Antonio Patterson has taken a somewhat roundabout path to his current position as owner of a successful Henry County restaurant.

“The Lord works in mysterious ways,” he said. “It was all in God’s plan because I didn’t plan on owning a restaurant or even cooking. I was just trying to figure things out.”

After high school in his native Florida, Patterson briefly pursued college football. While that did not pan out, he graduated from college and ultimately got a job at the post office. Meanwhile, people at the church he attended told him repeatedly that he was destined to do something special in an entrepreneurial way while working with his hands.

“They kept saying, ‘The Lord told me to tell you this,’” Patterson recalled.

Before college he had bought a food truck – actually, more like a hot dog cart – with his father as an investment. They rented it out to other people who operated it. After college Patterson decided to invest in improvements on the food truck so that it would be worth more as a rental.

Eventually, Patterson decided to operate the truck himself and sold plates of food out of his garage. That soon became a profitable venture.

An incident involving a family member led Patterson and his wife, who already had an eye on continuing her hair business in Georgia, to make a quick move north. The change of scenery was good for the entire family.

By early 2018, they were settled, and Patterson took his food truck to Norcross daily. He was able to weather the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted many restaurants negatively, although it was sometimes a money-losing proposition. Patterson would finally decide to keep his food operations closer to home.

In 2021, he was operating his food truck in McDonough when a fire marshal asked him about his license. Patterson did not have one in Georgia, having worked here for two years while thinking the license he got in Florida was sufficient. It was not. He received a warning and learned that the next violation would result in a $1,000 fine.

“They shut me down,” said Patterson. “That led me to pursue an actual building.”

He opened Fat Boiz Premium Gourmet in McDonough with an extensive menu. Among the offerings are appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, salads, dinner entrees, kid’s menu, desserts, and an all-day breakfast. Customers can check out the menu on the restaurant’s website and also place online orders.

Patterson and his wife send their children to Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy, where he has a role as a coach in the youth football program. He considers it an important way for him to draw from his own experience and contribute to the next generation.

“I’m able to give back more to the community and be with the kids and show them something,” he said.

By his admission, Patterson’s story is not the prettiest. But he has found success.

“All of the moves that I did make, I wasn’t trying to make them. It’s just how God led me in those steps.”

Fat Boiz Premium Gourmet

573 Jonesboro Road

McDonough, GA 30253

678-759-0784

eatfatboiz.org

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By Monroe Roark