Rising from the ashes: Summerhill’s Poach Social has reopened with renewed vision

French toast at Poach Social. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice Poach Social, a brunch restaurant at 112 Ormond St. SE, reopened after shutting its doors in 2022 following a large kitchen fire. During its closure, the Summerhill restaurant reinforced its mission to provide the community with a space that feeds and brings the community together.& The restaurant’s focus is not only on providing good food but also on cultivating an environment where people can have an enjoyable time and socialize. Upon entering the restaurant, guests are greeted by a large LED sign promising great food and a great mood, a commitment that motivated owner Brian Mitchell through the restaurant’s hardships.& After the fire gutted the entire kitchen and caused smoke damage to the dining area, Mitchell shared it was a challenge to rebuild and reorganize. Inflation had hit, causing the price of produce to triple against their budget used to renovate the boutique space and revamp the menu. Discouragement settled in, but Mitchell took it as an opportunity to make “lemon out of lemonade” and implement changes.& “It was overwhelming at first,” Mitchell said. “I won’t lie. Sometimes, it’s like, do I really want to do this again? But...