Fairfield Glade management served up the Food & Beverage Financial Forum the afternoon of June 30 at The Center. Chief Operating Officer/General Manager Bill Ward presided over the hourlong meeting attended by an estimated 75 to 100 people, a number of whom posed questions or offered their opinions.
Not everyone was enchanted with the “menu.”
Figures for the 2026 fiscal year (January-May) show a deficit of $351,296. This compares to $281,434 for 2025.
Ward said the Fairfield Glade community relies heavily on outside income to subsidize services, adding that Food & Beverage is the only one not in line for these funds. Its main income generator, he noted, is the Stonehenge Grille.
A financial boost is anticipated with the opening of the Druid Hills Restaurant in September. Ward said the eatery will offer three times the capacity of Stonehenge.
“Volume solves a lot of problems,” Ward said.
Community members were divided on the impact of Druid Hills on the bottom line. One individual, who has lived in Fairfield Glade since 2001, said they need to go outside Fairfield Glade to market the dining options.
“We attract people for golf,” he said, “but what about dining?”
Another resident was more optimistic.
“We have something amazing here,” he said. “Let’s give Bill a shot. There are hundreds of thousands of of people driving down Peavine Road …”
A 20-plus year resident said the opening of Druid Hills will result in higher overhead and an increase in dues for him. He noted that golf packages can include breakfast and dinner, providing additional income for the restaurants.
In a slide presented by Ward, management expressed optimism the financial picture would improve for Food & Beverage.
“YTD (year to date) through May was a challenging time as we transition from BJL (Bobby Jones Links, the former contractor for Food and Beverage) to FGCC,” Ward said.
“We anticipate revenue stabilization and our expenses to remain under control for the remainder of the year, and results to be more in line with estimates. We anticipate the addition of Druid Hills will have a positive impact and provide an approach in line with budget figures for 2026.”