Atlanta monolith Southern Proper Hospitality Group is already responsible for some of Buckhead’s favorite hospitality concepts to date, but they are just getting started.
Gypsy Kitchen’s The Seville Rose
The Big Ketch’s oysters are the freshest in all of ATL
“It really all started as just a passion project,” says Chris Hadermann, founding partner at Southern Proper Hospitality Group (@southernproperhospitality), of the ubersuccessful business responsible for some of Atlanta’s favorite restaurants, such as Gypsy Kitchen, The Big Ketch and Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails. Hadermann achieved what so many of us can only dream of: actually turning that pipe dream of going into business with your college buddies into a reality. “We’ve all been partners from the early days,” Hadermann says of Mike Evertsen and John Piemonte, SPHG’s other founding partners. “Working together is a lot of fun. We’re all concept guys, so creating immersive environments and getting our creative wheels turning together is a good time.”
Ocean & Acre boasts light and airy interiors
The three hospitality moguls attended Florida State University together before all ending up in Atlanta independently of each other. In 2002, the trio decided to open a bar together, only to learn they all shared a knack for the hospitality business. “We found a rhythm and it grew very organically,” says Hadermann. After many learning lessons and great success with additional concepts, the guys decided to get back to their Floridian roots, and The Big Ketch was born, with which it was about time to create a holding company. Luckily for us, Southern Proper Hospitality Group was the result, and we now get to enjoy some of the most transformative restaurants in all of Atlanta. While each SPHG concept is different, they all share a few common traits: energetic, expertly themed ambiance and immaculate food and beverage programs. After so much success in Atlanta, SPHG is now expanding into other markets, having successfully opened a second location of Gypsy Kitchen in Washington, D.C. With possible plans to continue expanding into Florida and beyond, we wouldn’t be surprised to see SPHG concepts in all of our favorite Southern cities one of these days.
Chido & Padre’s serves bright, flavorful coastal Mexican fare.
Photography by: courtesy of Southern Proper Hospitality Group
