When Chef Todd Hogan of Canton decided to branch out of the kitchen and into the world of being a restaurateur, his goal was to provide a space to connect with the people in his community so that he could take care of them on a weekly basis, not just for special occasions. Asking himself, “what do I need to be for my community?” Hogan launched Single Barrel Hospitality, a restaurant group with an equal affinity for both bourbon offerings and taking care of people. Today, Single Barrel Hospitality is the parent company for three restaurants, each with their own unique brand, but sharing in Hogan’s mission of “hosting a good time, as if my restaurants were an extension of my home.”
Branching Out
Hogan’s first restaurant brand concept was Branchwater, with locations in Cumming and Canton locations. Branchwaterprovides a space where guests can come for a date night or to just watch the Braves game and have a beer. Hogan calls it the perfect marriage of “class and casual dining.”
His next brand concept was Branch & Barrel in Alpharetta, a gastropub which offers a relaxed, casual atmosphere with an emphasis on serving high-quality food and beverages. After seeing Branchwater and then Branch & Barrel find their wings, Hogan launched his third brand concept: Community Burger, with locations in Canton and Milton.
“This restaurant was meant to fit any needs,” Hogan said. “No matter where we are in the economy, people will always go out to eat … and who doesn’t love a good burger!”
And so, Community Burger was created as the answer to every mom’s busy workday followed by hungry kids begging the question, “what’s for dinner?!?”
“Community Burger will host you and your kids,” Hogan said, with traditional and custom approaches to an age-old classic: the hamburger. At Community Burger, you will find beef, chicken, Ahi Tuna, Grouper, and Salmon burgers, as well as vegetarian options, prepared with either traditional or not so traditional flares. But the menu doesn’t stop at burgers. Community Burger also offers a seasonal menu of specialty beer and cocktails, craft prepared in house and sold on draft to make your order fast and easy.
Personally, I would recommend starting off with a Smoked Apple whiskey sour on tap and Bacon and Eggs (an appetizer of crispy applewood smoked bacon with cheesy deviled eggs), followed by the restaurant’s namesake, the Community Burger with roasted onions, smoked gouda, horseradish sour cream and the restaurant’s signature sauce. Whether you are getting dinner for the family on the fly or you are grabbing a meal and drinks to enjoy on the surrounding green space while a local musician performs, you will always feel like you made the right choice by dining with Community Burger.
With the success of his first two restaurants being attributed so much to the relationships forged within the community, Hogan knew that his third restaurant needed to be more than just a brand. This restaurant needed to give back to the community that had become his friends.
“At Community Burger, we believe service is more than just good food and great atmosphere,” he said “It’s also about serving those who serve others…” This led to the launch of Community Burger’s philanthropic initiative, “My Community Matters” and “Burgers for a Cause.”
Giving Back
Community Burger patrons can visit yourCommunity Burger.com/my-community-matters to nominate their favorite local organization or cause to be considered for the next round of “Burgers for a Cause.” Once selected, Community Burger will announce each quarter’s chosen organizations on their social media pages (so be sure to follow). Then, when you walk in to place your order at the counter of your local Community Burger, you will receive a wooden nickel. That nickel is your vote for the charity of your choice. The best part: all three charities benefit! Based on the nickel votes of its patrons, Community Burger will divide the pot by percentage so that every charity featured that quarter is supported by customer pro-rata. This quarter’s causes are Never Alone, The Children’s Haven, and the Service League of Cherokee County. Pretty cool, right?
Trust me—from the rich flavors and the comfortable and laid-back atmosphere to giving back to your beloved community, the whole experience at Community Burger will remind you of why you love living in the South!
Community Burger
225 Reformation Parkway, Suite 300
Canton
3200 Heritage Walk, Unit 101
Milton
