A Partner in Community
The initial plan was to open a little eatery once he retired. After all, he loved the social aspects of working in restaurants and bars while in college. But first, James Maggard became a financial advisor, dutifully following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both of whom were stockbrokers.
He lasted in that field all of four years: “Long enough to realize I could survive,” Maggard said, “and long enough to realize how much I hated it.”
Today, he happily sits in Ford’s BBQ in Oakhurst, the site of the first restaurant location he acquired about 20 years ago. Back then, a client he was financially advising decided to move their restaurant, and, with a nudge from his wife, Maggard seized the chance to take over the lease and pursue his dream long before retirement.
The Oakhurst spot, which he first started as Matador Cantina, is now one of five thriving Atlanta-area restaurants he owns with trusted partners and couldn’t run without his loyal employees. The other establishments include The Local No. 7 and the first Ford’s BBQ, both in Tucker; The Stratford Pub in Avondale Estates; and La Calavera Pizza in Kirkwood.
Maggard is a fan of “town hall bars,” places where everyone is welcome, politics never appear on television, and religion is not discussed. No one group is catered to, the spaces are family-friendly, and people of all walks of life are embraced. It’s about nurturing community – a fitting goal for a guy who has always valued a large network of friends, people he’s depended on as much as family members.
He’s the sort of person who brought a longtime soccer friend into the business. He promised to hire and partner with a neighbor, who’d been a dishwasher when he was in high school, but only after the young man finished college. He’s empowered employees to step into leadership roles. In his customers, he sees neighbors, friends, and advisors.
It’s that sort of relational outlook that connected Maggard to Tandem Bank. As the community bank was just getting started in Tucker, Local 7 became a gathering spot for its founder and employees. It was where lunch meetings were held with investors. Maggard liked who he came to know and what he saw.
He and his team now do all their business banking at Tandem. The bank serves them well, responds to them personally, and helps to finance building acquisitions as they focus more on restaurant real estate. But it’s more than that. By working with and even investing in Tandem, Maggard feels like he’s investing in Tucker, its people, and the community.
“We’re learning and growing, and Tandem’s been a wonderful champion for our business,” he said. “It’s part of our big network, a family, you can call it whatever you want.”