BIG SKY SPIRIT
Ted’s Montana Grill Co-Founder Shows Continued Commitment to Community
January 2026
Written by Maria Smith
Report and Interview by Shannon Doyle Bell
GEORGE MCKERROW SHOWS CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY
On Atlanta’s Upper Westside, community isn't just a buzzword. It’s a reality. Tree-lined streets, historic neighborhoods, and a growing list of local businesses have turned this pocket of the South into one of Atlanta’s most dynamic and exciting areas. At the heart of it, in the sprawling Westside Village shopping district, sits a familiar name in American dining: Ted’s Montana Grill (2250 Marietta Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318). Behind the Bison burgers, complimentary pickles and Blackberry lemonade, is George McKerrow. He is a man whose story is as much about people as it is about the iconic restaurants he developed.
For more than five decades, McKerrow has guided his career with a people-first philosophy. He founded Longhorn Steakhouse in 1981 and helped bring life to Atlanta’s casual dining scene throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including opening the perennial riverfront favorite, Canoe, in 1995. In 2002, he co-founded Ted’s Montana Grill with conservationist and media mogul Ted Turner (who bought 120,000 acres of Montana land in 1989 to re-wild the land and build the largest bison heard in the U.S.), bringing his distinct entrepreneurial instinct to the partnership. The brand now operates 38 locations in 16 states, with the largest number in Atlanta. But long before bison short ribs and Big Sky hospitality became hallmarks of these iconic restaurants, McKerrow was a kid in Ohio bussing tables, washing dishes, and falling in love with the unpredictable rhythm of restaurants. During a recent candid interview with Upper Westside Magazine, McKerrow emphasized his love for this business. “The restaurant industry is entrepreneurial by nature,” he says. “It’s high risk, high reward, and built on people. That’s what drew me in.” Also, he jokes,” I like to eat too. I'm on a 'seafood” diet, if I see food, I eat it.”
BEGINNING OF TED’S MONTANA GRILL
Ted’s Montana Grill was born out of a vision to be more than just a place to eat. McKerrow connected with Turner over a shared interest in bison as a sustainable, healthier protein. And both men had a vision for a restaurant that felt both meaningful and familiar. The result was Ted’s Montana Grill, a restaurant concept rooted in American tradition serving ranch-raised bison, scratch-made sides, and handcrafted drinks in spaces designed to feel warm, honest, and authentic. McKerrow wants people to understand that delicious food is from page only part of the story.
“Our entire team at Ted's Montana Grill thrives on being of service, living and breathing the Big Sky Spirit, delivering genuine hospitality and being bold and steadfast in their actions to make sure that our consumers get great food, great service, and a great attitude in a spotlessly clean restaurant every minute of the day, 14 shifts a week, seven days a week.”
WHY WESTSIDE VILLAGE
Choosing to plant roots in Westside Village in 2020 was a business decision for McKerrow, as well as a values decision, too. The location offers easy access to downtown, Midtown, and Vinings, and it also provides a strong neighborhood feel. “We treat every restaurant like it’s an individual community experience,” McKerrow explains. “It’s not about being a chain. It’s about being a neighbor.”
McKerrow ensured community involvement was integral to the culture of every Ted’s Montana Grill location. From donating gift certificates to Bolton Academy to hiring neighborhood residents and supporting local charities, the brand operates with a simple internal rule: show up for your people. At the Upper Westside location, that commitment looks like “Cheers-like” interactions with guests, its long-term partnerships with a focus on its on sustainability and environmentalism.
“We’re open to anything that helps the community thrive,” McKerrow says. “Whether it’s supporting Upper Westside Magazine, a school program, or a fundraiser, that’s part of our purpose. We’re not here just to sell meals, we’re here to be part of the fabric.”
ADVICE TO ENTREPRENUERS
Even as a child, McKerrow dreamed of something more. In eighth grade, when a teacher dismissed his dream of becoming either the president or an entrepreneur, insisting entrepreneurship wasn’t even a real job, he stubbornly disagreed. Throughout his life, that early instinct to challenge limits proved prophetic, shaping a life driven by ambition, resilience, and a healthy dose of challenging the status quo. However, McKerrow's life as an entrepreneur hasn't been without its challenges.
“I'm extremely optimistic,” he shared, “and that drives my wife crazy, because I often times don't think about downside risk and things, but… it’s just how I've gone through life, and I've been relatively successful. I made a lot of goof-ups along the way. I tell everybody this: I've learned more from my failures than I ever have from my successes.”
A community-focused mindset also shapes McKerrow’s perspective on entrepreneurship. His advice to aspiring founders is refreshingly grounded: don’t chase hype. He encourages other entrepreneurs to find a need in their community and create something people actually want.
“You can’t force a product into the world,” he says. “If it doesn’t serve a real need, it won’t last. Small businesses are the backbone of local economies, and it takes grit, creativity, and long-term thinking to build something that endures.”
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Ted’s Montana Grill is known for made-from-scratch, classic American cuisine and its dogged commitment to providing stellar Big Sky service. Ted’s features favorites with ranch-raised bison and certified Angus Beef, as well as:
- Award-winning burgers
- Hand-cut aged steaks (from its on-premises butcher shop)
- All-natural chicken
- Fresh seafood
Guests can also enjoy an extensive bar selection, old-fashioned shakes and malts, hand-squeezed lemonade, and hand-crafted Boylan sodas, most served with the finely crushed ice that has developed a cult-like following.
