Meet Sera & Jason Speegle | Bartenders, Chefs, & Small Business Owners

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sera & Jason Speegle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sera & Jason, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

We (Jason and Sera) have been in the hospitality industry for 20 years each! It has always been our dream to open our own spot. After meeting and falling in love, It didn’t take long to start forming our business plan. We set off to find the perfect location to open our business and start our family on our Great Southern City Road Trip. When Sera’s mother Laura was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer in 2017, we narrowed our search to the Atlanta area to be close to family. Laura pushed us to take risks, live life to the fullest, and to constantly pursue our dreams. When she passed away, she left us a small inheritance with the direct instructions that it be used as a business investment. Combined with the savings we’d been stowing away over the years, we were able to sign the lease on our Main Street Acworth Location and begin building our dream business. With backgrounds in Fine Dining and Craft Cocktail Bars, it was a key part of our vision to provide fresh and creative dishes and drinks in a laid back atmosphere. We were drawn to the community of Acworth because of the diversity that we see in the parks and lakefront area. We deeply believe that when people from different backgrounds come together we all grow.

We sanded the floors, built the bar, and redesigned the building from top to bottom, all with our infant daughter Emilouise in tow.

In July, we celebrated one year in business!

What should our readers know about your business?

The Fountain is a laid back Craft Cocktail Bar, Coffee House, and Restaurant with a fun and casual atmosphere. In this fast paced world, we strive to provide a space that focuses on quality over quickness. We are inspired by local and seasonal flavors and ingredients. We are a team motivated by creativity and new techniques.

We grew up in the hospitality industry and found our way to Craft Cocktail bartending and Fine Dining. Jason and Sera wanted to create an environment where people could enjoy innovative Drinks and Dishes in an easy going setting. We want people to feel welcome above all else. The world of craft cocktails and seasonal food shouldn’t be behind a locked gate. We want our clientele to ask questions and feel engaged. We want to share our love for what we do with our diverse community.

We recognize that it would be easier to have a static food and drink menu, but we didn’t open our own business because it was the easy thing to do! We challenge ourselves to always learn more, take new risks, and evolve. There is a never ending wealth of information about food and drinks, and that’s what keeps things fun and interesting.

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?

One of the things that drew us to the Acworth area was the small town feel at the doorstep of a big city, so I would want to show them both sides. In Acworth, I would take them paddle boarding on the lake. We love to bird watch, and have seen all kinds of awesome wildlife while we paddle: Blue Herons, Great White Egrets, and even nesting Bald Eagles!

We would go for a beer and lunch at Center Street Tavern where I could introduce them to many of the neighbors that make our community so inviting.

We’d have dinner and martinis at Fish Thyme.

I’d take them to Two LiRu antiques and wander around their awesome collection of oddities. We’d get picnic supplies from Picnic Market & Mercantile and walk through the park to find a shady spot next to the lake. After spending the afternoon swimming in the lake and hanging on the beach, we’d have dinner on the back deck at Fusco’s.

I’d take them hiking at Pigeon Hill in Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield and afterwards, we could grab a coffee and a croissant at Sessions Stand off the Marietta Square.

I would take them to a Bluegrass Show at The Hunt House, and we could grab some pre-show Cocktails at The Third Door.

In the City, I would take them to The Atlanta Botanical Gardens and swing in to South City Kitchen for lunch. We could spend the day biking on the Beltline and come back to Midtown for dinner and drinks at The Lawrence.

We’d share an afternoon together in the back garden area of Staple House trying their different dishes and a bottle (or two) of wine and try and catch a show at The Variety Playhouse or The Eastern.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Definitely shout out to momma Laura! She was an unbelievably positive, powerful, and adventurous woman. She encouraged us every day, and, even though she never got the chance to see what we built, we feel her constant presence pushing us forward. While we are so fortunate to have realized our dream of owning our own restaurant and bar in a wonderful community, every day presents new and different challenges. Laura’s determination through the tough things life throws at you inspires us to conquer each challenge. And if we do it with even a glimpse of the grace that she had, it feels like a huge win!

Website: https://www.thefountainacworth.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefountain_acworth/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Fountain-Acworth-100759912049107

Image Credits
Chris Henderson