Fried chicken spot Mothers Best is in growth mode at their location in Decatur at 406 Church Street, with plans to expand into the neighboring space that belonged to Decatur Station Food Mart at 408 Church Street.
Ean Camperlengo opened Mothers Best in December, and the thriving business’s 1,100-square-foot space already is bursting at the seams.
“We are bigger than our britches. We’re servicing Metro Atlanta, and then some. We have such a pull through our branding and product that we are at maximum capacity for 80% of our business hours,” Camperlengo said. “We’ve actually seen a downturn in people because they know it’s too busy and there’s no space. So when the lease became available [next door], it was a no-brainer to knock down that wall and offer more space to our guests.”
The expansion will add another 1,200 square feet to their footprint, giving them room for 12-15 more tables, a bar expansion with 12 new bar stools and a bathroom space. The increase in square footage will give them the area they need to execute their vision for the future of Mothers Best. The team is working on a full craft cocktail program, with plans to roll that out in tandem with the expansion. Offering curated cocktails in their current space was not feasible, Camperlengo said, due to storage restraints. The bar program will feature elements like house infusions and house-made syrups, building upon their limited selection of frozen drinks and quick cocktails. There will also be a more extensive wine list.
Camperlengo says that “it’s going to be a playful vibe behind the bar.”
“The bar [will be] a place where you can grab a beer in the afternoon and engage with a talented bartender, but you can also go there after work and get a really cool cocktail,” Camperlengo said.
With the expansion, Camperlengo and the team see an opportunity to pivot toward where they envision the business heading in the future. Currently, their space limitations have tailored the business largely toward online and to-go orders. While this was always a major part of their model, they eventually want to move toward a full-service model at their location, as well. He envisions the brand being on par with businesses like Hattie B’s and The Colonnade rather than just fast-food spots.
“It’s a springboard into being able to offer more hospitality and more service. You’ll definitely see a time when we go to full-service,” Camperlengo said. “You’ll see more in-house dining wares and methods. I want people to feel comfortable and taken care of. Right now, because of how busy it is, we’re not able to offer that to the extent that we would like to.”
Mothers Best will stay open during construction. They just started the permitting process, so Camperlengo projects they will finish renovations in three or four months.
“I want people to know they can get something truly unique when they come into our dining room,” Camperlengo said. “We’ve established that the fried chicken is dope, but now I get to grow off of that, and that’s going to be through service and unique offerings.”
