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“Run Wild. Wag Freely.” This tagline might not seem one that’s suited for the bar and restaurant world, but it’s one that perfectly fits Off Leash, a one-part premium dog park and one-part upscale restaurant and bar experience that opened this past July in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Off Leash is open daily from 8:00am to 9:00pm and successfully incorporates “laid back” and “play” into an upscale environment that both dogs and humans can enjoy. The premises feature state-of-the-art outdoor and indoor dog parks, a dog-friendly outdoor dining patio, and an indoor restaurant and bar.
Lonnie Cooper and Wendy Newman are the principals behind Off Leash. Cooper started an industry-leading sports and media talent agency in 1986, Career Sports & Entertainment. Newman joined the business in the early 2000s, and now, as the company's CEO, she and Cooper have started their newest concept, Lonnie Cooper Ventures, which owns and operates Off Leash.
“We have a large, outdoor off-leash dog park and a fully indoor dog park equipped with heaters and fans to keep you comfortable no matter the weather outside while you let your dog(s) run wild,” says Newman. “We do offer beverages in the park, but food is not allowed for the safety of the pups and their people.
“However, when you get hungry or your pup needs a rest, our outdoor dining patio offers the perfect spot to lounge, connect, and enjoy food and cocktails—all with your pups by your side. Off Leash also provides a traditional indoor dining experience (for humans only) complete with one of the most beautiful bars in downtown Alpharetta!”
While developing Off Leash, Cooper and Newman were inspired by concepts like the popular TopGolf, which takes an everyday activity like going to the driving range and turning it into an authentic experience that even a golfer would enjoy.
“People are looking for unique experiences with great food and exceptional service,” states Newman. “With the significant increase in pet ownership following the COVID-19 pandemic, we felt this was the perfect time to bring the Off Leash concept to the public. Off Leash was designed so that even people who don’t own a dog would [enjoy it].
“Once [patrons] understand how our facility works, they are hooked!”
Off Leash is located on the corner of S. Main Street and Old Milton Parkway in Downtown Alpharetta. This southern city has become a well-known, trendy destination thanks to its combination of restaurants, shops, and central greenspace within walking distance. (Note: Off Leash is also located near The Avalon, a popular 86-acre mixture of retail shopping, conference center, hotel, and residences in Alpharetta.)
It goes without further saying that combining a dog park with a dining experience has “unique” needs from a property standpoint. “A good, visible location was important to us, but we still needed a property with enough [area] for a large green space, an outdoor patio, and a small indoor restaurant. The Alpharetta location checked all those boxes for us,” says Newman. “We did have to get a ‘special use’ permit from the city to utilize the property how we wanted, but the process was worth it.”
There are currently over forty employees working at Off Leash. In addition to traditional restaurant staff, these workers include “Dogtenders” who help keep the park clean and supervise the pups at play. “We look for energetic, hardworking employees who enjoy being around dogs,” explains Newman.
Newman and Cooper are both dog lovers, so everything related to the superior service and upscale amenities implemented at Off Leash is an effort to treat “pups and their people” like “VIPs.”
While the dogs do have to remain on a leash while their owners are dining, Cooper and Newman say it was important that the pups have just as good a time as the owners. “We have dog beds, doggie water bowls, and a dog menu,” says Newman.
Off Leash describes their food as “elevated bar fare.” The chef-inspired menu covers both breakfast (served from 8:00am to 11:00am) and lunch and dinner (11:00am until closing). The latter features hand-breaded fried chicken sandwiches, juicy burgers, slow-roasted BBQ pork tacos, fresh salads, and a selection of shareable appetizers.
“We did think about including flatbed pizzas on our menu,” shares Newman, “but we decided against it because there is already a great pizza spot located across the street from our location.”
One ideal the owners firmly believed in during the menu’s planning stages was to have “something for everyone.” This means allergen-friendly and vegetarian options are also available.
Their drink menu features a wide selection of beverages that the establishment guarantees will suit every palate. These include on-tap beers, locally brewed IPAs, specialty cocktails, red wines, and white Chardonnays. And for owners’ furry companions, an assortment of delicious and healthy treats is offered as well.
The most popular menu items over the establishment’s first few weeks in operation are nachos, tacos, and burgers. “The non-alcoholic frozen lemonade and our selection of craft cocktails have also been a huge hit during these hot summer days in Georgia,” adds Newman.
Membership opportunities are available at Off Leash. “Much like dogs, our membership options come in all sizes!” says Newman.
A Yearly Membership (billed annually at one dollar a day) is good for one dog, while a Yearly Family Membership ($450) is good for up to three dogs max. Perks involved with these memberships include unlimited access to the park year-round, invitations to exclusive events, and a 5% discount on food and non-alcoholic beverages each dining visit.
For those wanting to try out the park yet not ready to fully commit to a year-long membership, day pass options are also offered. These are sold as a Single-Day pass and Five-Day and Ten-Day packs (valid for one year from purchase date). “If you visit us without a dog, no membership or day pass is necessary to dine on our dog-friendly patio,” remarks Newman. “But if you plan to let your pup run wild in our state-of-the-art dog park, a membership or day pass is needed.”
Safety remains paramount at Off Leash. Vaccination records for one’s dogs are required to be shown before the pet can enter the premises. Details of what these entail are listed on their website.
Because this is the twenty-first century, Cooper and Newman have smartly set up an Off Leash app that allows attendees to set up their account before visiting for the first time. They can also access the app for rapid check-in going forward.
Popularity has already led to plans underfoot for a second Off Leash location thirty miles away in Decatur, Georgia scheduled to open in early 2025. “It will be a bit smaller and a model that will work well in other in-town locations,” says Newman. “Having both Alpharetta and Decatur will give us both a suburban and urban model for future Off Leash expansion.”
And who knows? If these further expansions prove just as successful as the Off Leash in Alpharetta, would it be that far outside the park to consider this the dawn of the “bark and restaurant” industry?
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