A franchise team is preparing to bring Midwest barbecue to Georgia early next year. Derek S. Scott, M.D. and his business partners Vetra Stephens and Lord B. Degraffinreid will open Famous Dave’s at 10710 State Bridge Road in Alpharetta in March.
The team, each from different areas of the Midwest, saw a need for high-quality barbecue on the Atlanta food scene.
“[We are] from different areas of the Midwest where Famous Dave’s is a relevant franchise,” Scott told What Now Atlanta. “When I moved here from Tacoma, Wash., I noticed we have some OK barbecue places here, but nothing is the same as Famous Dave’s as far as the taste and the value or the bang for the buck. We just felt a void in the community that needed to be filled. And that’s what got us started on this dream.”
Degraffinreid, originally from Kansas City, Mo., recalls becoming a fan of Famous Dave’s when he moved to Michigan.
“I just fell in love with the brand, fell in love with the taste, fell in love with the smoked meat,” Degraffinreid said. “Everything about Famous Dave’s was actually famous. So when the opportunity presented itself with Dr. Scott and bringing this brand to Georgia, [I got involved].”
What Now Atlanta first reported on a multi-unit franchise deal to bring Famous Dave’s to Atlanta in 2024. This initial location will have a compact footprint at this location, clocking in at about 2,800 square feet. It will have Famous Dave’s usual offerings, ranging from award-winning ribs to Dave’s signature famous feasts. The brand specializes in quick carryouts, family meals and catering.
“We are loving the anticipation, we’re loving the eagerness, we’re loving the desire for us to be down there,” Degraffinreid said. “And we just want to knock it out of the box and provide great barbecue, great service, and once again, get ourselves embedded into the community.”
After the Alpharetta location, the team hopes to continue expansion in the area.
“We don’t want everybody to just have to travel just to Johns Creek to get great barbecue,” Scott said. “We’re going to bring it closer to some other people around the state.
