Metro Atlanta’s celebrity-owned restaurants, past and present

Atlanta rappers T.I. (left) and Killer Mike reopened local restaurant Bankhead Seafood in November 2024. (Ryan Fleisher for the AJC / Jason Getz, jgetz@ajc.com)

Killer Mike poses with former owner Helen Harden during soft opening in advance of its official opening Nov. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. The beloved Grove Park restaurant, located at 1651 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, shuttered in 2018 after 50 years in operation. Westside natives Killer Mike and T.I. are reopening Bankhead Fish and Soul, also known as Bankhead Seafood. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Singer-songwriter Ne-Yo co-owns Johnny's Chicken and Waffles in College Park with his ex-wife Crystal Smith and hip-hop artist Karlie Redd. (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images/TNS)

Johnny’s Chicken and Waffles signature dish can be ordered with a choice of protein, a plain or red velvet waffle and several sauces.
Bob Townsend for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Ludacris’ official DJ Calvin “Infamous” Donald and his wife, Ashanta Donald, opened kiosk Panda Pancakes near the food court at the North Point Mall in Alpharetta in November 2024. (Jason Getz / AJC)

The pancake dessert, “Creamy Dreamy Oreo,” is shown at Panda Pancakes in Alpharetta. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Vinny Watson (from left), rapper Quavo and Kelan Watson are the partners in Midtown lounge and restaurant V12. / Courtesy of V12

Much of the furniture at Atlanta club and restaurant V12, an Atlanta lounge co-owned by Quavo, comes from the Netherlands and Spain. / Courtesy of V12

Indie rap legend Big Oomp opened smashburger restaurant BOSK, in southwest Atlanta in 2024.

Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, who owns restaurants all over the world, recently opened Marcus Bar & Grille in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward neighborhood.

Jerk pork belly from the menu of Marcus Bar & Grille / Courtesy of Andrew Thomas Lee

"Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta" stars Rasheeda and Kirk Frost opened Frost Bistro in Castleberry Hill in 2019.

Atlanta native Cam Newton, a star player on the NFL's Carolina Panthers, opened cigar bar and restaurant Fellaship in downtown Atlanta in May 2019 and Smokey Stallion in Castleberry Hill in 2022.

Fellaship Wild Rice Vegetable Bowl, Beef Barbacoa Tacos, Lamb Chops, Ponzu-Glazed Scottish Salmon, Blooming Cauliflour, Bread Pudding and cocktials.

Ludacris opened Chicken + Beer at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in 2016. He also owned the now-shuttered Midtown restaurant Straits.

A plate of Luda's Chicken + Pecan Waffles with whiskey maple syrup, spinach and chicken sausage from Chicken + Beer.

Kevin Gillespie, who was a finalist on the sixth season of Bravo's "Top Chef" and later competed on "Top Chef Duels," opened the critical darling Gunshow in Glenwood Park in 2013 and Nadair in 2024. He also owned the now-shuttered Revival in Decatur and Cold Beer and Slabtown Public House on the Eastside Beltline. His first restaurant, Woodfire Grill, closed on Cheshire Bridge Road in 2015.

Scallop and pork belly with cornbread puree and warm pepper relish has been on the menu at Kevin Gillespie's restaurant Nadair. (Courtesy of Nadair / Brandon Amato)

Scallop escabeche with pork carnitas, patatas bravas, cauliflower and squid ink at Gunshow.

2 Chainz opened Escobar Restaurant and Tapas in Castleberry Hill in late 2016, with other locations following. He also co-owns Esco Seafood in Old Fourth Ward.

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" stars Kandi Burruss (right) and Todd Tucker opened soul food restaurant Old Lady Gang in Castleberry Hill in 2017. The restaurant also has locations at Camp Creek Marketplace and inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The pair also own Blaze Steak and Seafood on Cascade Road.

Aunt Bertha's fried chicken is a centerpiece of the menu at Old Lady Gang.

Dale Murphy (right), with Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, opened Murph's near Truist Park in 2017. The restaurant closed in 2020, but has since reopened.

Actor Dan Byrd (left), opened Two Birds Taphouse in Marietta in 2016. He played the son of Courteney Cox on “Cougar Town” and the title character in the indie film “Norman." He was also a “Food Network Star” finalist.

Peach & Blackberry Crisp with streusel, sweet corn ice cream and thyme at Two Birds Taphouse.

Celebrity hairstylist Gocha Hawkins opened Gocha's Breakfast Bar off of Cascade Road in early 2019, with another location following soon after. She also opened Gocha's Tapas Bar on Cascade Road in 2023. Hawkins, who has worked with celebrities such as Nicki Minaj, Serena Williams, Beyonce, Keyshia Cole, Christina Milian and Kandi Burruss, was also a cast member on season four of the WE “L.A. Hair.”

Gocha's Breakfast Bar Signature Selections.

Mitchell Anderson, who has starred on shows including "Doogie Howser, MD" and "Party of Five," owns MetroFresh in Midtown and Buckhead and MetroFresh Catering.

Metro Fresh's Mitchili (Mitchell's Turkey Chili).

Rapper Jay-Z opened the 40/40 Club on Concourse D of Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in 2014.

Airport travelers at the 40/40 Club in Concourse D at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

"Iron Chef" star Bobby Flay owns Bobby Flay's Burger Palace at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

"Iron Chef" star Cat Cora owns Cat Cora's Kitchen at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Norman Reedus, who plays Daryl Dixon on "The Walking Dead" and Greg Nicotero, a director on the show, opened Nic & Norman's in Senoia in 2016.

Among the burgers at Nic & Norman's, the Greg's Pick is a flavor-packed patty made from a blend of ground chuck, short rib and brisket that gets dressed up with blue cheese, lettuce, caramelized onions and a slice of tomato.

Rapper Lil Baby opened the Seafood Menu in southwest Atlanta in October 2023; the restaurant closed in early 2024. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images/TNS)

A snow crab cluster combo plate from the Seafood Menu, rapper Lil Baby's restaurant near the Atlanta University Center. Oct. 2, 2023 (Credit: Henri Hollis / henri.hollis@ajc.com)

Hugh Acheson, a James Beard Award winner and former contestant on "Top Chef Masters," previously owned 5&10 in Athens, but sold it in 2024. Empire State South in Midtown closed in 2023 after 13 years and Achie’s, his restaurant in the Omni Hotel at The Battery, closed in early 2019. He also helped open hotel concepts By George and Mount Royal. He was also involved in the opening of First & Third Hot Dog and Sausage Shack in the Battery, though he is no longer affiliated with the eatery. He also served as a consultant at Battery concept Punch Bowl Social, which opened in late 2017. In addition, he owned the now-shuttered Cinco y Diez in Athens and The Florence in Savannah.

Chef Art Smith, who previously worked as personal chef to Oprah Winfrey cooked for Michelle Obama on her recent book tour, opened Southern Art & Bourbon Bar in the InterContinental Buckhead in 2011. The restaurant closed during the pandemic.

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" star NeNe Leakes opened The Linnethia Lounge in Duluth, but closed it less than two years later in 2023. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images/TNS)

Musician Zac Brown of The Zac Brown Band owned the now-shuttered Zac Brown's Social Club inside State Farm Arena in Atlanta and Zac Brown's Southern Ground Social Club in Senoia, which is now home to Nic & Norman's.

"Transformers" actor Mark Wahlberg and his brother, Donnie, also an actor, owned metro Atlanta Wahlburgers locations at the Battery Atlanta at Truist Park and downtown Atlanta. They've both since closed.

Emily Saliers -- one half of the Indigo Girls -- was an early partner in popular breakfast chain The Flying Biscuit and Southern cuisine spot Watershed. The latter closed its Decatur location in 2011, but reopened in Midtown in 2012, then later closed.

Rapper and actor T.I. opened upscale sports bar and restaurant Scales 925 in downtown Atlanta in 2015. It closed a year later.

Ashton Kutcher, Wilmer Valderrama and several other "That '70s Show" alum had three entries in the Atlanta restaurant scene, including Geisha House and Dolce, but all are now closed.

Sean Combs -- aka Diddy -- named the Buckhead spot Justin's after his now-college-age son. Combs has said that the menu is an homage to the food his late grandmother loved. The restaurant closed in 2012 after 14 years.

"Top Chef" alum Richard Blais owned two Flip Burger restaurants, HD-1 haute doggery and the Spence in Midtown, which have all since closed.

Gladys Knight opened several locations of Gladys Knight Chicken & Waffles with her son, Shanga Hankerson. They all closed after Hankerson faced legal troubles.

Former Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder, who now plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder, was a partner in DS17 club in Buckhead, which has since closed.

Tom Colicchio, who founded Gramercy Tavern in New York City and serves as head judge on Bravo's "Top Chef," opened Craft and Craftbar in Buckhead in 2009. Both have since closed.

Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse's closed his eponymous Buckhead restaurant after five years in 2008.

V-103 host Frank Ski opened Frank Ski's Restaurant and Lounge in south Buckhead from 2011 to 2015.

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula, left, opened Shula's 347 Grill in the Atlanta Marriott Buckhead Hotel & Conference Center in Buckhead in late 2009. It closed several years later.

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Atlanta rappers T.I. (left) and Killer Mike reopened local restaurant Bankhead Seafood in November 2024. (Ryan Fleisher for the AJC / Jason Getz, jgetz@ajc.com)

By Yvonne Zusel

Updated Nov 15, 2024

Celebrities have had a spotty past opening restaurants in metro Atlanta — for every Gunshow from former “Top Chef” contestant Kevin Gillespie or “Old Lady Gang” from “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Kandi Burruss, there’s an Emeril’s from Emeril Lagasse or a Seafood Menu from rapper Lil Baby, which closed in early 2024 after about six months.

Recently, Calvin “DJ Infamous” Donald opened a franchise location of Panda Pancakes in Alpharetta; rappers Killer Mike and T.I. reopened Bankhead Seafood; indie rap legend Big Oomp opened BOSK in southwest Atlanta; and Quavo is a partner in the newly-opened V12.

Take a look through the gallery above to see how many celebrity restaurants you’ve tried, and which ones have closed their doors, and check out the map to see which restaurants are currently operating.

Metro Atlanta restaurant openings and closings

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