Olive Garden: Serving the Developer First

The announcement that Olive Garden is coming to Athens stirred up more than just excitement. It stirred up emotion and plenty of rumors. Many believed the new restaurant would take over the old Ruby Tuesday building, since the only description in the public announcement said it would be “located on Athens Limestone Boulevard.” But after checking with City Hall, it’s now confirmed that the new Olive Garden will actually sit behind Logans Roadhouse on a property marked by a very familiar sign.

This isn’t just about where the new restaurant will be built. It’s about how it’s being paid for and who really benefits when city leaders hand out abatements in the name of “economic development.”

The Athens News Courier recently announced, deep in the classifieds, that Olive Garden is officially making its way to Athens, but the excitement has been met with skepticism. The city’s decision to approve a $600,000 tax rebate for the restaurant has left many small business owners questioning city leaders’ priorities.

At the October 27th City Council meeting, several residents stood up and spoke out, saying Athens doesn’t need to pay a large corporate chain to be here. We’re desirable enough, a sentiment echoed by many in the packed council chamber and on social media.

It wasn’t long ago that public outcry over Panera Bread’s proposed incentive led the city to pull the item from the agenda altogether. Panera still came anyway. Fast forward seven years, and it seems our council’s stance has shifted, not toward the people, but toward the developers.

The $600,000 Deal Straight from City Hall

According to Resolution 2025-2115, passed on October 27th, the city authorized the mayor to enter into an agreement with Olive Garden Holdings, LLC, a Florida-based subsidiary of Darden Restaurants, Inc. The company’s proposal called for a $6.5 million investment and an estimated 80 new jobs, with projected $4.5 million in annual taxable sales.

In exchange, Athens committed to refunding 100% of the city’s sales tax revenue from the restaurant for up to six years or until $600,000 is reached.

The agreement reads:

“The City shall annually pay the Company in arrears one hundred percent (100%) of the proceeds from the City’s sales tax… for a period of six (6) years, or until $600,000 is paid by the City to the Company, whichever is first.”

That means every dollar in city sales tax collected from Olive Garden will be paid back to the company (Darden Restaurants, Inc., not the local owner but corporate) until that cap is met, money that would otherwise go to city services like first responders, parks, and infrastructure.

Corporate Owned, Not Franchised

While the deal is marketed as an “economic development partnership,” it’s not with a local investor or small business. Olive Garden is not a franchise.
According to Darden Restaurants, “most Olive Garden restaurants are company-owned within the United States.”

So rather than assisting a small local entrepreneur taking a risk, the city is using taxpayer funds to rebate a corporate restaurant chain that’s already thriving nationwide.

Follow the Property, Not the Pasta

The property itself is represented by Ming Enterprises, a familiar name in Athens development. Ming’s signs can be found across the city on nearly every new retail project, from Publix and Buffalo Wild Wings to Marco’s Pizza and Osborne Jewelers.

And yet, when Eggs Up Grill, a locally operated business, opened earlier this year in another Ming-developed property, it received no abatements, incentives, or tax breaks.

Meanwhile, all of Ming’s newer developments, the ones tied to national brands, are fully occupied and new building developments he has received millions in incentives in abatements. While the Shoppes at Lindsay Lane, a Huntsville developer developed complex, remains completely empty close to 8 months after the ribbon cutting March 19, 2025.

Coincidence? Or does it reveal which projects actually get the city’s full attention and which are left behind once the incentive checks clear?

The Vote That Drew a Line

When the Olive Garden abatement came up for a vote, the public had already made their concerns clear.
During the October 27th council meeting, three residents spoke during public comments, questioning why Athens keeps using taxpayer dollars to recruit corporations that would likely come here anyway.

When the vote was called, Councilman Wayne Harper cast the only vote against the measure. His decision stood out, and many noted he seemed reminded of how things were handled back in 2018, when council members pushed back against similar requests.

Earlier in that same meeting, Councilman Harold Wales voiced support for giving money to Olive Garden. But his comments raised a fair question — did he fully understand that it’s not the Olive Garden restaurant receiving the abatement, but rather the developer and property owner?

Ultimately, the resolution passed. But Harper’s dissent was notable, especially as October 27th marked the final city council meeting for both him and Harold Wales before retiring.

The Closing Remarks that Opened a Door

As the meeting drew to a close, both Harper and Wales gave farewell statements reflecting on their years in office.
And while both thanked city staff and constituents, there was a shared remark that caught the attention of those listening closely, each alluded to being “recruited to run” for city council in the first place.

It was a quiet admission, tucked at the end of a long night, but it spoke volumes about how political influence works in small-town government. Who encourages candidates to run, who backs them, and who benefits when the votes fall a certain way.

The Olive Garden abatement wasn’t just another development deal, it was a case study in how power, influence, and development are intertwined in Athens.

And as a new council prepares to be sworn in on November 3rd, one can’t help but wonder if the next wave of leadership will answer to the people or the same small circle of developers who seem to keep getting served first.

That’s where the next case begins.

Editor’s Note:

This article is an opinion piece based on information obtained from public records at Athens City Hall, including Resolution 2025-2115, the official Project Agreement, and supporting attachments. Olive Garden Holdings, LLC is a Florida-registered subsidiary of Darden Restaurants, Inc., a Fortune 500 company. All opinions expressed are those of the author and are intended to encourage transparency, accountability, and public discussion.