Chef Joey Ward, the Atlanta restaurateur behind Southern Belle and Georgia Boy, is getting ready to launch two new concepts in Atlanta, including Bar Belle in Poncey-Highland and Southern Belle Chicken Co. at 225 Central Avenue in downtown Atlanta.
The first concept, Bar Belle, will open on a renovated side patio connected to Southern Belle and Georgia Boy in Poncey-Highland, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The second concept, Southern Belle Chicken Co., will open inside CTR Food Works, the food hall planned as part of the redevelopment of the CNN Center into a mixed-use complex known as The Center. Both projects are expected to open in summer 2026. Customers can expect a more casual approach across both concepts, with walk-in service, counter ordering, and a focus on approachable food and drink offerings.
Bar Belle will operate as a first-come, first-served cocktail bar designed for patio service. The concept will feature cocktails, raw bar items, and rotating small plates, including a signature A-Town Burger. The space will be accessible via Southern Belle or a dedicated patio entrance, creating a more open and flexible entry point than at Ward’s existing fine-dining restaurants. The concept is intended to serve as a more casual neighborhood bar within the Poncey-Highland corridor.
Southern Belle Chicken Co. will operate as a fast-casual counter service concept inside CTR Food Works in downtown Atlanta. The menu will center on chicken-focused dishes with globally influenced flavors, offering a more accessible format compared to Ward’s full-service restaurants. The food hall is part of the larger redevelopment of the former CNN Center, which is being transformed into a multi-use destination with dining, retail, and public space.
Ward is the executive chef and owner of Southern Belle and Georgia Boy, both Michelin-recommended Atlanta restaurants known for their seasonal tasting menus and creative culinary approach. He launched the concepts in 2019 after working in some of Atlanta’s most recognized kitchens, including Gunshow under chef Kevin Gillespie. His work has focused on hospitality models that emphasize service-inclusive pay structures and a four-day work week for staff.
The expansion comes as Ward continues to grow his presence in Atlanta’s dining scene, introducing more approachable formats alongside his fine-dining concepts. Southern Belle, located in a historic space on Ponce de Leon Avenue, and Georgia Boy, its immersive tasting-menu counterpart, have helped establish his reputation for inventive cooking rooted in local ingredients and global influences. Both new concepts reflect a shift toward more casual, walk-in-friendly experiences designed to reach a broader customer base across the city.
