ures Restaurant Owners M
iguel Morales and Mike Schroeder met during the early 2000s, while working for Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and remained friends throughout the years. Four years ago, Schroeder approached Morales about a new adventure: partnering to open a restaurant in the North Georgia area. Schroeder, a Lake Allatoona resident, met with officials in Kennesaw and Woodstock. But it was after meeting in Acworth with the city’s mayor and other officials that he and Morales fell in love with the town and knew 1885 Grill would be right at home there. The restaurant on Cherokee Street, which serves Southern-style coastal cuisine as Morales grew up in South Carolina, is scheduled to open Nov. 11. The Acworth restaurant is Morales’ third 1885 Grill location, but the first with Schroeder as a co-owner. “Rather than catering to a certain demographic, we strive to be a community gathering spot for all different people,” Morales said. “As a community hub and gathering spot, we also pride ourselves on giving a portion of our profits back to nonprofit organizations to strengthen and further develop our communities.”
Acworth-Centered
Morales and Schroeder said they believe in Acworth and the great people of the city. The pair displayed this throughout the construction process, by hiring local companies and suppliers. “We are not only in the restaurant business, but the people business. We obtain people, retain them and in turn are able to grow our employees and create meaningful relationships with our guests,” Morales said. The owners describe 1885 Grill as a chef-driven restaurant that uses only the highest quality ingredients and works with local vendors to offer farm fresh produce and craft beers, along with other
local products. Morales and Schroeder feel that their operations, like allocating funds to community nonprofits, set 1885 Grill apart from other restaurants, along with their unique recipes, atmosphere and varied price points. The overall design of the restaurant is unlike anything in town, as the space offers a private dining room, three patios, a green space and a large bar. According to the owners, 1885 Grill will be one of four restaurants in Cobb County to offer retail beer and wine sales.
The Backstory
After years of working for large restaurant chains, Morales opened the original 1885 Grill in the St. Elmo neighborhood of Chattanooga, Tennessee, in June 2013. Working in restaurants his entire life, he had always dreamed of owning his own establishment. He realized that he didn’t necessarily agree with 50% of the operations typical in the industry. Morales learned what works and what doesn’t, and he used that knowledge to form his own restaurant and make his own decisions. He was able to allot funds back into the community at his own discretion, rather than at the opinion of shareholders, and to better serve his people. “Superior customer service is what we pride ourselves on showing each table, each day,” Morales said. “While people come to the restaurants to enjoy their southern coastal favorites, we like to think that they return, in part, because of the commitments we show our guests. We strive to be flexible and accommodating and, through that, we are able to build relationships with our guests.”
Community Giving
Through the years, Morales says his team has created deep-rooted relationships with guests and employees,
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and made them feel like part of the restaurant’s family. It surprises him when kids whom he took care of in kindergarten call him directly to set up reservations for prom or graduation. To him, it seems as though they were raised in the restaurant and, now, they put their trust in his staff to take care of them on their special occasions. “We believe it is our duty to support our community, especially our youth,” Morales said. “We have and will continue to go out of our way to help them and make them feel special. We’ve always invited young people to come in and share their achievements with us – birthdays, good report cards, volunteering, etc.” The restaurant owners invite youth to take part in cooking lessons, purchasing personalized chef coats for children with interest in the industry, offering classrooms on how to use fresh ingredients, and mentoring children in reading programs and business classes. Morales believes anyone can achieve their dreams if they persist. He says the impact 1885 Grill is making with young people helps create future leaders. After opening the original 1885 Grill in 2013, Morales and team opened three additional restaurants in Chattanooga: The FEED Co. Table & Tavern in 2015, Parkway Pourhouse in 2018 and 1885 Grill Ooltewah earlier this year. Morales, Schroeder and team are proud to open 1885 Grill Acworth Nov. 11 and embark on a new adventure. “We are blessed to have successful restaurants and be where we are today,” the owners said. “Opening new restaurants creates opportunities for our team to grow, develop their skillset and advance in their careers. As for the future, well, we’re not quite sure. We pray daily for continued success as we run the race that God sets before us with great endurance.”
AROUND ACWORTH | November 2020
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