Former Councilman Kwanza Hall Helps 8ARM Team Get Its New Seafood Spot Open

It appears chef Nhan Le’s (8ARM, Three Heart Coffee, Octopus Bar, So Ba) Beltline grilled seafood restaurant Ama might be back on track, and with help from former Atlanta District 2 councilman Kwanza Hall. Ama could open by this fall, What Now Atlanta reports.

The Virginia-Highland restaurant, which was to open in 2017 adjacent to Three Heart Coffee at vintage and local goods market Paris on Ponce, has been delayed multiple times since the death of Le’s original business partner and longtime friend, chef Angus Brown.

It was thought previously Hall, a regular 8ARM and Octopus Bar patron, may have partnered with Le and Skip Engelbretcht (8ARM, Three Heart, Paris on Ponce). However, Le says Hall is merely assisting with the filing of paperwork and permitting.

According to permits filed with city of Atlanta, which name Hall as the applicant, Ama occupies approximately 1,800-square-feet of Paris on Ponce facing the Eastside Beltline trail near Three Heart Coffee.

Hall was the District 2 councilman covering downtown, midtown, Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, Poncey-Highland, and Candler Park from 2006 until 2017, when he ran for mayor of Atlanta.

Eater Atlanta reached out to Hall for further details and to confirm his precise role in the restaurant. He has yet to respond to the request for comment.

It’s been a busy year for Le and his team at 8ARM. The chef opened Ink cocktail bar in the restaurant’s former coffee shop along Ponce de Leon Avenue and brought on popular Meso-American pop-up chef Maricela Vega this spring to lead the kitchen. Vega’s new menu has garnered critical praise from various Atlanta food publications since debuting in March.

Update, Friday, July 12: A previous version listed Hall as a possible partner. Le clarified Hall’s role in Ama as assisting with paperwork.

• Nhan Le Hopes to Open Ama This Summer [EATL]
• Chef Angus Brown Has Died [EATL]
• All Ama Coverage [EATL]
• All 8ARM coverage [EATL]