🦅👁️ Amazon Goes Big in McDonough, A $73M STEM School Is Coming + Shopping Without a Cashier

Good morning, Henry County. Happy September 1st.

There's something about September 1st that always feels like a turning point.

Summer is officially behind us. Labor Day weekend is four days away, and Henry County is heading into fall with a lot of momentum!

Today's issue reflects that. Amazon just leased one of the largest warehouses in the county….a 1.2 million square foot warehouse that’s expected to bring hundreds of jobs.

Henry County Schools is opening a $73 million STEM high school in Stockbridge in 2027, and applications are coming, with an info session happening tomorrow night.

A lot is happening. Let’s get into it. 🦅👁️

LOCUST GROVE — History has never tasted this good. The Locust Grove Public Library is hosting a Chocolate History Experience this Thursday. A one-hour deep dive into the origins of everyone's favorite sweet treat, where it came from, how it evolved, and where it's heading next.

And yes, there will be samples. Free, adults only, and the kind of Thursday night you'll actually look forward to all week.

📅 Thursday, September 3 · 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
📍 Locust Grove Public Library · Meeting Room
🆓 Free · Adults only · Registration required. Register at Henry County Libraries →

MCDONOUGH — Amazon has leased a massive 1.2 million square foot warehouse at 1305 Highway 42 South in McDonough, one of the largest commercial real estate deals in Henry County history. The facility is expected to bring hundreds of local logistics and fulfillment jobs to the area. The building, known as PNK Park Southern Gateway Building A, was leased in mid-2026 with operations and planning now underway. If you're looking for work Amazon fulfillment center jobs are actively being posted for the McDonough area right now.

Why it matters: Between Highline Warren's $170 million investment, Sabert Corporation's new distribution center in Locust Grove, and now Amazon's 1.2 million square foot facility, Henry County is becoming one of the Southeast's most significant logistics hubs. These aren't small deals. This is the economy reshaping itself right here. For more, read this Atlanta Business Chronicle story

STOCKBRIDGE — Henry County Schools is opening a brand new STEM high school in August 2027 at 109 South Lee Street in Stockbridge, and applications are coming this fall. The $73 million, 172,000-square-foot facility will open with 200 freshmen and 200 sophomores and eventually serve up to 900 students from across the county. This is not a magnet program or a split schedule — it becomes your child's designated high school. Admission is highly selective and based on academic achievement in math and science through a criteria-based application and lottery process. Three specialized pathways are offered: Aerospace Engineering, Biotechnology and Medical Science, and Sustainability and Green Energy. All students also take Artificial Intelligence and Engineering courses with required AP classes integrated throughout.

Why it matters: This is unlike anything Henry County Schools has offered before. If you have a rising 9th or 10th grader with a passion for science, technology, engineering, or math, this is worth learning more about tonight.

Info Session: Tomorrow · Wednesday, September 2 · 6:30 p.m. Check here for meeting details

Sign up for notifications →
Learn more at Henry County Schools →

HENRY COUNTY — You may have heard the word FLOST lately. Before you head to the polls, here's what you're actually deciding.

FLOST stands for Floating Homestead Option Local Sales Tax. It's a one-cent sales tax that, if approved, would be used specifically to reduce property taxes for homeowners in Henry County.

Here's the quick breakdown of how it compares to taxes you already know:

🔨 SPLOST — One cent sales tax for specific capital projects like roads, parks, and buildings.
🚗 TSPLOST — One cent sales tax exclusively for transportation projects.
🏡 FLOST — One cent sales tax used exclusively to reduce property taxes for homeowners with a homestead exemption.

Everyone who spends money in Henry County pays FLOST, residents and visitors alike. But the relief goes directly to homeowners. The more it collects, the lower your property tax bill goes.

Why it matters: Property taxes in Henry County have risen significantly as home values have increased. FLOST is designed to give homeowners relief without cutting county services because the revenue comes from the broader consumer base including visitors and renters who don't pay property taxes directly. Learn more at Henry County Government →

STOCKBRIDGE — Remember when we told you the age of the Jetsons was upon us when drone delivery arrived in Henry County? Well, apparently we weren't done.

The Pantry at The Bridges has opened at The Bridges at Jodeco, and there are no cashiers, scanners or checkout lines.

Here's how it works. Tap your card or phone at the entrance, walk in and grab what you need. AI, computer vision, and sensors keep track of what you take and automatically charge you when you leave.

The store carries snacks, drinks, candy, household essentials, phone chargers, and personal care items. It's the first operational store from Plug Pantry, founded by husband and wife Jonathan and Kelli Fluker.

And while it may feel futuristic, cashierless shopping is becoming more common. Amazon helped popularize the concept with its Just Walk Out technology, which is now operating in hundreds of locations worldwide. Closer to home, Nourish + Bloom has been running an autonomous grocery store in Fayetteville since 2022 and has expanded into Atlanta, including a new location at Pittsburgh Yards that opened this summer.

So yes, Henry County now has drone food delivery and a store where you can walk in, grab some chips and walk right back out. The future has officially arrived!

The Pantry at The Bridges →
📍 300 Argento Drive, Suite 2A, Stockbridge
🕐 Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

HENRY COUNTY — County Chair Carlotta Harrell hosted county leaders from across Georgia at the Henry County Aquatic Center on August 26 to discuss proposed federal priorities for 2027. Harrell chairs the ACCG Federal Policy Committee, which develops positions on federal issues affecting Georgia counties.

Among the issues discussed were improving 911 technology, protecting federal funding, supporting local jails, investing in roads and water infrastructure, and addressing affordable housing.

Why it matters: These may be federal issues, but the funding and policies can ultimately affect services residents use right here in Henry County

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

Adult Creative Writing — Afternoon Class · 📍 McDonough Public Library, Gary Barham Community Studio · 🕐 1–2pm · FREE

Learn Basic Japanese · 📍 Locust Grove Public Library, Meeting Room · 🕐 1–2pm · FREE

Adult Crafts — Air Dry Clay Pottery · 📍 Fortson Public Library, Meeting Room · 🕐 1–2pm · FREE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Book Walk & Talk · 📍 Locust Grove Public Library · 🕐 10:30–11:30am · FREE

Cozy Mystery Book Club — The Tale of Hill Top Farm · 📍 Fairview Public Library, Meeting Room · 🕐 2–3pm · FREE

Adult Computer Class for Seniors · 📍 Cochran Public Library · 🕐 3–4pm · FREE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

Bike Night at Sweet Auburn BBQ · 📍 Sweet Auburn BBQ McDonough · 🕐 5–9pm

Pony Bead Frog Keychains · 📍 Fairview Public Library, Meeting Room · 🕐 2–3pm · FREE

Dungeons and Dragons · 📍 Cochran Public Library · 🕐 4:30–6:30pm · FREE, ages 9–18. Register

Writer's Club · 📍 McDonough Public Library, Gary Barham Community Studio · 🕐 5–6pm · FREE (teens)

Fairview Tween Book Club — The Moon Without the Stars · 📍 Fairview Public Library · 🕐 5–6pm · FREE

YA Creators — Library Card "Glow-Up" · 📍 Fortson Public Library · 🕐 5–7pm · FREE

⭐ Rustic American Flag Pallet Painting Craft — Labor Day Home Decor · 📍 McDonough Public Library, Meeting Room · 🕐 6–7pm · FREE

Chocolate History Experience · 📍 Locust Grove Public Library · 🕐 6:30–7:30pm · FREE. * The Eagle’s Pick of the Week

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Toddler Sensory Play · 📍 Cochran Public Library · 🕐 11am–12pm · FREE

Toddler Storytime · 📍 Fairview Public Library · 🕐 11–11:30am · FREE

Local Author Jeremiah Samba — Shadow of the Unconquered · 📍 Fairview Public Library · 🕐 4–5pm · FREE

The Duncan Brothers Band · 📍 Southern Roots Tavern & Eatery, McDonough · 🕐 8–11pm · $12–$91

Green Valley First Friday Under the Stars · 📍 Crystal Lake Golf Country Club, Hampton · 🕐 7–10pm

FoodieLand · 📍 EchoPark Speedway, Hampton · Sept 4–6

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

King George · 📍 Stockbridge Amphitheater, 4650 N Henry Blvd, Stockbridge · 🕐 7pm

Georgia Creed Band — Southern Rock · 📍 Southern Roots Tavern & Eatery, McDonough · 🕐 9–11pm · $7–$66

That’s a wrap for this Tuesday, Henry County!

September is already giving us plenty to talk about, and we’re just getting started. We’ll keep watching the big developments shaping the county and breaking down what they actually mean for you.

And with Labor Day weekend just a few days away, keep an eye out for The Weekend Eye. We’ll have your guide to what’s happening around Henry County and a few things worth the drive.

Have a great Tuesday, and we’ll see you back here soon.

Stay sharp, stay local. The Eagle Eye Digest 🦅👁️