Tom Catherall Is Working on a Buckhead Restaurant

Comeback restaurateur Tom Catherall returned to Atlanta's dining scene last month. Now, Catherall is planning another new eatery. The founder of Here to Serve Restaurants is looking at the former American Food and Beverage space in the Shops Buckhead Atlanta development, reports Tomorrow's News Today. A representative for Catherall confirms to Eater Atlanta Catherall is eyeing the location, but says a deal has not been signed.

Catherall previously operated several Atlanta restaurants under the Here to Serve umbrella, but he transferred ownership of the company to his ex-wife as part of their divorce settlement and retired in 2014. Last October, Here to Serve collapsed, resulting in the abrupt shutter of all locations for Coast Seafood and Raw Bar, Noche, Prime, Shucks, Smash, Strip, and Twist.

In December, Catherall announced he would get back to work and open a new concept in the former Noche space in Virginia-Highland. Originally billed as Tom Tom Tapas & Tequila, the restaurant officially opened as Tom Tom in February. Catherall previously told Atlanta Magazine he's targeting Vinings and Brookhaven for new projects too.

Catherall opened his first restaurant, also called Tom Tom, in 1993. At its peak, Here to Serve operated 14 eateries across Atlanta.

American Food and Beverage began service in January 2015, but it shuttered out of nowhere less than a year from that date. The restautant's parent company said the closure was part of its "plan to focus our combined efforts on a different brand concept in the Texas markets."