With the new year comes new beginnings and for Atlanta, this one feels especially close to home. As an Atlanta native, there are certain places that feel woven into the fabric of the city, and EATS is undeniably one of them. Known for its legendary jerk chicken, comforting meat and threes, and nearly three decades of feeding Atlantans with heart, EATS has always been more than a restaurant. It has been a cultural institution.
That is why the news that Wild Heaven Beer has acquired the iconic EATS brand feels less like a change and more like a continuation of something deeply special. Beginning in the new year, Wild Heaven will officially become the steward of the EATS legacy, bringing it to their West End location at the Lee + White complex, a neighborhood that already embodies Atlanta’s creative and communal spirit.
This transition comes as Wild Heaven’s current food partner, El Tesoro, prepares to move on from the taproom kitchen. While El Tesoro will no longer operate inside Wild Heaven West End, they are not going far and will soon become neighbors elsewhere within the Lee + White development. It is a true Atlanta moment with growth, collaboration, and community all sharing the same block. Wild Heaven has expressed deep appreciation for El Tesoro and looks forward to continuing that shared sense of neighborhood.
“EATS has been part of Atlanta’s culinary DNA for decades,” said Nick Purdy, Co President of Wild Heaven Beer. “We’re honored to carry that torch forward. Our goal is to preserve what people have always loved about EATS while giving it a thoughtful, sustainable home inside our West End brewery.”
He added that the intention is not to reinvent the brand, but to reach 99% fidelity to the experience so many Atlantans treasure, a promise that longtime fans can appreciate. “Eric and I couldn’t be prouder to have a chance to steward the next chapter of EATS.”
For Bob Hatcher, the original founder and owner of EATS, this next chapter feels like a full circle moment. “Just when I thought it was over, I was approached by a group adamant about keeping the EATS brand alive, longtime customers and friends, Brent and Amity Dey, along with Wild Heaven Brewery owners, Nick and Eric,” he shared. With longtime EATS manager Levi Nichols also on board, Hatcher says he is excited to welcome the loyal community back to their favorite booths once again.
As someone who grew up watching Atlanta evolve while holding tight to the places that define it, this news feels like a win. The entire Wild Heaven team has expressed gratitude for the opportunity to help keep one of Atlanta’s most cherished food institutions alive and thriving, and it shows in the care they are putting into this transition.
Guests at the West End taproom can expect a refreshed but familiar EATS experience that honors the original flavors, comfort, and spirit that made the restaurant a staple in the first place. More details, including menu updates, timelines, and special events, will be shared in the coming weeks.
For now, it is just exciting to know that a place so many of us grew up loving is getting the chance to live on right here in the city it helped shape. Atlanta, this one is for us.
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