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Veteran restaurateur shares personal battle with cocaine, alcohol

By Jennifer Thomas, Charlotte Business Journal
By Jennifer Thomas, Charlotte Business Journal

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Restaurateur Steve Palmer battled his addiction to alcohol and cocaine for 10 years. He showed up to work one day and was given two choices: clean out his office or go to rehab.

[ALSO READ: AP-NORC Poll: Most Americans see drug addiction as a disease]

Today, the founder of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group has 17 years sober. He’s created a restaurant empire with 18 locations and nearly 900 employees. In Charlotte, Palmer operates concepts such as Oak Steakhouse, O-Ku and fast-casual sushi restaurant Sukoshi in uptown.

“That one decision saved my life,” Palmer says. “The Indigo Road would not exist if it was not for my sobriety. I would either be dead or unemployable.”

[ALSO READ: 'It affects everybody': Recovering addict shares struggle during holiday season]

His experiences — including the loss of close friend and fellow chef Ben Murray, who struggled with addiction and committed suicide — led to the creation of a support group. Palmer and Mickey Bakst founded Ben’s Friends in 2016 to honor his life.

It has since rolled out to six cities and will debut in Charlotte on Monday.

Read the full story here.

Cox Media Group

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