Atlanta is aware of tips on how to flip an anniversary right into a motion, and that’s precisely what hot-spot Breakfast at Barney’s did for its 5-year milestone. As an alternative of a conventional dinner or champagne toast, town’s iconic brunch and tradition hub threw the Southern Soul Pageant on Saturday, August thirtieth—an all-day affair that blended meals, music, artwork, and Black-owned enterprise within the coronary heart of downtown.
Supply: Breakfast At Barney’s / @CityOfAtlanta
From the second the doorways opened at 8 a.m., the block round 349 Decatur St. was buzzing with tents, music, and the odor of excellent meals. Company shopped native, sipped mimosas, and two-stepped to the sound of dwell DJs. It felt like Atlanta at its greatest—festive, community-driven, and deeply southern.
“I really feel nice. I really feel blessed, and I really feel honored to have the ability to lengthen my platform to different entrepreneurs within the metropolis of Atlanta,” mentioned co-owner Barney Lee Berry Jr., who selected to mark his milestone with a cultural celebration as an alternative of a personal social gathering.
For Berry, the Southern Soul Pageant was about way over clinking glasses. He’s been hustling in enterprise since he was 18, and he says the competition was his method of being the mentor he as soon as wanted.
Supply: Breakfast At Barney’s / Breakfast At Barney’s
“Had I had steering and any individual to permit me to share their platform, possibly I wouldn’t have made so many errors in entrepreneurship developing,” he mirrored. “So I needed to increase my hand to up-and-coming entrepreneurs…to return rejoice with me for my 5 years, but in addition share the platform and inform folks about what you bought happening.”
Opening in August 2020—proper in the course of the pandemic—was a leap of religion Berry says he solely took due to imaginative and prescient and prayer. “All I heard was, eating places are the toughest enterprise to make profitable. So this can be a blessing, as a result of I do know with out God, I wouldn’t be right here, and that’s why I used to be by no means afraid to take this opportunity,” Berry mentioned.
That religion reveals up not solely within the meals however within the design.
“The floral is true to my time with my great-grandmother, Marietta Berry. She used to take me together with her when she’d get flowers for her greenhouse. As a child, I didn’t recognize it, however now as an grownup, I adore it. That’s why you see florals all through Breakfast at Barney’s—on the murals exterior, the planters out entrance, and on the within too. It means quite a bit to me as a result of it represents my Granny.”
The Spirit of Southern Soul
Berry says the competition’s identify comes from his nation roots.
“I’m from a small city proper exterior of Savannah, Georgia, referred to as Glennville—the house of the Vidalia candy onion,” he mentioned proudly. “I’ve been in Atlanta since I used to be 17, however my roots are within the nation…Nation boys rule the world. Do your analysis.”
Supply: Robin L Marshall / Getty
That pleasure in heritage carried into the competition décor, defined by Nesie of Model Remedy, the advertising and marketing companion for Southern Soul Fest powered by Breakfast at Barney’s.
“We needed to offer again to the group and never make it about simply Breakfast at Barney’s. The mayor was out networking with distributors, highlighting their merchandise, taking footage with them. It was about sharing sources and letting each model shine.”
She added that the balloons and stripes performed into the restaurant’s branding, whereas the floral motifs tied on to Barney’s household story.
Music and Motion: The Pageant’s Heartbeat
The sounds of the day have been powered by DJ KC (@turnmeupkc), the official DJ for Child Drill, who saved the gang transferring with a mix of hip-hop, R&B, and southern hits. His seamless transitions gave the competition its pulse, bridging moments between vendor purchasing, speeches, and performances.
The motion didn’t cease with the music. Dance teacher and performer King (@theekingx_), a Black queer inventive initially from the UK now primarily based in ATL, introduced excessive power and royal aptitude. With charisma on full show, King led line dances that blended instruction and efficiency. He launched new steps like “Experience It” line dance whereas guiding acquainted ones just like the “Tamia Line Dance,” turning the sidewalk into one large dance flooring.
As a southern woman with nation roots myself, there’s nothing like becoming a member of a line dance in the course of downtown Atlanta—transferring in rhythm with strangers who really feel like cousins by the tip of the music. King’s presence embodied the “soul” in Southern Soul, making the day really feel like greater than a market—it was a household reunion.
Black-Owned Distributors within the Highlight
The competition additionally highlighted a curated listing of entrepreneurs hand-picked by Berry and his staff for his or her excellence and group spirit.
Simply Jai Put onby Jai-Leta Colvard was on the scene, serving up sporty seems to be for attendees to take pleasure in.
Excessive Sweetness, owned by Nisha, served strawberry crunch, peach cobbler, and Oreo cupcakes, plus slices of her “Higher Than Intercourse” German chocolate cake.
“It means stepping out, speaking with the group, and making folks conscious of who I’m and what I’ve,” Nisha mentioned, noting that her ardour for baking traces again to her great-grandmother and grandmother.
Former WNBA participant and Olympian Ezinne Kalu introduced her Preserve Smiling psychological well being model.
“I went by means of so many accidents—ACL, PCL, MCL tears, damaged thumbs and wrists—and what saved me going was discovering secure areas for psychological well being. That’s what I need folks to remove: it’s okay to examine in with your self first earlier than you examine in with others.”
Fly Waves, created by Treyvion, blended streetwear with storytelling. His gorilla “Frontline” brand, full with a symbolic band-aid, turned a crowd favourite.
“Everytime you’re on the frontline, you’re gonna get bruises. The band-aid stands for the obstacles you overcome whereas standing agency for what you imagine in.”
August Sol Naturals, based by Nikki Gilbert, gave a plant-based twist to skincare and candles.
“We’ve got every part Tub & Physique Works has, however with out the chemical substances. Your pores and skin’s the most important organ in your physique—feed it the good things.”
A Celebration That Felt Like Dwelling
Between dwell music units, dance periods, and vendor shopping, visitors clinked flavored mimosas—strawberry, peach, and pineapple—and embraced the vibe. The flavors matched the temper: candy, refreshing, and unapologetically southern.
For Barney Lee Berry Jr., the enjoyment of the day captured precisely what he needed.
“Let’s cease the hate. Let’s cease the competing…We’re not one another’s enemy. We have to come collectively as a result of we’re stronger as one, and we will go quite a bit additional.”
5 years in, Breakfast at Barney’s has confirmed it’s greater than a brunch spot—it’s a landmark. The Southern Soul Fest is a love letter to Atlanta: soulful meals, southern aptitude, and Black entrepreneurship at its most interesting.
