Local Business Owners Accelerate Connections at Atlanta Event

Atlanta-area business owners, from entrepreneurs opening a flagship location to franchisees helping national brands grow, came together in the sunshine to connect with one another and share progress about their plans.

The latest installment of What Now Media Group’s Atlanta Accelerate event took place at Hopdoddy Burger Bar in Sandy Springs on March 13, 2024.

Hopdoddy Burger Bar was founded in 2010 in Austin, Texas, and now has 47 locations (and counting) across several states, including four in Georgia. The brand has been nationally recognized as a “Best Burger” by Business Insider and Food & Wine magazine.

Throughout a presentation led by What Now Media Group Founder and CEO Caleb Spivak , entrepreneurs took turns sharing their stories, giving updates on their progress, and reflecting on what their business means to them. Some key takeaways: You’ll get nowhere without passion, it’s crucial to know how to pivot effectively, and connecting with others in the community can be a gamechanger.

LaToya Franklin , who is opening a restaurant called Miss Conduck with her mother Emily James , shared that the establishment will host events designed to help introverts connect.

Taylur Davis , who is bringing a new concept called Locale Island Eats to the upcoming Halidom Eatery food hall, discussed work-life balance.

Joseph Hartsfield, who owns a restaurant specializing in authentic Jamaican food called Irie Mon Cafe, spoke about the importance of having passion for what you do and shared tips about how businesses can get creative with reaching customers. For example, if diners love your sauces or seasonings, selling those provides a great opportunity to have another source of revenue.

Alex Pharisien of Bru Foundry said the event helped him “feel like a part of a community of aspiring and establishments and entrepeneurs.” At a previous Accelerate event, he connected with an insurance broker who helped Bru Foundry learn about a type of insurance they needed that they wouldn’t have known about before, demonstrating one of the many ways that Accelerate helps businesses advance through connection.

Preferred Partners in attendance included ADT , AlphaGraphics , DoorDash , ECOLAB , Encompass Interactive , EZ-Chow , SpotOn , Liquid Recovery Solutions , Prudential Overall Supply and Trimark . The industry experts in What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners help new businesses open and existing businesses grow.

Throughout the event, attendees munched on savory bites from Hopdoddy Burger Bar, as well as offerings from the restaurant’s curated craft beer and wine selection. The menu includes shareable fries, ethically sourced burgers that can be served on a bun or made into a bowl or salad, loaded brussels, decadent shakes and more.

All Atlanta locations of Hopdoddy Burger Bar are open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. On Friday and Saturday nights, they are open until 11 p.m.

What Now Media Group shares restaurant opening news in 31 cities across the U.S., breaking news and providing timely insight into yet-to-open brick-and-mortar businesses.

Stay tuned for future Accelerate events from What Now Media Group in 2024. See the Accelerate page here for more details.

Keep up with What Now Atlanta’s restaurant, retail, and real estate scoop by subscribing to our newsletter , liking us on Facebook , and following us on Twitter . Opening a restaurant? Browse our Preferred Partners .