Marvin Terrell and his son, Alex “TJ” Terrell, have acquired Fin & Feathers, a restaurant in the Valdosta Mall commercial corridor. The Southern Georgia Black Chambers (SGBC) marked the change of ownership with a ribbon cutting on September 26, 2026. The Terrells are repositioning the restaurant around daytime dining, family meals and business gatherings.
Key Takeaways
- Marvin Terrell, a business acquisition strategist, and his son Alex “TJ” Terrell, the managing operator, now own Fin & Feathers in Valdosta, Georgia.
- The Southern Georgia Black Chambers held the ribbon cutting for the ownership change on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
- The Terrells ran the restaurant for several months before the deal formally closed.
- The new plan focuses on daytime food service, corporate lunches, weekend family dining and private events.
- Fin & Feathers joined the SGBC at an Executive Level membership that runs through December 2027.
- SGBC president and CEO H. DeWayne Johnson presented the deal as an example of Black business growth through acquisition, not only startups.
A Family Ownership Story Built on Acquisition
Most stories about Black entrepreneurship focus on founders starting from nothing. The Terrell family took a different route: they bought an established restaurant with an existing location, customers and kitchen.
Marvin Terrell is a corporate strategist who has spoken at the Southern Georgia Black Chambers Small Business Expo about mergers and acquisitions. According to the chamber, he believes growing Black commerce means moving past the struggles of building every business from scratch and buying established enterprises instead. Fin & Feathers puts that approach into practice in his own family.
Alex “TJ” Terrell runs daily operations as managing operator and general manager. He led the restaurant staff at the September 26 ribbon cutting. With father and son owning the business together, Fin & Feathers is also a case of ownership passing to the next generation.
Repositioning Fin & Feathers as a Daytime and Family Destination
Fin & Feathers first opened at the Valdosta Mall in February 2024. Under the Terrells, the restaurant is shifting toward daytime and family-oriented service. The plan includes expanding daytime menus, strict standards for safety and conduct, and an atmosphere aimed at professionals, educators and business travelers.
The chamber says the family’s management has already increased daytime traffic, with regular lunch customers, corporate groups and educators from around the region. Marvin Terrell said the goal is to make Fin & Feathers a community fixture that hosts leadership meetings, networking receptions and daytime dining.
The restaurant is open daily for dining, corporate lunches, weekend family meals and private event bookings.
Southern Georgia Black Chambers Commits Its Network
The Southern Georgia Black Chambers, founded in 2022 and based in Valdosta, presented the ownership change as more than a routine reopening. SGBC president and CEO H. DeWayne Johnson described a restaurant of this size as infrastructure where business, community and local policy meet. He said the chamber would work alongside the Terrells to make Fin & Feathers a place to close deals and plan strategy for South Georgia.
Johnson said the chamber’s goal is for member businesses to have institutional support that keeps them running, not just to open their doors. He listed city relationships, corporate procurement and statewide tourism as areas where Fin & Feathers will have the chamber’s backing.
The membership package includes:
- Executive Level SGBC membership through December 2027.
- A half-page profile in SGBC Magazine, distributed across South Georgia and in metro Atlanta.
- Signage at the 2027 SGBC Golf Tournament.
- Featured hospitality status at an upcoming chamber summit.
SGBC board members at the ceremony included membership engagement lead Larry Johnson Jr., VP of Operations Marion Ricco Ramsey, and student associate Jaiquan Littleton of Valdosta State University.
Why Acquisition Matters for Black Wealth Building
Buying an existing business gives new owners something a startup has to build over years: a working location, trained staff, customers and a known name. For family-owned enterprises, that can make it easier to pass a business down, because the next generation inherits an operation that is already running.
The Fin & Feathers deal also shows what a local Black chamber of commerce can offer beyond networking. The SGBC is providing marketing, event visibility and help with civic and corporate relationships, which reduces some of the risk of a turnaround. For BLKNews readers following how Black-owned businesses grow in smaller Southern cities, the Valdosta deal is a concrete local example.
FAQs
Who Owns Fin & Feathers in Valdosta?
Marvin Terrell and his son, Alex “TJ” Terrell, own Fin & Feathers. Marvin Terrell is a business acquisition strategist, and TJ Terrell runs the restaurant as managing operator.
Where Is Fin & Feathers Located?
Fin & Feathers is in the Valdosta Mall commercial corridor in Valdosta, Georgia.
When Was the Fin & Feathers Ribbon Cutting?
The Southern Georgia Black Chambers held the ribbon cutting for the ownership change on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
What Is the Southern Georgia Black Chambers?
The Southern Georgia Black Chambers is a Valdosta-based chamber of commerce founded in 2022. It supports Black-owned businesses through membership, events, publications and help with civic and corporate relationships.
What Services Does Fin & Feathers Offer?
Fin & Feathers serves daily dining, corporate lunches and weekend family meals, and takes private event reservations.
