The burgeoning dining destination on Georgia Avenue in Summerhill is getting a new restaurant. It will be helmed by Chef Duane Nutter, a 2020 James Beard finalist for Best Chef in the South, and partner Reginald Washington.
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The two are the much-lauded partners behind the Mobile, Alabama-based Southern National, which was recently named to The New York Times‘ “Restaurant List,” as one of the 50 most exciting restaurants in America. A name has yet to be announced for the duo’s forthcoming restaurant, but it is set to open in summer 2022 at 70 Georgia Avenue.
The announcement comes from Carter, a leading national real estate investment and development firm headquartered in Atlanta.
“We’re honored that world-class operators like Chef Duane and Reggie have chosen to open in Summerhill,” Scott Taylor, president and CEO of Carter, said in a press release statement. “We’ve tried to make Summerhill Atlanta’s next great destination and having talent on this…level is indicative of the caliber of restaurants we’ve been able to attract. We believe Chef Duane and Reggie are more than partners in the project, they’re really partners in a vision; one that honors the past while building [the] future.”
The forthcoming restaurant will feature cuisine developed by Nutter, served in a friendly and approachable neighborhood gathering place that offers the highest-quality food and an elevated level of service.
“When Duane and I heard about Summerhill, we knew this was the right opportunity for us,” said Washington. “The way we see it, this is a community coming full-circle. From a neighborhood settled by freed slaves in the 1800’s to one that showcases successful, black entrepreneurs today. We’re committed to doing our part, by investing in the community and providing leadership towards a future of shared equity and prosperity.”
Not only will Washington be operating a restaurant in Summerhill, he will also be living there. “This will be home, and I look forward to building a place that feels like home, one that warmly welcomes residents and visitors alike,” he added.
Launching a new venture in the historic Atlanta neighborhood is like a homecoming of sorts for Nutter and Washington as they have plenty of history in the city. In 2008, they opened highly praised ONE Flew South in Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Nutter learned his craft at Atlanta’s Four Seasons Hotel and later served as executive chef at ONE Flew South, and Washington has operated restaurants at Atlanta’s Marriott Marquis, Colony Square Hotel, Hyatt Regency and ONE Flew South, among others.
Summerhill, an 80-acre mixed-use project in downtown Atlanta with Georgia State University as the anchor, is being redeveloped to include corporate office uses, traditional multifamily apartments, specialty and neighborhood retail and private student apartments. When the vision is complete, Summerhill will be a vibrant, walkable, human-scale destination where people will want to eat, shop, and spend time, all while maintaining the neighborhood’s historic fabric.