Michael Farrar Obituary

Michael David Farrar, better known as Mike, and lovingly known as "Papa," was born in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Florida at the age of six. He spent many years in Florida working in and operating restaurants, as well as running a landscaping company, until 1998, when he moved to Woodstock, Georgia. The company that brought him to Georgia was P.F. Chang's.

Mike would go on to help open and operate several P.F. Chang's locations throughout the Southeast, including Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky; Greenville, South Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee; Cumberland Mall and Alpharetta in Georgia. These are only the locations he both opened and operated. He was also a pivotal opening member of several other P.F. Chang's locations across the country.

After years of dedication and hard work, Mike left P.F. Chang's to pursue his own entrepreneurial ambitions alongside members of his family, including his wife Shelly, his son Michael, and his brother John. Together, they opened the beloved Canton neighborhood restaurant Riverstone Corner Bistro in 2012. After years of success, Mike and his family went on to open Cherokee County's finest steakhouse, J Michael's Prime.

The steakhouse was always a dream of Mike's. He often spoke of bringing the kind of class, excellence, and impeccable hospitality found only in the very best steakhouses in the country back home, and when the moment was right, he did just that. J Michael's was a risk, but Mike had the foresight, the guts, the vision, and the know how to make a world class steakhouse succeed in an area that had never seen anything like it. Its success is a testament to those very traits.

At both Riverstone Corner Bistro and J Michael's Prime, Mike built more than restaurants known for great food and service. He built a community. Among patrons and employees alike, he formed lasting friendships with regulars and became a caring, beloved mentor to countless people over the years.

Mike was a true believer in Jesus Christ and a decades long student of the Bible. He shared his faith through mentorship, example, and the way he lived his life. He was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. His relationship with Christ shined through in every aspect of his life, as he did more than speak of faith. He lived it, serving as a guiding example to all who knew him of what it meant to pursue a more Christlike life.

His wisdom, passion, patience, and kindness will be among the many things deeply missed by the communities he helped create over the years. Mike was the kind of man and business owner who never left one of his buildings without saying goodbye to everyone, regardless of position or status. It was that dignity, humility, and respect for every person that made his restaurants feel so special.

He was preceded in death by Nancy and Malcom Farrar.

Mike leaves behind his wife, Shelly; his two sons, Michael and Christian; his four grandchildren, MJ, Jack, Charleigh, and Navaeh; a brother, John; and his two daughters-in-law, Sarah and Allie, as well as a large extended family by blood and by bond who loved him deeply, and whom he loved just as deeply. His sons and family carry on his restaurateur legacy through Riverstone Corner Bistro, J Michael's Prime, and Table 20.

His service will be open to the public from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at J Michael's Prime on March 22. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Blue Ribbon CHEROKEE, a county-wide health initiative dedicated to prostate cancer education and early detection. Donations can be mailed to: PO BOX 4664, Canton, GA 30114.