Sep 10, 2024 - News

Meet the new owners of The Colonnade

Thomas Wheatley

A person wearing a white and pink shirt with a green collar poses with an individual wearing a blue, yellow and violet button up shirt. — Paul Donahue and Lewis Jeffries. Credit: Jaime Pryor Photography/Courtesy of The Colonnade

The new owners of The Colonnade, the Cheshire Bridge Road church of fried chicken and near-perfect martinis, say they're sticking to traditions.

Why it matters: The Colonnade is Atlanta's second-oldest restaurant and hallowed ground for Atlanta's LGBTQ communities and connoisseurs of hefty Southern cooking.

The restaurant is located on a fast-developing corridor, and the fact its next chapter doesn't involve a wrecking ball followed by apartments is nothing short of a miracle.

Zoom in: Longtime regulars Paul Donahue and Lewis Jeffries took ownership of the 97-year-old restaurant yesterday and will open for service on Wednesday, Sept. 11 (the restaurant is closed Mondays and Tuesdays).

Catch up quick: Just over a month ago, owner Jodi Stallings, whose family has operated the restaurant for more than 40 years, announced her retirement and the Colonnade's sale.

She pledged to sell to someone who planned to keep the restaurant running.

Fun facts: The duo co-founded Lingering Shade Social Club along the Beltline's Eastside Trail in 2018. Before that, Donahue designed interiors at country clubs and Jeffries was a CPA specializing in restaurants.

What they're saying: "Preserving the legacy of The Colonnade and continuing to serve amazing food to our guests is our priority. We look forward to greeting both regulars and new faces this week," Jeffries said in a statement.

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Meet the new owners of The Colonnade

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