Killer Mike and T.I. Take Next Step Towards Reopening Historical Eatery

Rappers Killer Mike and T.I. have formally requested all the required permits to start work on the renovation of an Atlanta culinary and neighborhood staple, Bankhead Seafood.

The 2 introduced in 2019 that they’d be partnering to resurrect the restaurant, which went underneath in 2018 after having been in enterprise for 50 years, WSB stories. Each artist mentioned that for them, this enterprise enterprise represents yet one more alternative to spend money on a traditionally Black Atlanta neighborhood.

However they every even have private connections to the mission.

“It’s been part of my life so long as I’ve been on earth,” says Mike. “Should you’re writing a present or a e book about Michael Render and his household, (Bankhead Seafood) would undoubtedly be one of many characters.”

T.I., born Clifford Harris, grew up not too removed from the restaurant’s location on Atlanta’s west aspect.

When Mike and T.I. bought Bankhead Seafood, they acquired the restaurant’s trademarked identify, it’s authentic location, in addition to all of its recipes. Mike mentioned that his aunt and grandmother’s biscuit recipes and T.I.’s candy potato pie could also be added to the restaurant’s choices as properly.

The Atlanta natives kicked off their revitalization of the model with an occasion in 2020, the place they unveiled each their new Bankhead Seafood meals truck – which has been in operation since April of final 12 months – and plans for a two-story, 130-seat brick and mortar.

In response to Eater, the unique plan was to open the restaurant in Spring 2021, however that plan was derailed by COVID. A brand new opening date has not been introduced.

Along with restoring the unique Bankhead Seafood, Mike, T.I. and their accomplice, actual property developer Noel Khalil have tapped restaurateur Delia Champion as a guide to assist them increase the model to different bodily websites. Champion is the founding father of widespread Atlanta brunch chain The Flying Biscuit.

“If Bankhead Seafood (which Ms. Harden held onto for 50 years efficiently on that very same road,) if we solely stayed there, now we have failed. It’s our job to finish up in different communities,” Killer Mike mentioned final 12 months. “Similar to Waffle Home and Chick-Fil-A had been born out of Atlanta, and we’ve seen different eating places and companies develop out of right here, we will be the subsequent one. We owe it to our neighborhood. Our objective is to develop into a nationwide chain.”