Pat Maxwell’s restaurant will make its debut in downtown Austell before the end of 2023, and will feature food grown in the restaurant’s own garden. The restaurant, along with a farmer’s market, will be located on the site of the former Volkstuin farmers market on Jefferson Street.

The Courier reached out to co-owner Nick Robertson via email to ask if he had anything he’d like readers to know about the upcoming eatery.

Robertson replied, “We want to be a place of great food, great fellowship, & great fun.”

“That’s the motto we use in Frannick’s Café and it has helped us become a staple in that community,” he said. Amanda & I have discussed this property with Andrew (Lundstrom) for several years.”

“In fact, before we opened the café in Dallas we brought our old-school, outdoor food trailer to Volkstuin for many events just like those we plan to return to this downtown gem,” Robertson said.  “In its early days this property was lively!”

“We know the success back then can be multiplied with the growth and modification of this property over the years,” he wrote.  “We plan to continue the growth and innovation at Pat Maxwell’s Place and be an integral part of revitalizing & restoring downtown Austell.”

“There is a breath of new life and new growth not only on the residential side but also on the commercial side,” he wrote.  “We want to be a part of that new life!”

Read the details in the press release reprinted below:

Nick and Amanda Robertson, owners of existing Frannick’s Cafe in Dallas, are bringing a new concept to Downtown Austell.

The new concept is located at the former Volkstuin farmers market. Pat Maxwell’s will utilize and manage the 1/2 acre garden space in addition to the shipping container kitchen/bar, outdoor patio and pavilion.

The concept is inspired by Nick’s late grandfather, Pat Maxwell. An avid gardener, not a meal passed without some ingredients being sourced from the garden. Customers will get a similar experience with a menu featuring garden fresh ingredients, in a bowl based format.

Pat Maxwell’s will also bring the bar atmosphere back to the patio, serving beer, wine and garden fresh cocktails.

If the kitchen and bar wasn’t enough, the ownership team is planning to make significant enhancements to the patio and garden area to create a one of a kind dining experience.

Pat Maxwell’s will be community oriented by hosting seasonal events that cater to families. They will also re-establish an on-site farmers market from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Look for them to be up and running with limited hours before the close of the year.

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About the City of Austell

The smallest city in Cobb County with a population of just under 8,000, the City of Austell was incorporated on September 4, 1885.

The original city limits of the town were a circle with a radius of one-half mile from a railway terminal used by the Georgia Pacific Railway Company and the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad Company.

The U.S. Census Bureau provides the following quick  facts about the city:

Population Estimates, July 1, 2022, (V2022)

7,896

Population
Population Estimates, July 1, 2022, (V2022)	7,896
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2022)	7,710
Population, percent change – April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2022, (V2022)	2.4%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020	7,713
Population, Census, April 1, 2010	6,581
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent	4.6%
Persons under 18 years, percent	28.9%
Persons 65 years and over, percent	8.2%
Female persons, percent	52.4%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent	29.9%
Black or African American alone, percent(a)	61.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a)	0.0%
Asian alone, percent(a)	0.0%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a)	0.0%
Two or More Races, percent	6.0%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b)	8.0%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent	25.1%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2017-2021	385
Foreign born persons, percent, 2017-2021	4.6%
Housing
Housing units, July 1, 2022, (V2022)	X
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2017-2021	60.0%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2017-2021	$156,000
Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2017-2021	$1,268
Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2017-2021	$317
Median gross rent, 2017-2021	$1,258
Building permits, 2022	X
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2017-2021	2,802
Persons per household, 2017-2021	2.92
Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+, 2017-2021	93.4%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2017-2021	10.7%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2017-2021	96.6%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2017-2021	93.0%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2017-2021	87.8%
Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2017-2021	21.8%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2017-2021	6.5%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent	20.5%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2017-2021	73.0%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2017-2021	70.6%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2017 ($1,000)(c)	D
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000)(c)	524,040
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000)(c)	29,462
Total retail sales, 2017 ($1,000)(c)	D
Total retail sales per capita, 2017(c)	NA
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2017-2021	29.2
Income & Poverty
Median household income (in 2021 dollars), 2017-2021	$59,459
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2021 dollars), 2017-2021	$24,230
Persons in poverty, percent	5.1%

Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2021	X
Total employment, 2021	X
Total annual payroll, 2021 ($1,000)	X
Total employment, percent change, 2020-2021	X
Total nonemployer establishments, 2019	X
All employer firms, Reference year 2017	219
Men-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017	104
Women-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017	64
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017	S
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017	101
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017	S
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017	172

Geography
Population per square mile, 2020	1,299.8
Population per square mile, 2010	1,102.5
Land area in square miles, 2020	5.93
Land area in square miles, 2010	5.97
FIPS Code	1304252