Meet Chad Dillon | Restauranteur and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chad Dillon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chad, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Everyone thought I was crazy trying to open a restaurant in the middle of a pandemic. While a lot of restaurants were closing in such a unfortunate times, I understood that I would need to be innovative and also give customers what they wanted. I was solving a problem and supplying a restaurant market that Buckhead was missing. I noticed their was no crab legs being sold at restaurants in Buckhead/Midtown area, and although it would be a risk committing life savings and agreeing to secure a location in such a high rent area, I believed if I can figure out how to get the doors open, I would be very successful. Another major risk that came about, was deciding whether or not, to build my own brand or franchise with a crab boil restaurant with proven success that pretty much dominated Georgia. Competing with such a huge brand was pretty much almost guaranteeing failure and it would be a uphill battle getting customers to try my crab boil rather than the franchise they’ve been going to for years. But I still took the risk, believing the convenience of our location to customers, my marketing ideas and bringing a new flavor to a area that was begging for a crab boil would be enough to succeed. Now 1 Year into opening The Boiler Atlanta, we’ve grossed almost 8 figures in sales, and looking to expand the brand to a second restaurant location.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I’ve always been good at business since. Had created small businesses to create pocket money and survive growing up in a single parent household and poverty. I was one of those kids that sold lemonade, candy and anything that created a profit. I graduated high school at the top of my class and attended Howard University for business marketing. I always had a alertness of noticing what business was missing in a area and trying to create it. Which lead me to my biggest business to date, creating The Boiler Seafood Restaurant, Atlantas new #1 destination for seafood and crab boils. We’ve blown the competition out the water, especially for only being open for one year. We’ve become a household name in Atlanta and looking to expand in other markets. We’re also the only black owned seafood restaurant in the Buckhead market, which is very hard to succeed in because of the high overheads and rarity of real estate openings. I’ve learned a lot owning and operating The Boiler. But the main thing is listening to your customers in order to improve. That’s the only way to make the brand bigger and better. It’s okay not to have all the answer and try new things.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The best thing about Atlanta is the diversity. You can go from a speak-easy formal restaurant to a strip club in the blink of a eye. Most establishments are very inviting for all crowds in Atlanta. Me personally for breakfast I love “Toast on Lenox”. For dinner of course “The Boiler Atlanta”, everyone loves seafood and crab legs. After I would go for drinks and hookah at Cooper Cove and then go party at Zari Lounge. If we’re in the mood to go to a strip club, the #1 strip club in Atlanta is Allure.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ll like to thank my team for believing in my and my vision. They treat the boiler brand like it’s their own. Without them, in such a difficult time, I’m not sure where I would be. Anywhere I slack, they pick up.

Website: www.TheBoilerAtlanta.com

Instagram: TheBoilerAtlanta