Southern Soul meets fine dining at T.I.’s Scales 925

               Clifford "T.I." Harris and his wife Tameka "Tiny" Harris                       

Politicians, industry insiders, tastemakers and bloggers gathered at the ribbon cutting of Scales 925, the new upscale soul food restaurant owned by Clifford “T.I.” Harris. To many of the guests in attendance he is Tip, the Atlanta born and bred rapper/actor and now restaurateur who got his start pushing mixtapes and performing in local clubs. And for those who have supported him, like City Councilman Kwanza Hall and Mayor Kasim Reed, it was a proud moment to see a rapper, who many had written off, evolve into a businessman with sophisticated taste while remaining true to his Atlanta roots.

“I remember Jason Geter coming over to my house so I could listen to his first album,” Mayor Reed recalled. “I think it’s the right place for T.I. to be in Atlanta and Scales 925 says Atlanta is home.”

As T.I. stood looking on at his guests, there was a glimpse of the young man who has something to prove. Scales 925 isn’t about selling albums or street cred, T.I. wants to build on his already established name and give the world an authentic taste of Southern soul food.

“This shows us what we can come from and become no matter our past,” T.I. said to the crowd. “We can control our destiny. I hope to make each and every one of us in the city of Atlanta proud and I hope you’re hungry ’cause we’ll be serving food.”

And there’s nothing better than the warmth of Southern comfort food to bring out the familial among an intimate tribe of friends. Hall stood in the breezeway of the restaurant looking around downtown Atlanta recalling how much the area has changed.  

“I’ve been to every restaurant opening here that has occurred. French American Brasserie was the first

Mayor Kasim Reed and Clifford "T.I" Harris
cut the ribbon to open Scales 925 

and I supported them, so I am supporting him,” Hall says. “It’s been very difficult for restaurateurs and operators to make this successful. It’s in a large space. It’s an interesting awkward place, but it is in the heart of Atlanta. It’s among all our crown jewels of new investments, so we want it to become something fabulous”

What T.I. brings to the downtown community is fare from the Westside of Atlanta prepared with finesse. Chef Ashley, culinary partner and private chef for T.I., creates soul food for the modern palate. Her menu includes black eyed peas, greens cooked four ways and a triple bird meatloaf made of duck, turkey and chicken. Ashley’s goal is to introduce soul food cuisine that, like T.I., is highly evolved.

“The fun part is going into business with someone who understands what I am trying to do. He would always say your food never taste catered, how do you make fried chicken beautiful?” Ashley says laughing. “It’s traditional southern food with a twist. I do a chicken and waffle topped with arugula salad. Mr. Harris enjoys the peach cobbler. It’s soul food, but it doesn’t have to be traditional”

Scales 925 is located at 30 Ivan Allen Blvd on the corner of Ivan Allen and Spring St. The newly renovated space sits adjacent to the W Downtown Atlanta and is three blocks from the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Among the guess there were mumblings in regard to some of the neighbors who were unhappy about the new kid on the block, but Hall says it’s going to take balance.

“Neighbors near by have expressed their concerns. We just want to make sure we honor the nightlife experience so that it doesn’t become too much of a club and that it’s also a restaurant and they can sleep at night.” Hall says.

    Clifford "T.I" Harris and City Councilman Kwanza Hall   

There’s no doubt eyebrows were raised over T.I.’s murky past. It’s an issue Hall acknowledges while at the same time championing the man T.I. has grown to become.

“My earliest memory of him is thinking about my friends on the West side and a

Allensville reflecting on Bounce and 559….. he’s a great musician and he’s talented. He’s truly representative of the Westside of Atlanta and urban America,” Hall says. “I’m thankful that he stepped up to be not just a musician, but a person who wants to give back to the community.”

*This article was written in 2015 and Scales 925 is permanently closed. Clifford "T.I." Harris has opened a new restaurant, Bankhead Seafood.