Cumming City Center – Is It Worth All the Hype?
Why should you take our word about this venue? Well, Morgan has lived in Cumming, Georgia (Forsyth County) for most of her life. Before selling our house and going full-time in the RV, we lived about 10 minutes away from the City Center and visited often.
About the City Center in Cumming GA
The Cumming City Center is located off Hwy 20 just outside of downtown Cumming at 423 Canton Rd. The venue offers many perks including restaurants and bars, retail locations, office space, an amphitheater, and outdoor space.
Construction took longer than originally planned but many restaurants and stores opened in mid to late 2022 and 2023. The development is mostly complete with a few places still being built-out.
Cumming City Center Restaurants & Bars
You have quite a few choices of places to eat and/or drink at the City Center with everything from traditional British food to pizza to Mexican to typical bar food. Below are some of our favorite choices and a few others that we thought were worth mentioning.
Los Rios Cantina
Yum! Pictured below is Morgan’s go to order from Los Rios Cantina – the taco bowl with steak and a frozen strawberry margarita.
You walk up to the counter and order your meal and select your toppings. If you are 21 or older and want an alcoholic beverage, they are available in the adjacent room at the other counter.
SliceAbility
If you are short on time, this may not be the best choice for your meal while visiting the Cumming City Center. However, if you are not in a rush, we highly recommend SliceAbility. Their pizza is delicious and their mission to employ and provide job training for special needs adults is absolutely amazing. If you have not heard about the great work they do or seen it first hand, you should because it is truly inspiring.
The Well
Are you looking to grab a bite to eat while listening to live music? If so, The Well might be your kind of place. The typically have a free live band on Friday and Saturday nights. They do have some ticketed events as well.
Weekly fun currently includes:
- Tuesday: Poker Night
- Wednesday: Dueling Pianos
- Thursday: Line Dancing with an instructor
They are open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.
Vampire Penguin: Shaved Snow & Desserts
Looking for dessert? You should give this place a try. It is not your typical snow cone or shaved ice. It is hard to describe… well, actually…. no, it isn’t! It is delicious!
But in all seriousness, the best way we can think to explain it is light but still creamy. Try it for yourself and let us know what you think!
Wright’s Fish & Chips – Permanently Closed
Morgan is not a big fan of traditional British food.
However, we have heard a lot of good things about this venue.
Myth & Legend
Ok, so it is not a restaurant… but it is a cute coffee shop located next to the Fire Museum.
While we are not coffee drinkers, we have plenty of friends and family who love their coffee. Morgan enjoyed the hot chocolate last winter and loved the Speakeasy style room in the back. Go check it out!
City Center Shops, Boutiques, & Services
Here are some of our favorite retail options. This list is not all-inclusive.
Roxy Moxy
LOVE LOVE LOVE this store! They have a ton of cute clothing and accessories for the ladies and girls.
And if you like Judy Blue Jeans, they have them in stock!
Sugar Polish Nail Bar
TOP KNOTch Boutique
This is one of Morgan’s go to places for gifts. You can find something for almost anyone. Plus they have a ton of cute “Cumming”, 30040, and Lake items.
Or, to make things easier, you can just get them a gift card!
Avenue of the Oaks
This boutique is full of cute décor and knickknacks.
Pop.In
Most people have heard of co-working spaces post pandemic since a lot more people work remotely now. Pop.In is the perfect place for you to pop in to work for a little while or to host a meeting.
They have open workspaces, some private offices, conference rooms, and lecture-style rooms. Even better, they have a kitchen that includes complimentary drinks and snacks!
They offer monthly memberships starting at $150 or you can pay a daily fee of $20. Not sure if this is right for you? Try it out because your first day is FREE.
There are other service providers and stores including a photography studio, hair salon (they also do lashes!), barber shop, yoga studio, and more! Take a walk around the City Center and see what strikes your fancy.
Cumming City Center Concerts & Events
You never know what might be going on at the City Center unless you drop in, keep an eye on their Facebook page, or check the Events Page.
We have been to concerts at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater and The Well, observed outdoor Zumba classes, and participated in the Cruise-In.
Do you love music? There are tons of concerts in many different genres.
Is fitness your thing? Check out Yoga on the Lawn, Jazzercise, Sunday Shred, and/or Zumba.
Are you competitive? Join the Summer Cornhole League!
Looking for something to do with the family? Go to Kidz Days or the Fall Market.
Other Things to Do at Cumming City Center
Check out the Steam Engine
(Try to) Play at the Children’s Park
Personally, we think the park is a little sad if you are used to bigger playgrounds. It has a few things to do but will not hold your children’s attention for long.
Explore the Trails and Boardwalks
Play Mini Golf
Unfortunately, this was not as much fun as we had hoped. Well, it wasn’t really fun for Morgan at least.
Going into this date night, we were expecting to play Putt Putt. You know… with the windmills and having your ball drop into one hole and come out somewhere else. The version that makes you laugh and is fun for the whole family. However, the course at City Center is truly Mini Golf.
Each of the holes is designed after an actual hole on a famous or local golf course. There are holes from the Augusta National, Polo Fields, and more. The courses do not have rails or bumpers so Morgan, who is definitely NOT a golfer, had a hard time keeping her ball in the right area.
If you go in with the right mindset, you’ll have a great time. If you are expecting the family-friendly version of putt putt we are used to, you may be disappointed.
Ride the Vision Drive Express
The train runs on Friday afternoons, Saturdays, and Sundays. There is a fee per person (adults and children are welcome). The ride lasts for approximately 5-7 minutes and typically picks up and drops off at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater.
Check Out the Veterans Memorial
This special section of the Cumming City Center is dedicated to our service members. It details each of the branches of the military and each of the major wars. With multiple family members who served, this truly touched us.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Parking?
Easy! There are some parallel parking spaces along the main entrance and some of the store fronts. There is also a parking deck with plenty of room for visitors.
Is the City Center Pet-Friendly?
The exterior areas including the amphitheater grounds are pet friendly as long as your pet is leashed. The stores and restaurants accept service animals.
I’m Attending an Event. Can I Bring my own Cooler? Chairs? Tent?
You are allowed to bring your own chairs and/or blankets. However, tents, coolers, and any glass containers/bottles are prohibited.
Conclusion: Check it Out & Decide for Yourself
Yes, the drinks and some restaurants are a little on the pricier side but we think it is worth it. We love having a venue that offers outdoor seating and entertainment with a lot of free programming. Take a trip to the City Center and let us know what you think!
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