Award-winning restaurant Kimball House thrives amidst changing landscape

Kimball House restaurant owners now own the 136-year former train depot that houses their nationally recognized eatery. (Courtesy of Andrew Thomas Lee)

With real estate development in Atlanta a looming presence, a common narrative is that many older businesses are disappearing; either they can’t keep up with rising commercial rent prices, or the buildings they occupy are sold and torn down.

Well, the award-winning restaurant Kimball House owners have turned that narrative upside down and successfully secured their future in the process. They are now the proud owners of the 136-year former train depot that houses their nationally recognized eatery.

City Lights senior producer Kim Drobes recently caught up with two of the five Kimball House owners, Kizzy Patel and Jesse Smith, to discuss the unique purchase.