Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Reeder.
Hi Jay, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I purchased an abandoned historic bank building just before Covid with plans of restoring the old building to a Prohibition-themed Prime Steakhouse. This bank was built in 1900, in the center of downtown Cornelia GA, and survived the great depression and two world wars, but the sub-prime crash took down the bank in 2010. When the FDIC seized the bank and foreclosed all loans, it killed the town of Cornelia, GA. November 1, 2010, Time Magazine ran a story about how the death of small-town banks was killing their towns, and this bank was the poster child.
My vision was to start the redevelopment of the downtown with a gorgeous destination restaurant.
The bank was named Community Bank & Trust, and so in honor of the institution that literally built this town, we named the restaurant Community Brew & Tap. Entering the restaurant, you walk into a 2-story foyer with a Swarovski Crystal chandelier and a bar on each floor. From each bar, you walk into the old bank vaults and pass through an entryway in the back wall to enter into the steakhouse dining rooms.
Shortly after construction started, Covid caused the closure of a local diner a few doors down. We purchased Fenders Diner and partnered with the city to redevelop a neighboring parking lot into a music venue. In 2021, the Georgia Downtown Association awarded us with their Best Placemaking Award for that partnership. In 2022, Georgia Trend Magazine and the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureau awarded Fenders Alley with a TravelBlazer award.
We brought on Chef Jason Vullo (previously at Rathbuns Steakhouse) as executive chef and opened Community Brew & Tap in Nov. 2021, and have seen the downtown come to life. Several other restaurants, event venues, coffee shops, and entertainment venues have opened or are in the process of opening.
We’re building another new restaurant several doors down in an old Pharmacy building that will be called Farmacia. It will feature house-made pasta, Neapolitan pizzas, and foods inspired by authentic Italian flavors.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nobody could have expected the types of challenges we would face opening a restaurant at the start of Covid.
By far, the hardest part of launching a new restaurant is growing the right team. In Covid, it was almost impossible.
Everyone was in the same boat. Food suppliers reported not having enough drivers to make deliveries, and the deliveries we did receive were sometimes not right due to new staff at the packaging facility.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are a Classic American Steakhouse with a prohibition-era vibe, located in Historic Cornelia Georgia. Our menu relies on the smoke of north Georgia hardwoods, coming from our wood fire grill, that infuses a unique smoky flavor into Prime Steaks that guests rave about.
Our exquisite menu so that every dish is based on the finest ingredients paired with preparations to showcase their spectacular flavors.
Community is more than a restaurant; it’s a destination you seek out for the ultimate dining experience. From the Maître D’ that greets you at the door to the smoked cocktails at the bar and the world-class steaks you enjoy with a bottle of your favorite wine, everything is done with style and impeccable service in a relaxing prohibition atmosphere.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The most valuable lesson was the importance of culture and training for staff that often don’t have years of industry experience.
Also, people highly value the opportunity to have experiences and social interactions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://communitysteak.com
Image Credits
Community Brew & Tap
