Chef William Dissen, owner of upscale farm-to-table restaurant Haymaker in Charlotte, N.C., The Market Place in Asheville, N.C., and farm-to-table quick service restaurants Billy D’s Fried Chicken, announced the sale of Haymaker to acclaimed Charlotte Chef Chris Coleman, co-founder of Built On Hospitality and winner of Food Network’s “Chopped,” “Beat Bobby Flay” and “Alex vs. America.”
“Myself and the founding team at Haymaker accomplished what we set out to do five years ago – bring the freshest Southern ingredients to the forefront of Charlotte’s culinary scene in a manner that celebrates the bounty of local farmers,” says Dissen. “Reflecting on the last five years, I couldn’t be more proud of the achievements and memories we’ve created together. I’m also humbled by the more recent opportunities to become a published cookbook author, expand the Billy D’s Fried Chicken concept outside of North Carolina, and innovate our menu at The Market Place, our 45-year-old restaurant that’s a pioneer of farm-fresh dishes in downtown Asheville’s vibrant food scene.”
“Chef Coleman and the Built On Hospitality team share my philosophy for farm-to-table, food sustainability and the standard Haymaker customers have come to expect. When I set out to sell Haymaker to focus on new growth channels, my family, and our business in Asheville, Chef Chris and his partners were a natural fit,” says Dissen.
Built On Hospitality’s partner Chef Chris Coleman added, “We’re excited for the opportunity to expand our hospitality portfolio with this unique restaurant brand and are committed to seeing it thrive for years to come. Haymaker’s location is unbeatable and we have big plans to take advantage of the location by working in tandem with the exciting events going on in Center City. Expect to see our team introduce new menu items and expanded business hours in the weeks and months ahead.”
Under Built On Hospitality’s ownership, Haymaker will launch a new summer cocktail menu and select new menu items with plans to eventually launch a daily lunch service, extended hours and happy hour food specials.
Built On Hospitality was founded by industry veterans Chef Chris Coleman, Sean Potter and A.J. Klenk in 2020. The trio is dedicated to making the Carolinas a top destination for food and beverage. Each of the Built On Hospitality concepts: The Goodyear House, Old Town Kitchen and Cocktails, and now Haymaker, offer fresh and locally sourced ingredients with seasonal menus and high-quality dining experiences.
Since its founding in 2018, Haymaker’s farm-focused menu has consistently been featured on best restaurant lists by Food & Wine, Southern Living, EATER, and Garden & Gun, among others. The restaurant’s social media following is also an indication of local’s love for the seasonal menus and upscale dining experience customers have come to expect at Haymaker.
In addition to maintaining the success of Haymaker and The Market Place throughout a multi-year pandemic, Dissen also opened two more Billy D’s Fried Chicken quick serve locations at Wake Forest University and Elon University, and has more in the pipeline. Chef William’s forthcoming, debut cookbook “Thoughtful Cooking” will also hit shelves in April 2024. Published by Countryman Press, the highly anticipated cookbook is composed of Dissen’s most treasured, signature recipes rooted in his ideology of the “New South.”
