Brad and Havird Usry originally considered The Plaza on Evans Towne Center Boulevard for a second location of The Southern Salad, downtown’s popular “clean greens” restaurant, but they ended up landing an event space called The Fourth Rooftop Venue.
“We wanted to have a suburban presence (of The Southern Salad),” said Brad Usry, president of Fat Man’s Hospitality Group, which includes Fatman’s Mill Café and Sno-Cap Drive-In, in addition to the Southern Salad and now The Fourth which is also referred to as The Fourth At the Plaza.
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COVID-19 was one of the main snags in expanding The Southern Salad. Managing The Fourth, however, makes good business sense for the Usrys who not only operate restaurants but cater as well. The Fourth is in a prime spot for that activity, he said.
“There are some great outdoor facilities, but there aren’t a lot of indoor facilities,” he said.
It’s between the Columbia County Performing Arts Center and the Evans Towne Center Park with its pavilion and stage.
“It’s a great opportunity for VIP events,” he said.
If there’s a concert at the pavilion, a Broadway show at the theater or even a fireworks display, the space makes it the perfect place for a pre-event reception, a cast party, a wedding reception or the best view of the fireworks, he said.
“It’s a cool place,” Usry said.
It has a catering kitchen, a bar area and incredible views.
Jordan Collier, director of commercial properties with Meybohm, said he’s excited to have the Usrys with their experience leading The Fourth’s activities.
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“Havird and Brad have given it an identity, and that’s what we love,” he said.
The four-story, 58,000-plus square foot complex of which The Fourth is a part opened in September 2018, and the building is beginning to fill up.
“There’s so much going on right now,” he said.
Multiple new businesses are expected to open their doors by year’s end, he said.
Among them will be a women’s clothing store, a pet boutique, a sushi restaurant and a wine/art experience similar to the sip and paint concept, he said
“All are in various stages of leases,” he said.
These businesses will join Your Pie and Stay. Social Tap and Table.
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Collier said it was important that the businesses in the space had local ties and unique concepts.
And as for The Southern Salad making a westward trek, Usry said they want to wait until life returns to a more even keel after COVID. Whether the location will be at The Plaza, though, is another story, according to Collier, because it’s filling up fast.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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