BUSINESS BRIEFS

Wells Fargo has donated $20 million to Atlanta’s Open for Business Fund to help small business owners own more of their businesses’ assets—including property and equipment—to enable physical upgrades to their facilities. The United Way of Greater Atlanta—in collaboration with Invest Atlanta—will distribute the funding as a mix of grants and loans in the city, with a focus on Black-owned and other diverse-owned businesses. “This Wells Fargo grant program gives small business owners the opportunity to grow and expand by owning more of their own assets—which can be a game changer for the financial health of any business,” said Mayor Andre Dickens. “As a former small business owner, I understand the vital role of small businesses in Atlanta’s economy and community, and we are excited to announce this program in the first few weeks of our new administration.” Atlanta small business owners interested in learning more about the program can find information at investatlanta.com/ openforbusiness.

Airbnb has announced that its new technical hub will be located at The Interlock development in West Midtown. The short-term and vacation home rental giant announced last year that it would open an East Coast hub in Atlanta to serve as the home for one of its product development teams and regional base for new technical and non-technical roles. Airbnb said it planned to open at The Interlock, a mixed-use development near Georgia Teach at the corner of 14th Street and Howell Mill Road, later this year.

▲Nobu, a new luxury hotel and Japanese restaurant, is eyeing a late summer opening in Buckhead at Phipps Plaza. The hotel will include 150 rooms, a rooftop pool, spa and conference space. The restaurant will occupy 10,000 square feet, featuring Japanese cuisine. Nobu is a brand founded by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper. This is the first location in Atlanta. The hotel and restaurant are part of a larger redevelopment at Phipps Plaza. The former Belk department store was demolished to make way for a mixeduse project, which also includes a 13-story office building, food hall called Citizens, and a Life Time athletic club.

►Chris D’Auria is celebrating 25 years as owner of beloved Buckhead nightspot Johnny’s Hideaway. “The staff and the music are what stirs the sauce at Johnny’s, but there’s no secret formula,” he says. “I tell people who have never been that they have to give it 15 minutes, just get a stiff drink and start dancing. I love reading the social media reviews of guests saying they had such a great time.” D’Auria also praised the nightclub’s staff, some of whom have been on the payroll for more than 20 years. The club recently marked its 40th anniversary.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has awarded three Atlanta Blackowned small businesses $10,000 in ad credits and creative support through a new program aimed at helping businesses survive the ongoing pandemic. The companies are Kyra’s Shea Medlevs, Boss Branding on a Budget, and Kamala Enterprises.

◄Souk Bō’hēmian – a Black-, women- and queer-owned retail shop offering ready-towear fashion, home goods and handmade accessories – is set to open this spring at Ponce City Market. Founded as an online shop in 2016 by best friends and business partners Morgan-Ashley Bryant and Vanessa Coore Vernon, Souk Bō’hēmian’s first brick-andmortar location aims to introduce new and different cultures to the Atlanta community.

The Splatter Studio has moved from Ponce City Market to its new 2,500 square foot location at 792 North Highland Ave. next to Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar. The Splatter Studio offers an immersive experience Tuesdays through Sundays, where guests can let loose and create art without worrying about the mess. Upon arrival, visitors are supplied with protective gear so they can wield paint brushes, tools or their own two hands to splatter paint on a provided canvas or a Splatter Studio t-shirt. Founder Howard Krinsky also owns Binders Art Supplies & Frames.

MARTA has issued a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Request for Proposals (RFP) for Bankhead rail station. The Bankhead TOD will be located on just under five-anda-half acres of land, along with air-rights above the station itself, which sits at 1335 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway. The rail station is adjacent to Microsoft’s 90-acre campus development and is a half-mile southeast of the newly opened Westside Park. Other nearby development includes the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail and the Proctor Creek Greenway in the historic Grove Park community.

►Rap star 2 Chainz has been named the first head of creative marketing for Krystal, the Atlanta-based burger chain. According to a media statement, 2 Chainz and his team will be leading the creation of multiple new platforms and partnerships, including menus, merchandising and cobranded restaurants in Atlanta.

Co-working space Switchyards has expanded to Buckhead in a 5,473-square-foot space at Piedmont Center. This is the fifth “work club” from the company, which also operates in Cabbagetown, Decatur, Downtown and Westside.