Thought

by Mitchell

I am not a Facebook user.  Fortunately Richie is.  Because just before bed last night he showed me the sweetest post from my friend Souper Jenny that made me cry.  It was about MetroFresh closing, but it was also about our long friendship that began in 2002 when I had decided to leave show business and move to Atlanta.  Truly, the only reason MetroFresh existed at all was because Souper Jenny decided to take a chance on a middle aged B-list television actor who thought he could cook.  As she tells it, what resulted was a lifelong friendship and mentorship that has been mutually beneficial in so many ways - in the kitchen, on stage, and in life.  How lucky am I to have been on the receiving end of such generosity of spirit for all these years.  Our collaboration over the last 24 years has been one of the great joys of my life.  Thank you to Souper Jenny for making all this happen.  

Here's her post in case you want to read it.  In the meantime, come see us!  

I’ve been trying to find the right words to express how I feel about my dear friend, Mitchell Anderson, and his decision to close the Midtown location of Metrofresh after an unexpected fire several months ago.

If you don’t know our love story, it began more than 20 years ago. I was 38 years old and in the middle of adopting my son, Jonah (who somehow is now 22!). Mitchell had just moved to Atlanta from Los Angeles to be with his husband, Richie Arpino whose hair salon was behind our original Souper Jenny location. After a successful acting career, Mitchell was beginning an entirely new chapter.

It was love at first sight.

For months, Mitchell came to work beside me in the Souper Jenny kitchen—for free—as I taught him everything I knew about running a crazy little soup shop. Looking back, I think we were teaching each other. Neither of us had much experience, but we had plenty of heart, curiosity, and the willingness to figure it out together.

Our days started at 5:00 a.m. and often ended around 5:00 p.m. Somewhere between chopping onions, stirring soup, and laughing far more than two people working those kinds of hours probably should, a lifelong friendship was born.

When Jonah arrived, Mitchell stepped up in a way I'll never forget. Because of him, I was able to spend the time I needed becoming a new mom, knowing Souper Jenny was in good hands. About a year later, he was ready to leave the nest and build something that was entirely his own.

And what he built was extraordinary.

For more than two decades, Metrofresh wasn't just a restaurant. It became a gathering place, a neighborhood institution, and a second home for so many people. Very few restaurant owners are lucky enough to experience that kind of longevity—to watch families grow up around their tables, to know generations of guests by name, and to spend 20 years doing work filled with purpose.

Mitchell, I couldn't be more proud of everything you've created. More importantly, I'm grateful that I got to witness the beginning of your journey and even more grateful that I get to call you my friend.

I have no doubt that your next chapter will be every bit as meaningful as the last.

And for everyone who's wondering... don't forget that Metrofresh Uptown is still open and serving the beautiful food that Mitchell has always been known for! #family #community #friendship