loop to try on your next Saturday
Every new spot above sits on a short circuit, so you can see it all in one walk:
- Start with a B4 Sunrise at Coffee B4, 3 E. Lafayette Square.
- Walk the east and north sides of the Square for Simon and Pine at No. 8 and The Local Luxe at 11 N. Lafayette Square. Then stop by The Dapper Den.
- Head down Bull Street for tacos at El Callejón GTO, 133 Bull St.
- Swing back past 115 Bull St. for coffee or cake at Cafe Brûlée & Dessert Bar, if the cakes haven't sold out.
- End on Main Street with dinner at Maison de Crêpes, Ramirez La Familia or Brûlée.
Simon and Pine closes at 4 p.m. on Saturdays, so plan to shop before lunch.
If you're willing to drive a few minutes
There's one more 2026 opening a short drive from the Square, in the Hillside district. Dry Docks serves Lowcountry-style seafood inside Beacon's Hillside Food Hall at 700 Lincoln St. WTVM reported it was open by mid-March. It's not on the Square, but it's easy to pair with a downtown afternoon.
At Tilson Realty Group, we love seeing our neighbors open, move and grow their businesses around Lafayette Square. If you've found a downtown LaGrange spot we should try next, or you'd like to talk about anything else in Troup County, please reach out. Contact Us anytime. We'd be glad to hear from you.
