Podcast 321 – How Morty’s Expansion and {S}table Are Reshaping Funwoody – Mitchell Abes

Funwoody is the restaurant group behind Bar{n}, Morty’s, Message in a Bottle, Good Vibes, and the new {S}table in Dunwoody Village. In Podcast 321, Mitchell Abes joined me to talk about {S}table, the big Morty’s expansion, and Green Eggs and Kegs.

Funwoody is a Dunwoody Village restaurant group founded by David Abes that includes Bar{n}, Morty’s Meat & Supply, Message in a Bottle, Good Vibes, and {S}table, a modern Southern concept in the former Steak and Grace space. It also hosts Green Eggs and Kegs, an annual food, beer, and music festival.

Listen on Apple Podcasts or watch the full episode above.

A Courtyard That Changed Dunwoody Village

If you have spent any time in Dunwoody Village over the last few years, you have felt it. The shift. The momentum. The sense that this is not just a strip of storefronts, but a place you intentionally go to meet friends, grab dinner, or run into half the city before you make it back to your car.

That shift did not happen by accident.

Mitchell Abes joins podcast host Matt Weber to talk about how his family helped build that energy through what is now known as the Funwoody Restaurant group. It started a little more simply. Because the entire area is called Dunwoody Village, they originally referred to their collection of restaurants as Village Dunwoody. On paper it made sense. In practice it confused people. Was Village Dunwoody the development? The district? The restaurant group? Eventually they realized the branding needed to match the experience.

That is how Funwoody was born.

Funwoody is more than a name. It is a mindset. A collection of concepts designed to bring life, music, food, and community into the heart of Dunwoody Village. And if you are living in Dunwoody or moving to Dunwoody, this is exactly the kind of story that helps you understand why the area feels the way it does.

From Dash Hospitality to Dunwoody Village

Before there was Bar{n}, Morty’s, Message in a Bottle, Good Vibes, and now {S}table, there was Dash Hospitality. David Abes spent years consulting with other restaurant operators through Dash Hospitality, helping them refine concepts, tighten operations, and create memorable guest experiences. After helping so many others build successful businesses, he decided it was time to plant roots in Dunwoody Village and build something of his own.

The rollout was intentional. Bar{n} came first, creating an indoor outdoor social hub. Morty’s followed, bringing elevated comfort food and a layered dining experience. Message in a Bottle added a wine forward concept that felt both relaxed and refined. Good Vibes expanded the atmosphere even further. Now {S}table is the next chapter.

Each concept has its own personality, but they are designed to work together. You can start with a cocktail at Bar{n}, walk over to Morty’s for dinner, grab a glass of wine at Message in a Bottle, and keep the night going at Good Vibes. It feels connected without feeling corporate. That cohesion is a big reason people relocating to Dunwoody quickly discover that Dunwoody Village becomes their default gathering place.

Chef Cameron and the Consistency Behind Funwoody

While David Abes works the room and Mitchell Abes handles branding, marketing, outside sales, and whatever else lands on his plate that day, Chef Cameron is the steady force behind the food. He oversees the culinary direction across the entire Funwoody lineup, making sure the quality stays consistent whether you are at Bar{n}, Morty’s, Message in a Bottle, Good Vibes, or soon at {S}table.

That consistency matters. When people talk about the best restaurants in Dunwoody, they are not just talking about décor or music. They are talking about whether the food delivers every single time. Chef Cameron is the quiet engine making that happen.

{S}table: Grounded and Southern at Heart

One of the biggest topics in this episode is {S}table, the newest concept taking over the former Steak and Grace space in Dunwoody Village. The name continues the bracket theme you see with Bar{n}. Some people will absolutely call it S table. But the name is stable.

And that word fits the vision.

{S}table is designed to feel grounded and welcoming, centered around modern Southern comfort food with a twist. Think fried chicken and gravy done right. Rich flavors that feel familiar but elevated just enough to surprise you. There will be hearty entrées alongside lighter Southern inspired salads, creating a menu that works for date night, family dinner, or brunch after a morning at Brook Run Park.

They are giving the space a thoughtful makeover, adding an awning for shade, refining the interior colors, and creating a layout that feels warm but flexible. Not overloaded with televisions, but adaptable enough to feel alive during major Dunwoody events.

And here is the hyper local detail that makes this concept special. {S}table sits right along the Dunwoody 4th of July Parade route. That means it is positioned to become one of the prime viewing spots when the city lines the streets in red, white, and blue. Moments like that are part of what makes living in Dunwoody feel different from just living in another suburb.

Morty’s Expansion and the Smokehouse Stage

Mitchell explains that Morty’s had a space challenge. The upstairs and downstairs worked well, but the bar area felt tight compared to the flow at Bar{n} and Message in a Bottle. Then an opportunity opened up. Dr. Luke Roberts of Dunwoody Pediatrics had back space he was no longer fully using. A conversation turned into a renovation.

They pushed the wall back forty feet.

That single change transformed the layout and capacity of Morty’s. They reorganized the Dunwoody Hall of Fame wall, which is filled with memorabilia and donated pieces that reflect local history and personalities. It is the kind of wall that reminds you this is not a generic concept dropped into a random zip code.

With the additional space came bigger experiences. They built out what Mitchell calls the Smokehouse Stage and began layering in more programming. Weekly trivia. Line dancing inside Bar{n} where the tables are pushed aside and an instructor takes over. Karaoke nights. Atlanta Dueling Pianos bringing high energy weekends to Dunwoody Village.

This focus on activation is a major reason Funwoody stands out. It creates things to do in Dunwoody that keep people local instead of driving into Atlanta for entertainment.

The Grand Marshal Sign Story

My favorite item on Morty’s Dunwoody Hall of Fame wall is the Grand Marshal sign honoring David Abes for the Dunwoody 4th of July Parade.

I make the signs for the well-known participants in the parade, and tracking the names is my job. At 8 p.m. on July 3, I realized I forgot the Grand Marshal.

So I did what you do in a community like this. I went to Home Depot, bought materials, grabbed red and blue markers, and made the sign that night. David handled it with grace, and the sign is still proudly displayed on the wall.

That story captures the heart of Dunwoody Village. It is not about perfection. It is about people showing up for each other.

Green Eggs and Kegs: The Best Party in the Burbs

The third major focus of the episode is Green Eggs and Kegs. This annual celebration has quickly become one of the most anticipated Dunwoody events on the calendar. Hosted in the heart of Dunwoody Village, it combines food, craft beer, and live music into one high energy community gathering.

Mitchell describes it as the best party in the burbs, and it is hard to argue. The courtyard fills with tents and taps. Friends from neighborhoods like Dunwoody North and Village Mill run into each other. Families, young professionals, and longtime residents all mix together.

This year, the event features two bands that keep the energy high. 770’s brings crowd favorite covers that get people moving quickly. Family Truckster delivers sing along hits that turn the entire courtyard into one big chorus. The layout allows guests to move easily between food, drinks, and music, creating a festival feel right in the center of Dunwoody.

Events like Green Eggs and Kegs do more than fill a Saturday. They shape how people perceive the city. For anyone relocating to Dunwoody, attending something like this offers a glimpse into the community’s personality. That kind of energy influences how people view the Dunwoody real estate market and whether they can see themselves buying one of the homes for sale in Dunwoody.

A Family Business Rooted in Community

There is also a generational layer to this story. Mitchell Abes is not just part of the marketing team. He is David Abes’ son. In business settings he refers to him as David, which keeps things professional while still reflecting a deep respect for what has been built.

Together, along with Chef Cameron and the broader team, they are shaping Dunwoody Village into something that feels both stable and fun.

That is not just good hospitality. That is good community building.

My Take: Funwoody turned Dunwoody Village into a place you go on purpose. Try line dancing at Bar{n} at least once. Then tell me how it went.

Frequently Asked Questions About Funwoody

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