Cherokee Rose BBQ coming to Stone Mountain this month
Cherokee Rose BBQ Bar & Kitchen owner Jonathan Hartnett. Photo courtesy Hartnett.
This story has been updated.
Stone Mountain, GA — Restaurateur Jonathan Hartnett is preparing to open the doors to his new concept in Stone Mountain called Cherokee Rose BBQ Bar & Kitchen.
The restaurant will open May 24 in a restored building at 975 Main Street. Hartnett, a Stone Mountain native, said he “fell in love with” the spot, which dates back to 1895.
“The place is gorgeous,” he told The Tucker Observer. “I’ve got some old photos of the property that are incredible. We’re the oldest property in Stone Mountain.”
Photo provided by Jonathan Hartnett.
It’s Hartnett’s third restaurant in the area after opening Peruvian spot Las Brasas with Mike Koechlin in Decatur in 2007. Hartnett opened Mexican eatery Los Arcos in Stone Mountain in 2016. Cherokee Rose is named after the state flower of Georgia, and the menu will reflect that with Georgia barbecue and other traditional Georgia recipes.
“We’re going to do a lot of smoked meats and smoked vegetables,” Hartnett said. “It’s in the realm of barbecue but more unique and more modern.”
Keep an eye out for dishes like smoked scallops and grits with smoked pork belly too.
The Peach State theme will carry over to the drink menu as well.
“We’re going to have all Georgia beer and Georgia liquor,” Hartnett said.
His plan to open Cherokee Rose last year got scuttled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“COVID took us way back,” Hartnett said. “Everybody stopped working, obviously.”
But the wait served to create anticipation for future customers.
“COVID is obviously not over, but I think it’s going to be a little nutty when it opens,” he said.
“It’s kind of like a gift back to the city. I wanted to bring something extra nice to my hometown,” he added.
Hartnett said pandemic safety protocols will be followed.
The Stone Mountain City Council approved Cherokee Rose’s alcohol license in February and the restaurant passed its health inspection earlier this month.
Cherokee Rose is one of several new businesses opening in Stone Mountain recently. Health-conscious chicken wing restaurant Drumz N’ Flatz opened on Stone Mountain Freeway in April and bookstore and wine bar The Vibrary will open across the street from Cherokee Rose this month.
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