Brett’s Backyard Opening in Watkinsville

WATKINSVILLE, GA — Brett’s Backyard, a new family-oriented concept from Brett and Leslie McCullough, is under construction at 1021 Jamestown Blvd, Watkinsville, GA 30677 and is targeting a June 2026 opening, Leslie McCullough told Business Debut.

The project builds on the couple’s Texas roots and their longtime Brett’s Casual American restaurant in Athens.

What to Expect

Brett’s Backyard is designed as a casual gathering place with indoor and outdoor spaces for families, friends and larger groups. Guests will enter into a fast-casual style service area, with ordering at the counter and food run to the table.
A central section will feature a full-service bar, while the “backyard” area will offer outdoor seating, a walk-up bar and lawn-style amenities.

Plans include cornhole, a sandbox and space for game-watching and other community-focused activities.

The design also incorporates a dedicated drive-up pickup building at the rear of the restaurant. Guests placing takeout orders will receive a notification when food is ready, then pull through a designated lane that exits back onto Jamestown Boulevard.

The total capacity for Brett's Backyard will be 238 between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Menu and Vision

The Watkinsville menu will carry over much of the Brett’s Casual American lineup from Athens, including quesadillas, burgers, salads, tacos and fresh seafood. Soups, dressings and marinades will continue to be made in-house. McCullough said the opening menu will be slightly streamlined, with weekly specials rolled out in a more strategic way and promoted through their rewards platform.

The concept is shaped by the McCulloughs’ time in Texas, where they frequented laid-back restaurants that worked for both adults and kids.

“We wanted a place where the whole family can get what they want without compromising on quality,” McCullough told Business Debut. “There are so many young families here, and we want Brett’s Backyard to be the place where everyone feels comfortable meeting up,” she told Business Debut.

Family-focused programming will extend beyond the menu. McCullough said they plan to continue traditions such as build-your-own sundaes and their “baby meal” program, which delivers meals to rewards members who have just welcomed a new baby. Holiday and occasion-specific menus for events like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Valentine’s Day are also expected, along with the potential for live music in the backyard.

A private “Lone Star Room” just off the bar will seat around 50 people with pop-out windows, available for reserved gatherings and meetings.

Opening Timeline

Groundbreaking for Brett’s Backyard took place in fall 2024, and construction is underway. The team is targeting a June 2026 opening for the main restaurant, pending construction progress and final approvals.

Phase two of the project will add Brett’s Barn, a separate event venue planned as a rustic-from-the-outside, fully outfitted-on-the-inside barn. The space is envisioned to accommodate larger events or be divided into two smaller rooms with soundproof separation and built-in acoustics. Brett's Barn will have a capacity of nearly 200.

Hours

Brett’s Backyard is planned to open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. — 9 p.m. Final hours are to be announced closer to opening.

Follow for More

Visit their website at Brett’s Casual American. Follow on Instagram and Facebook.