Indigo Restaurant Owner Plans New Concept In Alpharetta

ALPHARETTA, GA -- Spending the last 12 months serving customers in the Crabapple community has been an eye opener for Todd Hogan, the man behind the popular Indigo restaurant. Now that he's been able to fine-tune his operations, the entrepreneur is now setting his sights on bringing his brand of dining out in style to Alpharetta.

Hogan is planning to open The Republic in Liberty Hall, the much-anticipated mixed use development under construction in downtown Alpharetta.

The new eatery, which will be in line with Liberty Hall's planned homage to U.S. history, will be a “true American steakhouse,” with a focus on steaks, chops, lamb and seafood, Hogan told Patch. He notes the place will be situated somewhere between LongHorn Steak House and Bones.

“I want to be reachable for the business guy who wants to grab a killer burger at lunch," he said.

Liberty Hall, which replaces a defunct gas station, will be a four-story building housing an upscale restaurant, retail shops and offices situated on .31 acres on South Main Street between Marietta Street and Milton Avenue, according to plans submitted to the city.

The proposal, approved in July 2016 by Alpharetta leaders, is expected to contain 9,500 square feet of space dedicated to fine dining, 12,000 square feet office space and a 7,000-square-foot private social club that would be part of the restaurant. Cigars would be sold at the club, but cigarettes would be prohibited.

Along with serving as a steakhouse, The Republic will feature a wine cellar and a tasting bar where you can enjoy champagne, micro brews and other adult beverages, Hogan states.

The Republic, along with Indigo, is part of the Historic Hospitality Group. "Best case scenario," Hogan told Patch he hopes The Republic will open by the fourth quarter of 2017. At the very least, the restaurant will open to the public during the first quarter of 2018.

Indigo, which previously burned down in Roswell in 2011, reopened in 2016 in Milton. Since setting up shop in heart of the community the city of Milton claims as its downtown, Hogan said the restaurant has made some "wild changes," such as getting rid of the table cloths.

“I felt like that sent a different message than what I wanted it to send," he said, adding he believed the table cloths subconsciously told customers they needed to be dressed to the nines in order to dine at the establishment.

The cloths have been removed, and the atmosphere has been transformed into one that's a little more casual. The menu also boasts small plates, summer entree salads, lobster burgers and grilled rib eyes.

“I’ve tried to make a really good decision to appeal to a broader base of people,” he added, noting that it's paying off with the consistent support of locals. "I feel like we are heading down a great path.”

When asked if he plans to expand his brand to other areas, Hogan states he loves the suburbs and would like to introduce his restaurants to areas beyond North Fulton. He did note that if he does open another restaurant, it would be something new for the residents in that particular area would enjoy.

As long as the restaurant group lives up to its name of providing exceptional dining experiences with quality service, then customers will continue to flock to concepts "knowing they will go in and have a good experience," he added.

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