Meet Scott Dixon! Scott is the owner and founder of Scott’s Downtown and The Loft, just off the downtown Gainesville square. Recently, Scott won six Best of Hall County awards including Best Fine Dining, Best Special Event Venue, Best Steakhouse,Best Upscale Bar, Best Happy Hour, and Best Martini.
Scott and his wife Kay lived in Alpharetta but were very much in love with Lake Lanier. One day they decided they would move to Hall County and become a part of the community after he opened the restaurant.
“We just figured we were always in Hall County so why not just drive to work and that’s how we ended up getting here,” he said.  
When Scott isn’t working he loves to sail and hopes one day to have the chance to sail for an indefinite time period. He also is a huge Jimmy Buffett fan and will attend his 30th concert this year!
We recently caught up with Scott to find out more about his life and love of Hall County. 
Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “I have been in and out of the restaurant business pretty much all my life. I started out by having a work permit at 13 year old to work as a busboy and dishwasher after school and on weekends. I’ve always gravitated toward the restaurant business. I worked my way up from being a busboy and washing dishes, to learning some things in the kitchen, then I waited tables, bar tended, and managed. I just love the business.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County, and what do you love there?
A: “It’s got to be Scott’s.”
Q: How long have you worked or lived in Hall County?
A: “I have been here for 13 years.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Hall County? Who would you like to see nominated as a face of Hall County?
A: “Gus Whalen. I was in the first inaugural class of his Masters of Innovation. He was a super neat guy and interesting in his life and career.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: “My wife and I love to travel, this year is my 50th birthday and so we want to take a trip for it, We’re going to charter a sailboat in Southern Italy and go sail the Amalfi Coast. Sailing is one of my things, I’ve always loved the water. It’d be fun to be the captain of my own boat.”
Q: What is your favorite movie or what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
A: “My favorite movie is ‘Braveheart.’ The first movie I remember seeing is ‘Star Wars.’”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “With all the background noise in today’s society the best advice I could give and try and live by is always try to remember what is truly important and who are the important people are. There are so many distractions in our world with technology that were distracted all the time. Be present. Be with the people you are with and spend time with others.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “This question goes back to sailing. I want to be able to go sailing for an indefinite time and sail around the world for as much and as long as I want to.”
Q: What is your favorite music/ three bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “My music tastes are quite varied. I like everything from jazz and classical, classic rock. I’m definitely a Parrothead, I’ve been a huge Jimmy Buffett fan my whole life. This year’s show in April will be my 30th show of his. I love John Hiatt, I just saw him in Nashville and he puts on an incredible show. My other favorite is Mark Knopfler.”
Q: What current/ former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County?
A: “Just the downtown of Gainesville in general, and my original spot on the square that was my entrance into Hall County. One of my favorite memories in the first year of January of 2008 we had just opened up and on the square we had our Christmas lights up and it had just snowed. The view of the snow and lights out the front window of the restaurant has to be one of my favorite memories and that makes me nostalgic.”
Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative: with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? Where in Hall County would you have lunch?
A: “Jimmy Buffett. I would love to sit down and have a beer and lunch with Jimmy. I’d take him right here to Scott’s.”
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Hall County?
A: “To me the most unique thing is knowing so many people. The people here are great to call friends.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?
A: “Hopefully on that sailboat somewhere.”
Q: What are three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word homes?
A: “Comfortable, relaxed, and family.”
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com.