March 14, 2017

Meet Aaron Russell of Poor Hendrix in East Lake

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Russell.

Poor Hendrix is the fulfillment of a long-time dream of husband and wife owners, Aaron and Jamie Russell. Aaron and Jamie met when they were just teenagers while Aaron was making pizzas and Jamie was waiting tables at a local Italian restaurant. Aaron went on to make a career out of his love of cooking, working his way through many of Atlanta’s best restaurants including Nikolai’s Roof, Seeger’s, The Dining Room, and Restaurant Eugene. Aaron made a name for himself as a world-class Pastry Chef, earning 5 James Beard nominations and a Rising Star Chef award. However, in 2013 after an inspirational trip to Spain and France, the couple decided it was finally time to create a restaurant all their own so they set about the tasks of raising funds, making plans, writing menus and looking for the right location. When they first saw the space at Hosea & 2nd, they knew it was everything they had been hoping for – a quaint, old building, full of charm, located in a vibrant, diverse, up-and-coming neighborhood they already loved. Their dream of creating an intimate, casual place with simple but fabulous food and plenty of tasty libations became a reality.

Has it been a smooth road?
The opening of the restaurant has been relatively smooth with the exception of the normal bumps and bruises inherent in starting any small business. We did everything on a shoestring budget which meant we did not hire expediters for permitting so getting through that process ourselves was a huge learning experience. We also bought a lot of used equipment and furniture in order to save money but we’ve got the most amazing friends who helped us clean, move (multiple times!), and repair to get ready for opening. The hours are long but fulfilling and we could not have asked for a more supportive and welcoming start from the community.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Poor Hendrix – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Poor Hendrix is a casual neighborhood bar and restaurant located in the East Lake community of Atlanta. At the bar, we offer small plates of craveable food that pair perfectly with your favorite adult beverage and in the restaurant, you’ll find simple, classic dishes that compliment an affordable but thoughtful wine list. We are incredibly proud of the amazing team we have assembled. They work together every day to create a comfortable yet memorable experience for our guests.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
We love the small-town-in-a-big-city vibe that Atlanta has thanks to its many localized and diverse neighborhoods. Atlanta’s public transportation options still have a long way to go to catch up to other large metropolises.

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