How the Cafés, Antiques, and Community in This Atlanta Suburb Stole a Gothic Novelist’s Heart
Roswell, Georgia, an 1839 mill town turned Atlanta suburb, wasn’t where I thought I’d settle. But life has a funny way of leading us back to the places we need most. We first moved here for my husband’s job, left for a stint in New York, and then returned, drawn by something deeper than convenience. It felt right to put down roots in a tiny brick ranch in my sister-in-law’s neighborhood, surrounded by the kind of charm and history that makes a writer’s heart race.
A Town That Feels Like a Story Waiting to Be Written
Roswell is the kind of place that sticks with you. It has layers, history, and an unshakable sense of character. Canton Street, with its brick sidewalks and storefronts that have stood the test of time, is a living, breathing novel in itself.
One of my favorite haunts is Fellows Cafe, a dreamy breakfast and brunch spot housed in an 1890s home under the shade of a century-old oak. Back in 2021, when life felt stagnant and I needed a shake-up, I took a job there as a host. No experience, no real plan—just a desire for change. That experience didn’t just give me a paycheck; it gave me inspiration. My latest book’s main character? A restaurateur. Life has a way of writing its own stories for you.
Where the Past Finds a New Home
Antique stores aren’t just about old furniture; they’re time capsules. And City Antiques & Interior Arts is one of the best. It’s the largest antique mall in town, but it feels intimate, like stepping into a hundred different lives at once.
I can lose myself for hours here, sifting through stacks of china, flipping through vintage movie posters, running my fingers over brass doorknobs that probably have decades of stories attached to them. My favorite find? A dusty, full-length mink coat that feels like it belonged to a 1940s Hollywood starlet. Every trip here leaves me with something special—and a sense of calm that’s hard to find anywhere else.
A Park That Grows With You
Roswell Area Park isn’t just a patch of green; it’s a living scrapbook of my life here. In my twenties, I ran the trails. In my thirties, I watched my kids kick soccer balls across its fields. Now, I walk with a friend after middle school drop-off, catching up on life while stopping to admire every dog that passes.
The park is always buzzing—kids playing baseball, parents chatting, runners pacing themselves. It’s not just a park. It’s Roswell’s heartbeat.
Where Southern Hospitality Meets Michelin Recognition
Table & Main isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an experience. Set in a beautifully restored century-old farmhouse, this spot, run by Roswell native Ryan Pernice, serves up Southern comfort with a touch of elegance. And the food? Unreal.
One dish you can’t miss: the hogs ’n quilts, a next-level take on pigs-in-a-blanket that somehow feels both nostalgic and gourmet. It’s no surprise that the place earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand award in 2024.
But what really sets Table & Main apart is the way they deliver your check—tucked into a classic Southern paperback novel. It’s the kind of touch that makes a writer’s heart skip a beat. A place that values food and stories in equal measure? That’s my kind of spot.
Why Roswell Feels Like Home
I didn’t plan on falling for Roswell, but here I am, completely taken. It’s a town that whispers stories in every creaky floorboard, every tree-lined street, every cup of coffee sipped on an old porch. It’s a place that lets you breathe, dream, and settle in without feeling stuck.
For a writer, for anyone who loves a place with depth and heart, Roswell isn’t just a suburb. It’s a story waiting to be told.
