Popular local eatery 2 Dog is set to change ownership and some menu items later this year in Dec. following 27 years of service on Spring Street in Gainesville.
“The most precious things in life are so because they have an ending,” Tina Roberts wrote in a heartfelt letter, signifying the conclusion of her and her husband’s ownership of 2 Dog. That day will come Dec. 23, when ownership will shift to Dharma and Paresh Patel.
The Patels are the current owners of both Sweet Magnolias and The Collegiate Grill, the former of which was purchased earlier this year in April.
Tina and Tim Roberts have a long history of owning 2 Dog and are now looking forward to new adventures in retirement.
“It was just time, after doing it for 27 years,” Tina Roberts said. “If we were forever young, it might be a different story.”
Roberts feels that moving into retirement will offer the Patels a chance to take a different creative direction, ushering in an era of new ideas and menu items for the space.
The chance meeting of Paresh Patel and Tina Roberts, described by Roberts as “serendipitous,” was what kick-started the entire process. Tina and Paresh were delivering food to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville from their respective restaurants when Tina saw Paresh wearing a Sweet Magnolias T-shirt.
The meeting happened soon after the Patels bought The Collegiate Grill. Knowing that fact, Tina planted the seed that she and Tim were looking to sell 2 Dog in the near future. Paresh convened with his wife Dharma, who then contacted the Roberts to learn more.
“She [Tina] said, ‘You know, this is just coincident, it is God's calling that you are the people for my restaurant,’ because she loves the Gainesville community,” Dharma Patel said. “We love the Gainesville community. And you know we've been living here for 23 years now. So we love the community.”
After meeting with the Patels, Tina spoke with her husband and could hardly believe they might be able to “have their cake and eat it too,” she said in an interview Thursday. As the two puzzle pieces notched together, both couples believe everything about the deal feels right.
The Patels are planning to retain the most popular dishes 2 Dog offers while adding some new recipes as well. While the final menu is yet to be decided, Dharma said there is a good chance several Indian dishes will make it onto the menu, which is precisely what the Roberts hope to see.
Over the next few months, Dharma plans to train with the Roberts on how to cook some of their popular dishes; and when asked if the Patels will keep the hometown name?
“Yes, we are going to keep the same name, 2 Dog,” Dharma said without hesitation.
2 Dog doors will only close for a brief time during the transfer of ownership. Tina and Tim’s last day will be Dec. 23. The final brunch offering will be Dec. 3, and the couple is planning a community goodbye party for Dec. 17.
The Patels hope to have everything back open with business as usual sometime in January 2024. As of now, it is unknown how many of the 2 Dog employees will be retained, as some are reportedly planning to retire alongside the Roberts.
As Tina and Tim move into retirement, they plan to enjoy time traveling, as they rarely got the chance during their time as restaurant owners.
“I'm going to go get a job up on the Chattooga River for one of the rafting companies up there,” Tim said. “Part-time, I mean, I'm not going to go up there and live or anything like that, but I'm going to go up there and be a part-time raft guide for the summer.”
Tina threw around the idea of renting out the couple’s house and traveling west to various national parks.
