Aaron Wallace, Managing Partner of Oglethorpe Garage in Athens.Even in college, when most kids around him were drinking commercial beers, Wallace was drawn to the burgeoning craft beer scene. Inspired by his friends’ entrepreneurial spirit, he joined them to open a small pub called Trapeze Pub in downtown Athens while simultaneously studying business management at the University of Georgia. The trio eventually opened a cocktail lounge and event venue in addition to the pub, and he became Director of Operations for the whole restaurant group.
While the concepts were successful, Wallace found himself craving simplification, so he left the group in 2018 to pursue a relaxed, neighborhood spot instead; thus, Oglethorpe Garage was born – or at least the idea was. Wallace only had about six weeks of operation in early 2020 before the world shutdown in the face of the pandemic.
However, sitting in limbo for a few months didn’t stop Wallace’s drive. Instead, he and his partner manned the helm, selling wine and filling to-go orders to move sales, stay open and be that neighborhood spot people could still visit when they needed a reprieve.
“I love Athens,” says Wallace, 36. “It’s my home. I grew up here, I went to school here and then never left. So for me, it was very important to give it the best go that I could.”
As the managing partner of Oglethorpe Garage, Wallace runs all of the day-to-day operations, from ordering to marketing, but his passion lies behind the bar making drinks and talking with new and returning customers.
“I work my butt off every single day to make this place fun to be at,” says Wallace. “That, to me, is the fulfilling part and what keeps me going.”
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