* Name: The Palms at Hamilton
* Location: 6925 Shallowford Road
* Products/services: Owners Ricky and Louise Gray have created an adult-oriented fine dining establishment that brings together the casual atmosphere of a New York piano bar and the elegance of a prestigious country club. A new expansion called the Coconut Room features a smoke-free environment with subdued wood, granite and leather decoration and a more upscale bar selection than the adjacent lounge.
* Age: Four years old
* Annual Revenue: Revenue has climbed at a steady rate of 26 percent year over year, and Mrs. Gray expects to double that rate of growth now that the Coconut Room is open.
* Target market: The primary demographic is adults ages 30 to 60 who have worked hard and are looking for a relaxed environment with fine dining in which to relax after a long day.
* Biggest hurdle: Going from a well-known lounge where customers could enjoy a meal, sip on a cocktail and dance the night away to a full-featured casual dining destination and piano bar while still maintaining the original feel.
* Biggest reward: Getting good business and expanding in spite of the bad economy.
* Challenges in the future: Maintaining the atmosphere and the character of The Palms while building up the restaurant’s reputation.
* Lesson learned: The Grays learned the importance of putting 100 percent into everything they do, and they learned that the restaurant business is much harder than most people realize.
* Five-year goal: After putting so much effort into getting the business off the ground in the past four years, the Grays are looking forward to being able to take a step back from the business as it gets more well-established.