Wednesday was a bittersweet day as Maconites said farewell to the old Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce building located behind the Macon Coliseum before the Public Works Department began an impressive demolition. You can watch the demolition here.

Chamber President Jessica Walden, Mayor Lester Miller, Chamber Board Chair Scott Siegel, and architect for the new Chamber office Gene Dunwody, Jr. spoke at the event of how the people and organizations that called the building home for nearly 50 years made impacts on our community that would last for decades. 

“A lot began here, and what today really is, is where we begin again…the Chamber has moved to its next chamber which is in the heart of Downtown Macon,” said Walden, letting people know that their new location at 338 Poplar Street puts them closer to so many businesses they currently support.  

“Just like a church, it is not a building, it is the people in it,” said Mayor Lester Miller. “This building has a lot of sentimental value to a lot of us, but it is the people and business in Macon-Bibb County that make the difference.” 

The building first opened in 1974 and was the home of the Chamber, as well as many other organizations, some of which started there and still exist to this day working to improve our community. Some of those organizations include the Urban Development Authority, Education First, Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority, Visit Macon, Urban Renewal Program, Downtown Council, Forward Macon, Discover Macon, and more.