JASON AND SERA MARIE SPEEGLE GET CRAFTY
Main Street has a new place to gather. Come to The Fountain for locally sourced coffee and pastries in the morning or craft cocktails and music at night. Owners Jason and Sera Marie Speegle are passionate about serving local and seasonal food in a relaxed atmosphere with unwavering hospitality.
It’s no surprise that The Fountain has quickly become Acworth’s craft cocktail destination. The menu changes every two months, along with the cocktail list. Guests love to taste boutique spirits from small distilleries. The bartenders enjoy chatting about what makes each label unique and why they’re serving it.
You’ll know you’re at the right place when you see the flamingo sign. Sera Marie and Jason have been in the craft cocktail industry for a long time and felt like most cocktail bars in the States were missing a fun and relaxed vibe. Trips to central and south America showed them that authentic hospitality never has to be stuffy. The colorful town centers they encountered on their travels became a source of inspiration. Everyone “flocks” to the town fountain to share news, listen to music and enjoy good company. And ever since The Fountain opened up, it’s been the same here in Acworth.
What brought you to Acworth?
We discovered Acworth after we moved from Asheville to Atlanta. We were looking for community and walkability with the luxuries of a big city plus nature. Obviously, Acworth checks all the boxes. After a few years of living in Acworth and commuting to Atlanta, we decided to do what we do best right here. When we first heard about a space being open on Main Street, we showed the owner our business plan, and he gave us a deal we couldn’t turn down. Our five-year plan became our six-month plan, so we quit our jobs and did the renovation ourselves with a good friend who is a carpenter.
What does the Fountain add to the Main Street scene?
There wasn’t a craft cocktail bar in Acworth. Now you can have an upscale experience without leaving town. It also wasn’t our intention to have a farm-to-table restaurant, but how I cook revolves around what’s seasonal and fresh. I source everything I can from local farms and butcher shops. We love keeping our supply chain in the community as much as possible. Our menu changes often, and it’s a great thing for our guests. Jason and I can stay inspired and creative and constantly evolve. Quality will always override convenience for us. Everything we put out is something that we’re really proud of.
Where should I get my morning coffee?
Right here! Our Grab and Go coffee bar recently opened. Again, we saw something our town was missing. The Fountain is the only thing on Main Street that opens before 11 am. We’re using a local roastery, and it’s as fresh as can be. In addition to our house-made biscuit sandwiches, we’ve partnered with a local wholesale bakery, Bert & Boo’s, and are now their official retail home. If you’ve been working from home, come on down for a change of scenery. We put the same level of care into the coffee drinks as we do our cocktails.
How has Acworth made you feel welcome?
A week before we opened, ladies in the community came in and physically helped us get to the finish line. Other business owners offered us an ear and advice for navigating the obstacle course of opening a small business. I’ve been in many small communities where feel like you have to break in and that was 100% not the experience we had here.
What does hospitality mean to you?
We want to be welcoming to everybody. In our favorite places, such as Logan Farm Park, we see people from different backgrounds sharing experiences. We hear so many languages and think that makes our community wonderful. The Fountain is an opportunity to invite more people to Main Street. Music is a big part of it. We let people know we have a laid-back atmosphere. Sometimes there’s Jazz, and sometimes there’s punk. People come for the music and to experience whatever might happen that night. You can make the best drinks in the world but if you don’t make your guests feel welcome, you haven’t done your job.