Getting to Know Aria’s New Owner | Eater Atlanta

"A long-running Buckhead restaurant is entering a new chapter after owner Gerry Klaskala announced his retirement following 25 years, with his final service this Saturday. Longtime general manager and sommelier Andrés Loaiza, who has been with the restaurant since 2007, is taking ownership and plans a thoughtful evolution that refines details and elevates the dining experience without changing its core identity. The team has hired Joseph Harrison from Savannah’s Common Thread as executive chef (he begins June 18), promoted Remy Loet to Senior Sommelier to deepen the restaurant’s wine-focused service, and expects interior and exterior renovations. The operation is also a finalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Hospitality award — the only finalist from Georgia — and is headed to the award ceremony in Chicago on June 16; leadership emphasizes hospitality as making guests feel seen, welcomed, and genuinely cared for." - Henna Bakshi