Marlow’s Tavern and Southern Proper Hospitality- 2018 GA Restaurant Neighbor Award Winners

Chances are there’s a Marlow’s Tavern or Southern Proper Hospitality (SPH) restaurant in your Atlanta-area neighborhood, making these two restaurant families your neighbors as well. The kind of neighbors that always welcome you to “Come on in and make yourself at home” and are always looking for a way to help others in the community. That’s why it’s no surprise the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is recognizing Marlow’s Tavern and Southern Proper Hospitality as 2018 Georgia Restaurant Neighbor Award winners. The award honors restaurants that go above and beyond in community service and philanthropy and aims to inspire other restaurateurs to get or stay involved in their local communities. What’s next? Vying with other state-level winners for one of three national Restaurant Neighbor Awards that will send $10,000 to help support favorite charities or community projects.

Southern Proper Hospitality owns and operates The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill, Smokebelly BBQ, The Blind Pig Parlour Bar, Gypsy Kitchen, The Southern Gentleman, Beni’s Cubano, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails and Tin Lizzy’s Cantina and is a huge proponent of supporting nonprofits such as the American Red Cross, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, New Story Charity, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and No Kid Hungry Campaign, as well as local schools. SPH hosted multiple fundraisers and participated in events to help end childhood hunger in Georgia, and SPH co-founder/partner Chris Hadermann was a part of the inaugural class of the No Kid Hungry Society that raised more than $40,000 in 2017. The efforts of staff and customers helped the restaurant group donate more than $32,000 to these causes and others in 2017.

Sterling Hospitality and Marlow’s Tavern have raised more than $900k for Special Olympics Georgia since partnering in 1999. Last year’s golf tournament alone raised $130,000. Marlow's Tavern participated in The Giving Kitchen's inaugural Dining with Gratitude event and donated $7,000 to the organization. John C. Metz, executive chef, CEO and co-founder of Marlow’s Tavern, is a big supporter of No Kid Hungry. Through in-store fundraisers and participation in Taste of the Nation, the Marlow’s Tavern team has helped raise thousands of dollars for the organization.

Congratulations to these swell neighbors and thanks for your contributions to our communities and hospitality.

Georgia Restaurant Association Recognizes Good Neighbor Restaurants, Including Ray’s Restaurants, Sterling Spoon Hospitality, Hojeij Branded Foods and Willy’s Mexicana Grill

The word’s out, the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) has announced the 2017 Restaurant Neighbor award state recipients. We’re not surprised that Ray’s Restaurants, Sterling Spoon Hospitality, Hojeij Branded Foods and Willy’s Mexicana Grill comprise four of the five Georgia winners. Congratulations to these restaurants for being, well, such good neighbors in Georgia communities.

Ray Schoenbaum and Ray’s on the River have supported Fragile Kids Foundation each year since 1988 through events at the riverside restaurant, including the Tastings Under the Tent fundraiser and an annual Santa breakfast. John C. Metz and Sterling Spoon Hospitality have raised more than $730k for Special Olympics Georgia since the partnership began. The 2016 golf tournament alone raised $95k. Nourishment ranks high on the list for Metz and Sterling Spoon, evident in hosting fundraising events for the Atlanta Community Food Bank and participating in the annual Hunger Run/Walk as well as the annual dine-out event for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign. In 2015, Regynald Washington of Hojeij Branded Foods gave a $1 million endowment to the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business to go toward graduate student scholarships, enhancing global experiences and expanding teaching technology. Since 2014, Willy Bitter and Willy’s Mexicana Grill have actively sponsored the Boys & Girls Club, supporting the annual “Salsa, Salsa” culinary challenge and Healthy Lifestyles Garden Program. When Willy’s anniversary rolls around, the restaurants raise money for the Boys & Girls Club, pulling in $20k in 20 days in 2015 and $21k in 21 days in 2016.

From all state winners, three national Restaurant Neighbor Award winners are chosen by industry professionals and are honored in Washington, D.C. in March 2017 during the National Restaurant Association’s Public Affairs Conference.

Tin Lizzy’s Georgia Restaurant Neighbor Award

Tin Lizzy’s Cantina is a 2015 Georgia Restaurant Neighbor Award winner, affirming what Atlantans already know: their favorite friendly, fast casual cantina takes its good-neighbor role seriously. The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation honors restaurants across the U.S.A. with its Restaurant Neighbor Award, recognizing those that go all out to serve their communities and hoping to inspire other restaurants to do likewise. Each Tin Lizzy's Cantina works with local nonprofits in their community. For instance, the cantina celebrated National Taco Day by donating $1 for each taco sold (which chips in $7,578) to Bert’s Big Adventure to help the nonprofit group provide magical, all-expense-paid, five-day journeys to Walt Disney World for children with chronic and terminal illnesses and their families. Tin Lizzy’s donated $2,014 to help It’s the Journey and the Atlanta 2-Day Walk for breast cancer research. Additional neighborly partners include Habitat for Humanity, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Sunshine on a Ranney Day, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and others. Tin Lizzy’s, thanks for being such a good neighbor. Can we borrow a cup of queso?