Chef Joey Ward is expanding in two directions this summer. The Atlanta restaurateur behind Michelin-recommended Southern Belle and Georgia Boy in Poncey-Highland is opening two new concepts: Bar Belle, a first-come, first-served cocktail bar on a renovated side patio connected to his existing restaurants, and Southern Belle Chicken Co., a fast-casual chicken counter inside CTR Food Works at 190 Marietta Street NW downtown — part of The Center redevelopment of the former CNN Center.
Both venues are targeting Summer 2026 openings.
Bar Belle will run as a walk-up cocktail patio serving raw bar items, rotating small plates, and Ward's signature A-Town Burger. Southern Belle Chicken Co. will operate as a fast-casual counter-service concept built around chicken-focused dishes with globally influenced flavors — the same instinct that runs through Ward's tasting-menu work, translated to a downtown lunch and post-work format.
Ward's Atlanta pedigree runs through Gunshow under Kevin Gillespie, followed by Southern Belle and Georgia Boy — both Michelin-recommended for their seasonal tasting menus. The Chicken Co. and Bar Belle continue what has become a clear strategy: pairing the fine-dining flagships with more approachable formats that extend Ward's reach across different neighborhoods and customer segments.
The CTR Food Works tenancy is a meaningful one for downtown. The Center's food hall build-out has been an ongoing tenant announcement across 2026, and a named-chef fast-casual concept with Ward's track record helps anchor the mix. It also puts a downtown-worthy chicken concept less than a block from Centennial Olympic Park — a natural fit for the wave of new visitors expected during and after the FIFA World Cup.
Original reporting: What Now Atlanta (June 17, 2026)
