Meet Christopher (Topher) Phillips! He is the marketing manager at the new NoFo Brew Co. on the Midland Greenway in Gainesville. Topher is a native of the area and graduated from Kennesaw State University.

“I’ve been with NoFo a little over a year…I stepped into the role of marketing manager for Gainesville back in the beginning of April. So, for a while it was I was marketing manager of a construction,” he said. “Now, I get to be marketing manager of a brewery and distillery, so it’s very exciting.”

We want to thank Topher for spending time with us recently and telling us more about his life and love of Hall County.

Question: Tell us about yourself and where you grew up?
Answer: “I grew up in the Gainesville part of North Forsyth. My mom’s entire family is from Gainesville…I had a very Gainesville centric childhood even though I did live in that little corner of Forsyth County.”

Q: What is your favorite thing about Gainesville-Hall County?
A: “That’s a real tough one. This area has all of the offerings of living in a larger city but you have that small town feel. I love the local like privately owned places…I love going to the restaurant where you might be sitting there and having a conversation with the owner and really get to know why they created this business, why they enjoy doing what they’re doing.”.

Q: What’s your favorite NoFO beer and cocktail?
A: “Favorite cocktail is the Smoked Old Fashioned, all day long. Favorite beer? That’s a real tough one. I the summer our Peach Sour.”

Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in Gainesville?
A: “There’s so many, especially now. Probably Atlas Pizza, it’s so good.”

Q: What was the first movie you saw in the theater?
A: “The first movie I saw in the theater was actually back in the Lakeshore Mall movie theater when that existed, back when that was a thing. Probably a Disney classic.”

Q: What makes you most nostalgic about Gainesville?
A: My whole family is from here…my grandfather drove a chicken feed truck. My grandmother went to Perry Business School and then was the secretary for the Brigadier General at Riverside. My uncle was the head of the maintenance department for Hall County Schools. Like, there’s so much of my family in Hall County that I can’t go anywhere in Hall County without thinking of my family.”

Q: Can you give us an update on the new restaurant at NoFo?
A: “The restaurant is slated to open in October. The name of the restaurant is Venedetti’s. They do New York style pizza, calzones, strombolis. They also have Italian sandwiches and pasta. Their current location is off Exit 13 on 400. I the interim we will have food trucks.”

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?
A: “I really want to go skiing in the Alps. I feel like I’ve done a lot of beach stuff which I love…but I haven’t gone skiing in several years, so I need something winter.”

Q: What’s something on your bucket list?
A: “I want to visit where we traced my paternal grandmother’s family; back to a castle in England.”

Q: That where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?
A: “Still working for NoFo, it’s such a fun place. This is the only position I’ve ever had where I get off work and I want to hang out here, I genuinely enjoy everyone here.”

Q: What would you rate 10 out of 10?
A: Authentic Mexican food always like Big Burrito in Oakwood.”