Five Points restaurant owner Hugh Acheson sells to former employee Peter Dale

When popular Athens restaurant Five & Ten celebrates its 25th anniversary next year, it will do so under new ownership.

Founded by award-winning chef Hugh Acheson, the upscale Five Points eatery has been sold to Athens restaurateur Peter Dale, who began his career as a staff member at Five & Ten.

In an email to the Banner-Herald, Dale said that Acheson's move to New York City made it difficult to continue running the restaurant, and the two agreed that passing the torch to Dale was "the best way for Five & Ten to continue and flourish."

"Hugh took a chance on someone with zero restaurant experience and gave me the skills and confidence to pursue my passion for cooking and hospitality," said Dale, who went on to become the co-owner of Athens restaurants The National, Maepole, Condor Chocolates and formerly Seabear Oyster Bar.

Located at 1073 S. Milledge Ave., Five & Ten opened in 2000 as Acheson's flagship restaurant, and was named Restaurant of the Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2007. The menu has endured in popularity thanks to its unique blend of Southern, Italian and French cuisine.

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This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Five and Ten restaurant changes ownership