Welcome to another episode of South Cobb LIVE!, where we spotlight the heart and hustle of local business owners building community through service, storytelling, and soul. In this episode, Elise White sits down with Nick Hanratty, the co-owner of Varner's Restaurant & Tavern in Smyrna, GA. What started as a post-Taco Mac venture is now a community staple serving wings, burgers, and family vibes for over 17 years. Nick shares his journey from part-time employee to co-owner, how Varner's became a second home for Eagles fans (Fly, Eagles, Fly!), and the powerful impact of building real relationships with guests and staff alike. You’ll hear how this beloved tavern survived the 2008 crash, created generational customer loyalty, and became a local legend—one lemon pepper wing at a time. 🍋🐔

⚠️ Stick around till the end to learn how YOU can unlock a 15% discount on your next dine-in visit just by dropping one word in the comments! 📌

SHOW NOTES: 00:00 – Intro to South Cobb LIVE & today’s guest

01:15 – The origin story of Varner Tavern

04:45 – Surviving the Great Recession & finding Smyrna at just the right time

07:30 – From employee to co-owner: Nick’s story of grit and growth

10:20 – Building a culture of excellence and real community

13:05 – Eagles fan club, karaoke nights, trivia, and kids eat free Fridays

16:40 – The secret sauce: customer relationships & service-driven leadership

20:55 – Giving back: school PTAs, Milford Youth, and using space for fundraisers

23:00 – Elise’s rapid-fire “South Cobb Spotlight Sprint”

24:15 – Special offer just for YOU — don’t miss it! 👀

📍 Connect with Varner Tavern

🌐 varnerstavern.com 📸 @varnerstavern (Facebook & Instagram)

🎧 Follow South Cobb LIVE!

📲 @SouthCobbLive | @SouthCobbMedia

📍 Bringing community stories to your feed and your heart.

In this inspiring episode of South Cobb LIVE!, host Elise White sits down with Sharmaine Thomas, the franchise owner of Project Lean Nation Cumberland. Discover how Sharmaine and her husband turned personal loss and a passion for health into a thriving business that delivers nutritious, delicious, and convenient meals right in the heart of South Cobb.

Tune in as Sharmaine shares:

- The heartfelt story behind launching Project Lean Nation Cumberland

- How their meals cater to busy professionals, fitness enthusiasts, and families

- Why this health-focused franchise is exactly what Cobb County needed

- Favorite meals like the Maple Bacon Burger and Italian Chicken

- Stories of transformation and community connection

- How YOU can get involved and jumpstart your wellness journey

Special Offer compliments of South Cobb LIVE!

Get a free protein shake and a complimentary consultation when you comment the word LEAN on our Instagram @ProjectLeanNation_Cumberland.

It's our way of saying thank you for being part of the wellness movement.

Connect with Us

Visit: Project Lean Nation Cumberland, 2980 Cobb Parkway, Suite 168

Instagram: @ProjectLeanNation_Cumberland

In this episode of South Cobb Live, host Elise White sits down with Stone Stafford, co-founder of Icon Studios ATL, to discuss the journey of building a creative hub for musicians and artists in Atlanta. Stone shares insights from his 30+ years in the music industry, his work with Sony Music Publishing, So So Def, and iconic artists like Usher, Gladys Knight, and Queen Latifah. He also dives into the business side of music, the importance of location and equity, and his future plans beyond Icon Studios.

🔹 How Icon Studios became a major creative space in Atlanta 🔹 The studio’s unique non-smoking policy (and why they turned away Snoop Dogg!) 🔹 Memorable moments with legendary artists 🔹 Why business knowledge is key in the music industry 🔹 Stone’s next moves: New ventures and giving back to the community

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

📌 Available on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

📲 Follow us on Social Media: 🔹 Instagram: @SouthCobbLive 🔹 Facebook: South Cobb Live

👥 About Our Guest: Stone Stafford

🎵 Co-Founder of Icon Studios ATL – a 10,000 sq. ft. creative space for artists, podcasters, and content creators. 🎤 Former Exec at Sony Music Publishing & So So Def 📺 Worked with A-list artists & film projects 🎙️ Host of "Life on Podcast" (Listen, Laugh, and Learn!) 📍 Instagram: @iconstudiosatl 🌐 Website: StoneStafford.com

📌 Featured Topics & Timestamps:

[00:01] Welcome & Introduction [00:24] How Stone & his wife built Icon Studios [02:00] Why location (Smyrna & ATL) was key to success [03:29] Memorable moments: Gladys Knight & Queen Latifah [05:21] Icon Studios: Atlanta’s first non-smoking recording studio [06:15] Services at Icon Studios: Podcast studio, coaching, rehearsal spaces [07:30] Future plans: Selling the studio & launching new ventures [09:15] Giving back: Free music business seminars in Smyrna [10:43] Fun Word Association Game 🎉

📢 Call to Action:

✅ Subscribe to South Cobb Live on your favorite podcast platform! ✅ Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for updates on new episodes! ✅ Check out Icon Studios & Stone Stafford’s projects! ✅ Stay tuned for Stone’s FREE music business seminars in Smyrna!

👉 Loved this episode? Share it with your network! 🎶📲