Meet Cristy McAbee

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cristy McAbee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cristy, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Over the last decade Henry County has has really grown not only in population but the culinary scene.and offerings has expanded too With this growth, I felt there was a need to highlight the great diverse and expanding culinary scene we have here and also povide a resource to navigate the entire community outside of food & beverage so I published the Henry Factbook and HENRYeats this year, The Henry Factbook is a comprehensive guide on the community providing information and resources on education, government, recreation, faith, community, and economic development.

The thought behind HENRYeats outside the growth of offerings was that this industry requires a lot of dedication and hard work and deserves to be highlighted and celebrated. The objective of HENRYeats is to spotlight locally owned and operated establishments in our community while also being a great dining resource for locals and visitors. HENRYeats provides great information on our local food and beverage establishments and provides a independent restaurant directory that’s conveniently organized by city and food type.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think it’s important to note that I’m a native to Henry County so I’ve really seen this area’s growth and development over a three decade span. This community holds a special place in my heart because I’ve called Henry County home all of my life minus a short hiatus while I was in college. As for business, I don’t believe it’s ever easy starting your own business. This has been my first year in business and there’s a steep learning curve. Although it’s a lot of work, it’s very rewarding and I’m glad to be able to work in a field that affords me the opportunity to write, design and become more connected with the community and business community of Henry County.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There’s a lot to do in Henry County so I’d definitely take her shopping at Tanger Outlets in Locust Grove and we’d have to dine at all the fantastic local spots in Henry County. I’d make a point to take her to brunch at some great independent restaurants like The Lazy Llama in Ola, Queen Bee Coffee, Gritz and Two Eggs, For lunch and dinner we’d definitely be dining at Macon Street Tacos, Italian Oven, and Serafino’s. And one night, we’d have to grill out on my back deck so we’d have to stop by T&T Meats for the best and most premium meat selection in the area. . For entertainment, we’d catch a live performance at Southern Roots Tavern and throw some axes at Axe Country an hour or so before the band comes on.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I really believe local journalism is so important and that it’s essential component to be connected and educated on your community. I worked at two local newspapers in Henry County several years ago and believe those two roles helped to steer me in the direction and path I’m on now. Thank you to The Henry County Times and The Henry Neighbor for their employment, support, and guidance. Unfortunately, neither are in operation today but I hope my publications can help fill some of this void by providing helpful community information.

Website: www.henryeats.com

Instagram: henryeats1

Facebook: HENRY EATS