Love Local: LEAD Hospitality's Restaurant Portfolio Grows With Midtown
03/26/2025
BY BRIAN CARR
Scott McCray has been in the restaurant business for 35 years. His time in Midtown goes back almost as far. In the late 90s, just as Midtown’s development boom was poised to take off, McCray ran the Cosmopolitan Lounge in Midtown.
Many people remember the bar district on Crescent Avenue from the good old days that featured the Leopard Lounge, Crescent Room and Cosmopolitan Lounge. There was not much else. But McCray felt that was about to change. The arc of McCray’s business success in Midtown largely mirrors the growth that has happened in the district. Since 2000, more than 140 major new developments have opened in a square mile, creating new opportunities on the ground floor for restaurateurs like McCray.
His company, LEAD Hospitality Group (which is an acronym for “Let’s Eat and Drink”), runs three establishments in Midtown: Carolyn's Gourmet, Emilio's Tacos and Tequila, and McCray's Tavern. All three of the locations are within a couple of blocks of each other. LEAD Hospitality manages another six restaurants across Metro Atlanta.
Wide Range of Options and Atmosphere Among Three Midtown Restaurants
So, why Midtown?
“I just saw the development going on down here,” McCray said. “Because there was a lot of land here that was undeveloped. I feel like Midtown actually is going to be the anchor of Atlanta eventually.”
Each of McCray’s Midtown options has something different to offer. Located at the bottom of the One Atlantic Center office building, Carolyn's Gourmet Cafe is a breakfast and lunch spot that serves daytime workers. The team there does a lot of catering business around town for lunches and dinners. The menu at Carolyn’s features wings, pastas, sandwiches, and other staples, including a best-selling smash burger with special sauce.
Like many restaurants that serve the daytime worker segment, business at Carolyn’s is still working to recover. McCray has observed that Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, are fantastic days. But Mondays and Fridays are still underperforming given hybrid work schedules.
Just down the street at 13th and West Peachtree, McCray's Tavern feels like a local tavern, complete with TVs to watch sporting events and a wide beer selection. The relaxed, casual dining room and bar are full of activity at the lunch hour, happy hour, dinnertime and in the evenings. The menu features a selection of fresh-made burgers and sandwiches, plus fish and chips. But if you’re looking for something a little different, try the Buffalo Egg Rolls, a mash-up of buffalo chicken tenders plus bacon, cheese, and lettuce … all wrapped in egg rolls and served with ranch or bleu cheese dressing.
Emilio's Tacos and Tequila is LEAD’s new concept, which just opened up last fall in the 1105 West Peachtree building, facing Peachtree Walk. The restaurant is named for Emilio, a long-time employee who handles maintenance jobs and is regarded by his peers as one of the all-around nicest guys they’ve ever worked with. McCray describes the concept as an in-between blend of upscale dining and sports.
“Sports did very well for us over at McCray’s Tavern,” McCray said. “So at Emilio’s we're pushing soccer. We're trying to attract the Atlanta United crowd in here, and some of the European soccer fans.”
Bringing People Together for Fun Times in the Heart of Atlanta
McCray said his team is excited about the possibility to make Emilio’s a major viewing hub for next year’s FIFA World Cup when the matches start up in Atlanta and other cities next summer. His go-to recommendation for a great meal at Emilio’s is the steak or chicken fajitas, which come out sizzling.
McCray is busy planning an outdoor Cinco de Mayo block party that will take place on the weekend of May 3rd and 4th along 13th Street between McCray’s Tavern and Emilio’s. According to McCray, the plan is to host a market and offer live music, plus some stations for food.
Rededicating Efforts to Build Interpersonal Rapport with Guests + Give Back
Looking beyond the menu, McCray is very focused on the guest experience and adding more to the human connection between the people serving the food and the customers enjoying the food.
“One big thing that we've worked on, something I feel is important, is having our staff actually come up and speak to guests, instead of just being order takers,” McCray said. “I feel like many restaurants have become too transactional coming out of the pandemic. So we are teaching all of our staff to come up and introduce themselves, and talk about the menu, explain some of the specials, talk about our space and how the menus are built.”
LEAD Hospitality Group also supports causes through philanthropy work. Every year they sell a specialty cocktail to raise funds that support the work of the Epilepsy Foundation, a cause that is close to home for McCray and his family because his son has epilepsy. LEAD is now also working with Back the Blue, providing meals for police officers during the holiday season.
“Ever since I got down here, I have loved it,” McCray said about Midtown. “I just think it's a great area. I've reinvented down here several times. I just think there's a lot of opportunity here.”
Plan Your Visit:
1151 W Peachtree St
Atlanta, GA 30309
1105 West Peachtree St
Suite 5
Atlanta, GA 30309
1163 West Peachtree St NE
Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30309