After 15 years in business at 968 Memorial Dr SE, the last thing owners Kevin Clark and Lisa Spooner wanted to do was shut down operations for their Southern breakfast-and-lunch spot Home grown. So, after months of leasing challenges and uncertainty, when the owner of the building that houses Home grown decided they wanted to sell, Clark and Spooner took the plunge.
“We had to switch gears overnight from dealing with a lease to if we don’t buy it, we’re done,” Clark told What Now Atlanta.
They finalized the sale last week, dodging a version of reality in which he would have had to shut down Home grown this month and search for a new path forward.
“One of our struggles was [we would have] to tell our staff we’re closing, or moving or trying to find another place,” Clark said. “So being able to tell them that we’re not going anywhere and we purchased this — it’s security.”
Clark has no interest in leaving the community where they have built a loyal following since Home grown opened its doors in 2010. Even as the neighborhood around Home grown has changed, the restaurant has remained a staple along Memorial Drive, serving classic Southern fare.
“This part of Memorial Drive has completely changed, but we want Home grown to be here forever,” Clark said. “We built something and customers love it. A lot of things on this road have closed, and just the fact that we’re going to be able to preserve this is [huge]. We’ve built a community, and my customers are like my family.”
Now that Home grown is there to stay, Clark and Spooner are moving forward with some expansions of the business. They will be adding a coffee counter and lounge in the back of Home grown, partnering with Justin Brostek to launch this new aspect of the business. Brostek has been operating his pop-up Storyteller Goods at Home grown, and he will be joining Home grown full-time once the coffee lounge is put together. Customers will be able to order at the coffee shop, or from their tables while dining in at Home grown.
The coffee shop will likely be open by early fall.
They also will be extending the hours of operation by the end of the month, with plans to be open seven days a week rather than five. The team is in the process of securing an alcohol license so they can serve alcoholic beverages, and customers can expect to see a dinner menu added in the future, though that is still in development.
For Clark, the expansions will allow them to keep what people love while building on the brand.
“I’m just looking forward to continuing to do what I’m doing and giving people more,” Clark said.
