Restaurants & Bars

Taffer's Tavern Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary

Jon Taffer, "Bar Rescue" host and executive producer, made a special appearance at the anniversary celebration for his flagship restaurant.

Jon Taffer is a hospitality expert, entrepreneur and executive producer of the TV show "Bar Rescue."
Jon Taffer is a hospitality expert, entrepreneur and executive producer of the TV show "Bar Rescue." (Kathleen Sturgeon/Patch)

ALPHARETTA, GA — With restaurants shuttering across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on the restaurant and hospitality industries, it's no small feat when an owner gets to celebrate an anniversary in 2021.

On Monday, Taffer's Tavern in downtown Alpharetta — the flagship restaurant of the Taffer's Tavern franchise — celebrated its one-year anniversary. And a special guest made an appearance: Jon Taffer himself.

Taffer — hospitality expert, entrepreneur and executive producer of the TV show "Bar Rescue" — said he picked 33 South Main Street in Alpharetta for his flagship restaurant because, in his words, "it's one of the greatest towns in all of Georgia."

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"Look at this town. It sort of speaks for itself," he told Patch. "It was a no-brainer. It has a really special charm to it and is just a great, vibrant community."

Over the last year, many people in Georgia and across the country reduced the amount of times they sit down at a restaurant, and instead opted for takeout, delivery or cooking at home.

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That's why Taffer said he couldn't thank the Alpharetta community enough for supporting his restaurant, helping him learn what did and didn't work, and opening up opportunities for him to carry the lessons to the multiple units in development in seven markets — including one in Savannah, according to the website.

"We were worried that our revenues would go down, but they didn't. Then traditionally this time of year, revenues go down, but ours didn't. The town has been incredibly supportive.

"It's really being supported by the locals. It almost feels like they're hugging me every day, and I mean that. To think that people would choose, of all the choices, to come here and spend their time and money here, it's a very gratifying thing," Taffer said.

Kathleen Sturgeon/Patch

Washington D.C.; Boston, Massachusetts; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Orlando, Jacksonville and Gainesville in Florida are also on the restaurant franchise's "coming soon" list. Additionally, he's also shooting 23 more episodes of "Bar Rescue" in 2022.

And if you're looking to stop by Taffer's Tavern and wondering what to try out, Taffer said he's pretty hung up on the Roast Beef Au Jus sandwich, braised short rib and Taffer's Turbot.


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