Fayetteville

Replacing Speedi-Pig in Fayetteville: Santa Maria

The new addition to Fayette County will open in late July or early August.

Image from Santa Maria on Facebook

FAYETTEVILLE, GA – Santa Maria, a full-service Latin tapas restaurant with a strong Peruvian focus, is preparing to open at 715 Glynn St S, Fayetteville, GA 30214, owner-chef Mario Garcia told Business Debut in a recent phone interview.

Santa Maria will operate as a full-service, sit-down restaurant. Garcia said he aims for an upscale experience with attention to seafood quality.

Garcia described the concept as tapas with influences from several Latin American countries. “It’s a concept based on tapas, but we are trying to do a little twist with Latin concept,” Garcia told Business Debut. He said the menu will pull from Peruvian, Colombian, Venezuelan, Mexican and Andean cooking.

Garcia also plans a raw bar and smoked-meat component. He said Santa Maria kept the smokers from the BBQ restaurant that formerly operated in the space, Speedi Pig. His also employing the pitmaster who previously handled the barbecue there.

Santa Maria will also offer a distinct bar program with craft cocktails.

Garcia said this will be a second Santa Maria location, following an original restaurant in Cumming. He noted he also has ownership in other concepts with a Tex-Mex orientation.

Interior photos on Santa Maria’s social media pages show bright colors and plants throughout the dining room. Garcia confirmed the restaurant will seat about 131 guests inside, with patio seating in progress.

Garcia grew up in Fayetteville and attended local middle and high schools, he shared with Business Debut. The restaurant occupies the former Speedi Pig location, a longtime local barbecue restaurant that closed in 2025, according to Garcia.