Amici Italian Café Named Georgia Restaurateur Of Year

MADISON, GA – Amici Italian Café franchisees Jonathan (Bob) Ewing and Jon Joiner were named Restaurateur of the Year by the Georgia Restaurant Association at a recent awards show. According to a news release, the two were lauded for beating the odds and starting their franchise during the economic downturn in 2009.

Ewing and Joiner started working at Amici as dishwashers and worked through the ranks to cook, server, bartender and manager while they were in college. They are now franchisees with three restaurants of their own located in Milledgeville, Lake Oconee and Macon.

“We are so proud that Bob and Jon have been recognized by the Georgia Restaurant Association for their years of service to the Georgia restaurant economy and their success as Amici franchisees,” said Chris Torino, vice president of brand development and founder of Amici, in a news release. “The future is bright for Amici, and we look forward to growing our brand in the coming years with dedicated franchisees like Bob and Jon.”

Earlier this year, Amici signed a 20-unit restaurant deal with Stonemont Financial Group, a private real estate investment firm headquartered in Atlanta. Stonemont will open new Amici restaurants across North and South Carolina. Their first location just opened in Clemson, S.C.

Amici Italian Café serves made-from-scratch gourmet pizzas and fresh pastas, wings, sandwiches, soups, salads, and a variety of appetizers. The popular café gained a strong student following on the campuses of the University of Georgia and Georgia College & State University.

About Amici Italian Cafe

Founded in 1993 in Madison, Ga., by three University of Georgia graduates, Amici is a family-owned restaurant serving high-quality Italian foods in a congenial atmosphere at reasonable prices. Amici’s eight locations throughout Georgia, which include corporate-owned and franchised restaurants, have received numerous awards and recognitions, including “Athens’ Best Wings,” “People’s Choice” awards for pizza and chili cook-offs in Milledgeville and Madison, “Best Campus Dive Bar” in Atlanta Magazine in 2013, 2010 “Flavor of Georgia” in the BBQ & Hot Sauce category, and more.

Photo of Amici Italian Café franchisees Jonathan (Bob) Ewing and Jon Joiner courtesy of the company