Escobar restaurant owner Snoop Dillard on rising to the top of Atlanta’s culinary nightlife scene

Atlanta-based operator and CEO of Dillard Hospitality Group, Snoop Dillard, began her hospitality career firmly in the entertainment sector, investing in nightlife, club promotion and a modeling agency.

Now several years later, she has married her late-night roots with fine dining and owns Crave Restaurant, VIP lounge Members Only, and two iterations of her tapas bar and lounge, Escobar, which she owns and operates with rapper 2 Chainz. Most recently, the two business partners opened Esco Seafood during the pandemic in December which serves classic high-end seafood dishes like lobster thermidor until 3 a.m.

“Our restaurants have a unique vibe, you can go and during the day its more of a restaurant and at night it turns into a lounge atmosphere,” Dillard said. “You can reserve sections and purchase bottles but in doing so you don’t lose the good quality of the food we have to offer.”

Dillard noted that the Black-owned business community in Atlanta is strong and eager to spread advice and information, like financial literacy, to younger generations who want to own a successful business.

“LGBT Black owners are not seen as often, especially in hospitality and I think that makes it a challenge,” Dillard said. “The more others can see people that look like/act like them be in positions of power and success, the more attainable it feels.”

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