Circle back like a pig on a spit

The Beginning

We first connected with Nathan in January 2025. Like many entrepreneurs, he had nurtured a long-held dream of restaurant ownership. Though he'd spent about a decade in the industry previously, he'd pursued nursing as the more "straight forward" path. His target was Mickey Piggs, a respected barbecue establishment in Alto, Georgia, situated in the North Georgia mountains — a restaurant that had earned recognition for genuine Southern barbecue that attracted both regional visitors and tourists.

The First Challenge

Nathan proved highly organized in gathering required documentation — tax returns, financial statements, and forms. We conducted thorough financial analysis and began underwriting. However, the initial transaction encountered obstacles. Obtaining consistent seller information proved difficult. Whether due to timing, deal structure, or various complicating factors, the first Mickey Piggs acquisition attempt stalled, leaving Nathan starting over.

The Pivot

Rather than abandoning his vision, Nathan explored alternative restaurant opportunities throughout North Georgia. He investigated different concepts, locations, and price points. By March, he identified a promising South Carolina establishment with cooperative sellers and a business broker facilitating information gathering.

The broker's involvement ultimately created delays. Despite repeated requests about property lease terms and receiving draft agreements, we later discovered the landlord planned demolishing the building within two years for development purposes — with no guaranteed restaurant future.

The Circle Back

After exploring multiple alternatives, Nathan returned to his original opportunity. Perhaps circumstances had evolved; perhaps Nathan himself had changed through months of investigation. This time, Mickey Piggs aligned perfectly with his goals.

Standard obstacles emerged — seller financing complications, SBA requirements, bank specifications, closing procedures, insurance needs, and seller-side factors. Yet progress continued steadily.

The Closing

Nearly eight months after his initial consultation, Nathan officially acquired Mickey Piggs BBQ in August 2025.

The Lesson

Nathan's journey exemplifies why we value restaurant industry entrepreneurs. Success transcends spreadsheets and collateral — it reflects dreams, determination, and adaptability when paths prove nonlinear.

Established in 1994, Mickey Piggs serves the finest genuine hickory smoked barbecue in Alto, Georgia — and now it's in the right hands.