Apollo King-El Jr., an Atlanta barber turned restauranteur originally from Philadelphia, in the fall 2022 will open a new and improved Apollo’s Steaks in Newnan. Slated to debut in October or November, Apollo’s Steaks will open, at 33 E Broad St., a stone’s throw from the existing location, at 45 Robinson Street, King-El Jr. tells What Now Atlanta.
After opening the original Apollo’s in the “middle of the pandemic with great success, I’m now opening a larger version incorporating beer and wine (something like Fellini’s Pizza), but cheesesteaks instead,” King-El Jr. said. “This is something that I always planned for as a barber and now it’s happening step by step.”
Situated on the square, the new location will feel less fast-casual like the existing location, and more like a full-service restaurant, according to King-El Jr. who compared the difference using Subway and Applebee’s as examples, respectively.
In addition to its cheesesteaks, Apollo’s serves seafood — catfish, flounder, jumbo shrimp — and sides like mac and cheese and collard greens. King-El Jr. plans on adding a full bar in the restaurant’s second year. “We’re going to be the-go to lunch spot in Downtown Newnan.”
Cheesesteaks are nothing new for King-El Jr. In addition to being a native Philadelphian, the restauranteur in 1999 opened Atlanta’s Philly Shack.