Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team: Atlanta's Leading Restaurant Broker
- Jimmy Carey
- May 11
- 12 min read
Updated: Jun 12
Helping Atlanta Restaurant Owners Buy, Sell & Lease with Confidence and Industry Expertise
When it comes to buying, selling, or leasing restaurants in Atlanta, Georgia, one name consistently rises above the rest: Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team. Specializing exclusively in restaurant brokerage, this expert team brings a rare combination of hands-on restaurant industry experience and seasoned commercial real estate knowledge. For entrepreneurs, restaurant owners, and landlords alike, they are the go-to Atlanta Restaurant Broker for food and beverage deals of all sizes.
This blog explores who they are, what makes them unique, and why they have become the most trusted restaurant broker in Atlanta—a go-to resource for those searching for restaurants for sale, tenant representation, and expert restaurant real estate advice in Georgia.
Who Is Jimmy Carey?
Jimmy Carey is not your average Commercial Real Estate Agent. With over 37 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality business, he brings firsthand knowledge of what it takes to run a successful restaurant. Before transitioning into commercial real estate, Jimmy owned and operated five restaurants in Miami and Atlanta, including the acclaimed Jimmy’z Kitchen. This deep-rooted industry knowledge allows him to truly understand the needs of both sellers and buyers.
When Jimmy entered the world of real estate, he brought his passion and professionalism with him. His business model is built on one key principle: restaurant owners should work with brokers who actually understand their business.
What Is a Restaurant Broker?
A Restaurant Broker is a specialized Business Broker and commercial real estate professional who focuses on transactions involving restaurant properties and businesses. Unlike general commercial brokers, restaurant brokers must understand:
Restaurant startup costs
Average restaurant startup costs in Georgia
Restaurant construction startup costs
Health department and liquor licensing requirements
Equipment valuations
Lease negotiation intricacies for restaurant tenants
Restaurant Business Common Sense and Financial Insight
Because Jimmy Carey has lived this life, he knows how to price, position, and market a restaurant business for maximum value. His team offers end-to-end solutions, including buyer screening, lease assignment, financial analysis, and restaurant real estate advisory services.
Atlanta’s Competitive Restaurant Market
Atlanta is one of the most dynamic restaurant markets in the Southeast. The city’s growing population, diverse culinary scene, and vibrant neighborhoods make it an ideal location for restaurateurs. Whether it's Buckhead, Midtown, Sandy Springs, or Buford, each submarket offers unique demographics and foot traffic profiles.
The Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team has a hyper-local focus, helping clients understand:
Where restaurant demand is growing
Which neighborhoods offer below-market lease rates
How to align restaurant concepts with market gaps
What landlords expect from food & beverage tenants
Breakdown of Key Submarkets:
Buckhead: Known for upscale dining and high foot traffic. Great for chef-driven or premium concepts.
Midtown: Popular with both office workers and residents. High demand for casual dining and fast casual options.
Sandy Springs: A hub for family-friendly concepts and franchised restaurants due to strong suburban demographics.
Roswell/Alpharetta: Excellent for experiential dining, brewery-style concepts, and adaptive reuse.
Buford and Flowery Branch: Emerging suburban zones ideal for pizza shops, bar-and-grill models, and ghost kitchens.
Services Offered by Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team in Atlanta, Georgia – Atlanta Restaurant Broker
1. Restaurant Business Sales
If you're looking to Sell your restaurant in Atlanta, the Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team offers a full-service solution tailored for restaurant owners in Georgia. Their approach to restaurant business sales goes far beyond listing a property — it involves strategic planning, valuation, marketing, and negotiations, all built on a deep understanding of the restaurant industry.
The team specializes in preparing each listing for maximum value, advising sellers on how to clean up financials, evaluate current lease terms, and improve the business's appeal to qualified buyers. Every listing is presented confidentially to protect operations, staff, and customer relationships. These are often marketed as ghost listings — ensuring that only serious, financially vetted buyers gain access to sensitive information.
Jimmy Carey and his team are also skilled negotiators and advisors who understand how to position restaurants based on their assets, location, brand value, and lease structure. Whether it’s a fast-casual space, a full-service establishment, a bar with a liquor license, or a specialty concept with unique equipment, they know how to craft compelling offerings that attract experienced operators, investors, or franchisees.
Key services for sellers include:
Broker Opinion of Value (BOV) for your business
Professional packaging of financials, lease details, and asset lists
Strategic promotion to a curated list of restaurant buyers and investors
Assistance coordinating with attorneys, landlords, and CPAs
Coordination of buyer due diligence and assignment of lease or new lease terms
As restaurant brokers with real operational experience, the team understands the challenges and nuances of the hospitality business. They guide sellers through every step with clarity and confidence, providing expert insight that general Atlanta commercial real estate brokers simply can’t match.
For restaurant owners searching “sell my restaurant in Atlanta” or “restaurants for sale in Georgia,” Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team is the gold standard.
2. Restaurant Buyer Representation
Buyers trust Jimmy because he doesn’t just show properties—he evaluates them. His team provides financial analysis, site inspections, and leasing assistance to ensure each purchase is sound.
3. Landlord Representation
Many landlords in Atlanta prefer to rent to experienced operators. Jimmy helps landlords find qualified restaurant tenants who will respect the lease and bring consistent foot traffic to the property. Beyond that, the Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team works directly with landlords to curate their spaces—analyzing layout, infrastructure, and market fit to ensure the right type of restaurant concept is pursued for each unique location. This proactive, hands-on approach helps landlords attract stable, long-term operators that enhance the overall success of their retail centers or standalone properties.
4. Franchise Sales & Expansion
As a hospitality business broker, Jimmy works with franchise groups seeking to expand or sell their brand, offering brokerage services tailored to franchisors and multi-unit operators.
5. Lease Negotiation & Assignment
Restaurant leases come with special considerations: grease traps, hood systems, liquor license clauses, and use restrictions. Jimmy’s team ensures these clauses are negotiated with foresight.
6. Broker Opinion of Value (BOV)
For restaurant owners unsure of their business’s worth, the Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team delivers accurate, data-driven BOVs (Broker Opinions of Value) based on key components such as equipment, goodwill, lease value, and comparable restaurant sales across Georgia. But what truly sets them apart is their deep operational experience in the restaurant industry.
Unlike general business brokers who rely solely on formulas or software, Jimmy Carey applies over 37 years of firsthand restaurant ownership and operational knowledge to every valuation. He understands the intangible value of a strong location, loyal customer base, trained staff, brand recognition, and even kitchen efficiency — aspects most traditional commercial real estate brokers overlook.
This insider knowledge enables the JCCRE Team to:
Identify undervalued assets that could command premium pricing
Justify goodwill and brand equity with industry-specific reasoning
Factor in lease structures that can either elevate or diminish value
Translate operational details into value-enhancing marketing narratives
For any seller searching "hospitality business broker Atlanta" or “how much is my restaurant worth,” working with a restaurant-savvy team like Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate isn’t just smart — it’s essential for getting top dollar in today’s competitive market.
Common Mistakes Sellers Make (And How Jimmy Helps Avoid Them)
Overpricing the business: Jimmy uses real financials, not emotional valuation. This is a critical distinction that protects sellers from one of the most common pitfalls in restaurant transactions. Overvaluing a business—often due to sentimental attachment or unrealistic expectations—can cause a listing to sit on the market too long, lose momentum, and ultimately result in price reductions or deal failure. Buyers in today’s market are sophisticated and data-driven. If a business is overpriced, it immediately raises red flags and limits serious inquiries. The Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team uses accurate, industry-informed Broker Opinions of Value (BOVs) to ensure listings are priced right from the start, maximizing buyer interest while preserving the integrity of the offer. This strategy leads to faster closings, stronger negotiation positions, and ultimately, better outcomes for sellers.
Poor bookkeeping: His team works with sellers to organize records and make them buyer-friendly. This includes hands-on coaching to ensure that key financial documents—such as tax returns, profit and loss statements, sales summaries, payroll reports, equipment lists, and lease agreements—are prepared, accurate, and professionally presented. The Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team understands what buyers, attorneys, and lenders need to see in a transaction, and they guide sellers step-by-step in assembling this information. This not only streamlines due diligence but also builds trust and credibility with potential buyers, significantly increasing the chances of a successful sale.
Lack of confidentiality: Listings are marketed discreetly to protect brand and staff morale. Confidentiality is absolutely vital in restaurant business sales. If employees, vendors, or regular customers become aware of a pending sale prematurely, it can lead to instability, staff turnover, supplier hesitations, and even revenue decline. The Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team understands how sensitive these transitions can be and has developed proven protocols to preserve privacy at every stage. From ghost listings that don’t disclose business identity, to controlled release of financials and buyer screening, the team ensures all communications are tightly managed. This approach protects the seller's operations while maintaining trust with key stakeholders until the right time for disclosure arises.
Unrealistic lease terms: The team pre-negotiates or communicates lease terms to avoid late surprises. Lease terms can be one of the most misunderstood and underestimated elements of a restaurant transaction. A poorly structured or unclear lease can kill a deal—whether it's an assignment, a sublease, or a brand-new agreement. The Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team works with both sellers and landlords to identify potential red flags in the lease document early in the process. They help sellers understand what terms may need renegotiation, such as personal guarantees, CAM charges, renewal options, and exclusivity clauses. Their experience allows them to anticipate objections from buyers and proactively address them, creating smoother transitions and minimizing legal complications. This lease expertise is part of what makes JCCRE a trusted name among seasoned restaurateurs and commercial landlords throughout Atlanta and the greater Georgia market.
Second-Generation Turnkey Restaurants: A Smart Investment
One of the most attractive types of listings offered by the Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team is the second-generation turnkey restaurant. These are restaurant spaces that were previously built out and operated by other restaurateurs, also known as Restaurant Asset Sales. They're already equipped with essential infrastructure—like hood systems, grease traps, walk-ins, and plumbing—making them a cost-effective and time-saving opportunity for new operators.
Whether you're expanding a growing concept or launching a new one, these second-gen spaces allow buyers to skip the massive expense and long timelines associated with ground-up restaurant construction. In a market like Atlanta, where restaurant construction startup costs can exceed six figures and stretch over several months, second-generation spaces allow new owners to get up and running in weeks instead of months.
Jimmy’s team actively curates and markets these opportunities, making them an ideal choice for:
Multi-unit operators seeking expansion with minimal downtime
Independent chefs launching new concepts
Franchisees looking for plug-and-play restaurant-ready spaces
💡 Looking to acquire a second-generation restaurant space in Atlanta? Browse our Featured Listings or schedule a consultation to get started with one of Georgia’s most experienced restaurant real estate brokers. offered by the Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team is the second-generation turnkey restaurant. These are restaurant spaces that were previously built out and operated by other restaurateurs. They're already equipped with essential infrastructure—like hood systems, grease traps, walk-ins, and plumbing—making them a cost-effective and time-saving opportunity for new operators.
By focusing on these high-value listings, Jimmy helps clients avoid costly pitfalls and capitalize on momentum. It’s just one more way that the team delivers unmatched value as a trusted restaurant broker in Atlanta.
Poor bookkeeping: His team works with sellers to organize records and make them buyer-friendly.
Lack of confidentiality: Listings are marketed discreetly to protect brand and staff morale.
Unrealistic lease terms: The team pre-negotiates or communicates lease terms to avoid late surprises.
The Power of Ghost Listings and Confidentiality
In many restaurant sales, confidentiality is key. Staff and customers are often unaware that a sale is happening. Jimmy’s team uses “Ghost Listings” to market restaurants without revealing their name or exact location. Interested buyers must sign an NDA and prove their financial capability before receiving detailed information. This protects the seller while keeping the business operational and profitable during the sale process.
Why Choose Jimmy Carey Over Other Brokers?
Most commercial real estate agents do not specialize in restaurants. They may not know the difference between a Type I and Type II hood, how grease traps affect zoning, or why liquor license transferability is essential. Jimmy Carey does.
Here’s what sets his team apart:
Hands-on restaurant operations experience
Specialized focus on food & beverage real estate
Unmatched network of restaurant buyers, investors, and landlords
Strong digital presence with SEO-driven restaurant listings
Bilingual services in English and Spanish
Notable Listings and Success Stories from Atlanta Restaurant Sales
Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team has successfully listed and sold:
Sushi restaurants in Sandy Springs
Turnkey pizzerias in Flowery Branch and Oakwood
Bistro-style restaurants with patio seating in Roswell
High-traffic bar spaces in Midtown Atlanta
Each deal is tailored, with support provided throughout due diligence, lease assignment, and closing.
A Guide for First-Time Restaurant Buyers in Georgia
If you’re new to the restaurant industry or purchasing your first location, Jimmy’s team helps demystify the process:
Business Plan Review – Validate concept-market fit.
Site Selection – Identify areas based on target customer and budget.
Startup Cost Budgeting – Guidance on average startup and construction costs.
Lease Review – Protect yourself with favorable terms.
Licensing Support – Guidance on how to obtain liquor, health, and signage permits.
Education Through Content
Jimmy’s team doesn’t just sell—they educate. Their website features:
Blogs on restaurant ownership
YouTube videos showcasing new listings and other relevant Restaurant Brokerage information
Email campaigns designed for buyers and investors
Social media posts focused on market trends and opportunities
To expand your knowledge, here are a few featured blog posts you might find helpful:
Tenant Representation in Commercial Real Estate: Learn how JCCRE advocates for restaurant tenants and negotiates strong lease terms tailored to food and beverage operations.
The Pros and Cons of Buying an Existing Restaurant: A helpful breakdown for buyers weighing the risks and rewards of taking over an established concept.
Restaurant For Sale – Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward: A real-world example of a second-generation turnkey restaurant opportunity in one of Atlanta's most desirable submarkets.
This content-driven approach supports their SEO efforts and builds credibility with Google and users alike.
Additional Resources
For a deeper look at how the Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team can help you sell, lease, or invest in a restaurant property, explore these core service pages on the website:
Sell Your Restaurant – Food & Beverage Business Brokerage: A comprehensive overview of how JCCRE helps owners successfully sell their restaurant businesses in Atlanta and throughout Georgia.
Tenant Representation Services: Understand how JCCRE advocates for restaurant operators looking for new locations and negotiates tenant-favorable leases.
Featured Listings: Browse active restaurant listings, including second-generation and turnkey spaces ready for new ownership.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What does a restaurant broker do?
A restaurant broker helps owners buy, sell, or lease restaurant businesses and spaces. They offer specialized services such as business valuation, marketing, lease negotiation, buyer vetting, and transaction coordination tailored specifically for food and beverage operations.
Q: How do I sell my restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia?
To sell your restaurant in Atlanta, it’s best to work with a dedicated restaurant broker like Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate. They offer confidential listings, qualified buyer screening, and expert lease assignment support, ensuring a smooth and professional transaction from start to finish.
Q: What are second-generation restaurant spaces?
Second-generation restaurant spaces are previously built-out restaurant locations that already include key infrastructure like hoods, grease traps, walk-ins, and equipment. These turnkey spaces reduce startup time and costs significantly for new operators.
Q: What documents are needed to sell a restaurant?
Essential documents include profit and loss statements, tax returns, a list of furniture/fixtures/equipment (FF&E), lease agreements, and any existing licenses. The JCCRE Team coaches sellers step-by-step on organizing and preparing these documents for buyer review and due diligence.
Final Thoughts: Atlanta’s Trusted Restaurant Real Estate Broker
Still exploring your options? Whether you're entering the restaurant industry, relocating your concept, or preparing to exit, the Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team provides unmatched service tailored to food and beverage operations.
For more insights, explore:
For anyone searching “restaurant broker Atlanta”, “restaurants for sale in Georgia”, or “sell my restaurant in Atlanta”, the clear answer is the Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team. With deep expertise, local market focus, and proven results, they are Atlanta’s most trusted name in restaurant real estate.
Whether you're a chef looking to buy your first space, a landlord searching for a high-quality food tenant, or an operator preparing for retirement, Jimmy’s team is ready to help you succeed.
Ready to take the next step?
📞 Jimmy Carey – 305-788-8207
📍 Atlanta, GA
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