Experiential Brands debuts food hall concept in Atlanta
Experiential Brands is rolling out a new fast-casual concept that will house its four brands under one roof.
SocialBites Food Hub is a new restaurant concept now open in Sandy Springs, Ga., a northern suburb of Atlanta. The food-hall style concept features four options for diners to choose from: The Original Hot Chicken, Inked Tacos, Flametown Burgers and Pinsa Roman Pizza. The concept is complemented by indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, interactive decor, weekly entertainment programming, a full bar and private event capabilities.
Each brand within SocialBites offers a limited menu, sharing a common kitchen platform, point-of-sale system, and back of house, ensuring efficiency and reducing operational complexities. Experiential Brands says by converting second-generation spaces, including closed casual dining locations, SocialBites significantly lowers initial investment costs and opens faster than restaurants built from the ground up.
Later this year, a second company-owned SocialBites will open in the Atlanta suburb of Woodstock, while site selection is underway for additional locations, marking the beginning of a nationwide expansion.
"SocialBites Food Hub is truly unlike anything the restaurant industry has seen before, an entirely new category in the space" said Aziz Hashim, founder and CEO of Experiential Brands. "We combined the best parts of franchising and restaurant operations with a carefully crafted labor structure and streamlined operations to deliver robust unit economics. Through our business model, we believe a rapid return on investment, within about two years, is achievable. For our guests, SocialBites Food Hub offers a vibrant and interactive space where individuals, groups and families can enjoy an experiential dining atmosphere alongside affordable meals."
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In addition to SocialBites, Experiential Brands is expanding its portfolio and investment opportunities. The company has established a presence internationally with non-traditional restaurants in London and Dubai and is set to open The Original Hot Chicken with a brick-and-mortar location in Toronto later this year. Experiential Brands is also bringing The Original Hot Chicken, Flametown Burgers, Inked Tacos and Pinsa Roman Pizza to college campuses in the U.S. this fall, adding to its non-traditional portfolio.
