Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que has opened a restaurant at 10710 State Bridge Road, an Alpharetta mailing address that sits within the Johns Creek city limits, marking the chain's return to Georgia after nearly 18 years away. The location is currently the only Famous Dave's in the state, and the people behind it say it is meant to be just the beginning.
The restaurant is operated by a group called The Georgia Partnership, which includes Dr. Derek S. Scott, along with Lord Bryan DeGraffenreid and Vetra Stephens, who both serve as managing partners and co-owners, according to Atlanta News First. The partnership plans to use the new spot as a launchpad for additional locations across metro Atlanta and the rest of Georgia. That growth ambition lines up with earlier reporting from Appen Media, which described the Johns Creek-area restaurant as a flagship for long-term growth across Georgia.
Reports on the timing of the opening have varied. What Now Atlanta previously reported the restaurant would open in March, while Appen Media's reporting pointed to a fall opening at the same 10710 State Bridge Road, Suite 150 address. Atlanta News First's account confirms the restaurant has now opened in the Johns Creek-Alpharetta area, though the exact rollout date behind those earlier, conflicting reports was not resolved in the available reporting.
What's On the Menu
The barbecue chain serves ribs, pulled pork, brisket, barbecue sandwiches, made-from-scratch sides and desserts, per Atlanta News First's reporting. Appen Media's description of the menu lists entrees ranging from St. Louis-style ribs to Texas beef brisket, Georgia chopped pork and country-roasted chicken. The brand emphasizes quick carryouts, family meals and catering, a specialty that What Now Atlanta notes extends to the kind of bulk orders suited for tailgates and holiday gatherings.
The Alpharetta-area restaurant was expected to run about 2,800 square feet, according to the same report from What Now Atlanta, which was the first to flag a multi-unit franchise deal bringing Famous Dave's to Atlanta back in 2024. Famous Dave's itself was founded in 1994 in Hayward, Wisconsin, and Appen Media reported the chain had grown to 111 locations across 30 states, plus a branch in Winnipeg and three locations in the United Arab Emirates.
A Porktober Debut, and a Televised Preview
The opening lands during what the restaurant's local team has called National Porktober Month in October, a fitting backdrop for a barbecue debut. Ahead of the opening, DeGraffenreid and Stephens spoke with ATL Live host Ava Braatz about the new restaurant, touching on smoking techniques and sauces, and demonstrated a pulled pork sandwich while offering a tasting of ribs and pulled pork, according to Atlanta News First's report.
A Second Shot at the Atlanta Market
This is not Famous Dave's first attempt at Georgia. The chain closed three Atlanta restaurants in 2008, citing current and expected continuing cash losses, according to a statement reported at the time by Franchising.com. The company said then it could recognize up to $2.5 million in charges tied to the closures and two lease terminations, at a point when it owned 47 locations and franchised 123 more across 36 states, per the same report.
Dr. Derek Scott has said he intends to bring at least three Famous Dave's locations to the Atlanta metro area, with Buckhead and Marietta under consideration for future sites, according to 1851 Franchise. Scott had initially targeted Alpharetta and Johns Creek for the first restaurant's 2025 opening, per the same report. Whatever the exact timeline turned out to be, the Johns Creek-Alpharetta location now stands as Georgia's lone Famous Dave's, and its owners are framing it as the first domino in a broader statewide push.
