Atlanta Entrepreneur and Community Leader James L. “Mr. V” Virgil [Mr. V’s Figure 8] Dies at 85 on September 7th, 2026

Founder of Mr. V’s Figure 8, V’s on Peachtree and Mr. V’s Restaurant Equipment Leaves a Lasting Legacy of Entrepreneurship, Mentorship and Opportunity

James L. “Mr. V” Virgil
1940 – 2026
Atlanta, Georgia

ATLANTA, GA – September 8, 2026 – The family of James L. “Mr. V” Virgil announces with profound sadness his passing at the age of 85.

A pioneering Atlanta entrepreneur, restaurateur, businessman and community leader, Mr. V spent more than five decades building businesses, creating opportunities and helping others pursue their own entrepreneurial dreams.

Born and raised in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, Mr. V’s remarkable journey took him from the cotton fields of Mississippi to Chicago and ultimately to Atlanta, the city he made his home. Through determination, vision and an unwavering work ethic, he established businesses that became part of Atlanta’s cultural and economic history.

Mr. V’s accomplishments, however, cannot be measured only by the businesses he built. His greatest impact may be found in the doors he opened for others–particularly minority restaurant owners who often faced limited access to financing, equipment, professional guidance and established business networks.

A PIONEER IN ATLANTA’S ENTERTAINMENT AND RESTAURANT INDUSTRIES

Mr. V first made his mark on Atlanta’s entertainment scene through Mr. V’s Figure 8, the celebrated Campbellton Road nightclub that became a destination for music, dancing and nightlife during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

At a transformative time in Atlanta’s history, the Figure 8 represented more than entertainment. It reflected the growing economic influence, creativity and independence of Atlanta’s Black business community.

Among the many prominent figures who frequented the Figure 8 was Maynard Holbrook Jackson Jr., Atlanta’s first Black mayor. Mr. V and Mayor Jackson developed a close friendship, and Jackson was often a welcomed presence at the club. Their relationship reflected the Figure 8’s unique position at the intersection of Atlanta’s political, business, entertainment and social communities.

The Figure 8 also attracted entertainers, athletes and celebrities from across the country. The Commodores were among the performers associated with the club, and Millie Jackson recorded a live album there.

Notable athletes and entertainers who patronized or appeared at the Figure 8 included Evander Holyfield, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Gladys Knight, Anita Baker, Rick James and many others.

Today, former patrons continue to share memories of the club and its place in Atlanta’s cultural history, including through local social-media projects documenting the history of Black Atlanta.

Mr. V later brought his entrepreneurial vision to Peachtree Street with V’s on Peachtree. The establishment further expanded his presence in Atlanta’s hospitality industry and demonstrated his ability to create businesses that brought people together.

His experience as a nightclub owner and restaurateur gave Mr. V firsthand knowledge of what it took to open, equip and operate a successful hospitality business. He understood the obstacles confronting independent operators because he had faced many of those same challenges himself.

That understanding eventually inspired the creation of Mr. V’s Restaurant Equipment and Store Fixtures.

BUILDING BUSINESSES BY EQUIPPING ENTREPRENEURS

Founded in 2003, Mr. V’s Restaurant Equipment and Store Fixtures grew into an Atlanta source for new and used commercial kitchen equipment, restaurant supplies and store fixtures.

To Mr. V, the company was never simply a place to purchase equipment. It became a resource where aspiring restaurant owners could receive practical advice, encouragement and the benefit of decades of real-world experience.

Mr. V understood that many first-time and minority entrepreneurs needed more than refrigerators, ovens and preparation tables.

They needed someone willing to explain the business, help them avoid costly mistakes and believe in their vision.

Over the years, he assisted generations of restaurateurs, chefs, caterers, food-truck operators and other food-service professionals. Many came through his doors with an idea and left better prepared to create a business, employ others and provide for their families.

Mr. V also helped jump-start numerous restaurant concepts and businesses, including Slutty Vegan, Big Daddy’s, This Is It!, The Old Lady Gang and many others.

His influence therefore extends far beyond the businesses that carried his name. It lives in the restaurants he helped open, the entrepreneurs he encouraged and the families whose lives were changed by the opportunities those businesses created.

“THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IS THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY”

One of Mr. V’s most enduring teachings was his belief that the restaurant industry is much like the entertainment industry.

He believed people do not simply go to restaurants to eat. They go to experience moments of excitement, connection, hospitality and enjoyment.

Mr. V viewed restaurant employees as the entertainers responsible for creating that experience.

He emphasized the importance of properly training restaurant staff because, in his philosophy, every employee plays a role in the performance–from the kitchen to the dining room and from the first greeting to the final interaction with the customer.

His philosophy was simple:

People live for moments of excitement, and the restaurant staff must be well trained to create those moments.

That philosophy became one of the central lessons Mr. V shared with generations of restaurant entrepreneurs.

A LEGACY OF RECOGNITION AND SERVICE

Mr. V’s contributions to Atlanta, entrepreneurship and community service were recognized through numerous honors spanning nearly four decades.

1980 – Key to the City of Atlanta

On June 24, 1980, Atlanta Mayor Maynard H. Jackson presented James L. Virgil with the Key to the City of Atlanta and proclaimed “James L. Virgil Day.”

The recognition honored his accomplishments and contributions during an important period in Atlanta’s development.

1983 – Distinguished Supporter Award

Mr. V received the Distinguished Supporter Award in 1983, recognizing his exceptional efforts and support.

1983 – Outstanding Service in the Cause of Peace and Justice

The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc. recognized James L. Virgil in 1983 for Outstanding Service in the Cause of Peace and Justice.

1986 – Outstanding Service to the Greater Atlanta Community

Mr. V received recognition in 1986 for Outstanding Service to the Greater Atlanta Community, acknowledging his continued commitment to Atlanta and its residents.

2014 – Soul Food Museum Top 100

In 2014, the Soul Food Museum recognized Mr. V among its Top 100 honorees in America and the world, acknowledging his longstanding contribution to food and beverage culture.

2019 – The Heritage Award

In 2019, Mr. V received The Heritage Award through the Georgia Minority Business Awards, recognizing his accomplishments and legacy as a minority business entrepreneur.

Together, these honors tell the story of a man whose influence was not confined to one business or one period of his life. His contributions to Atlanta’s business, cultural and civic communities continued to be recognized across generations.

A COMMITMENT TO GIVING BACK

Despite his success, Mr. V never forgot the community that helped shape him.

Giving back was an important part of his philosophy. Every year, he supported Atlanta’s first responders through donations to the Atlanta Police Department and Atlanta Fire Department.

He also believed strongly in creating economic opportunities within his own community.

Through Mr. V’s Restaurant Equipment, he employed numerous local residents, including people from the Vine City area of Atlanta, providing jobs and opportunities within the community.

For Mr. V, giving back was not simply something done on special occasions.

It was part of doing business.

He believed businesses had a responsibility to become active participants in the communities they served.

MORE THAN A BUSINESSMAN

Mr. V believed entrepreneurship was about more than financial success.

It was about creating opportunities, sharing knowledge, strengthening communities and leaving something meaningful for the next generation.

He freely shared the lessons he learned through decades of successes, setbacks and experiences–including lessons about hard work, perseverance, customer service and understanding the restaurant business.

His experiences also became the foundation for his educational efforts and writing, through which he sought to pass along knowledge accumulated over a lifetime.

Mr. V’s story represents the possibilities of entrepreneurship: a young man from Mississippi who built businesses, earned the respect of his city and used what he had learned to help others succeed.

He was a businessman, but he was also a mentor, adviser, teacher and bridge-builder.

He saw potential in people and helped give them the tools to transform that potential into something real.

A LEGACY THAT CONTINUES

Although Mr. V has passed, the work he began will continue.

Mr. V’s Restaurant Equipment will honor his vision by continuing to serve Atlanta’s restaurant and food-service community and by helping entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses of their own.

His name will remain connected to the principles he spent a lifetime demonstrating:

Work hard. Learn the business. Take care of your customers. Create opportunities for others. Never forget where you came from.

Mr. V leaves behind his family, friends, colleagues, customers and generations of entrepreneurs whose lives were touched by his presence, mentorship and willingness to share what he knew.

His was not simply a story of business success.

It was a story of opening doors, building community and creating a legacy that will continue through the success of others.

The Virgil family and everyone at Mr. V’s Restaurant Equipment deeply appreciate the outpouring of love, prayers, condolences and support from the Atlanta community and all who knew, respected and loved Mr. V.

Information regarding memorial services and arrangements will be announced by the family.

VIGIL CEREMONY CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF MR. JAMES L. “MR. V” VIRGIL
Candlelight Ceremony In Memory of Mr. James L. “Mr. V” Virgil
September 15, 2026
7:00 pm
3131 Campbellton Road SW
(The Westgate Shopping Center)
Atlanta, Georgia 30311
In attendance will be Atlanta’s Casual Cal

ABOUT MR. V’S RESTAURANT EQUIPMENT

Founded by James “Mr. V” Virgil, Mr. V’s Restaurant Equipment and Store Fixtures is an Atlanta-based provider of new and used commercial restaurant equipment, food-service supplies and store fixtures.

Since 2003, the company has served restaurant owners, chefs, caterers, food-truck operators and entrepreneurs throughout the Atlanta area.

The company continues Mr. V’s commitment to service, practical guidance and helping business owners turn their ideas into lasting enterprises.

Mr. V’s Restaurant Equipment

Contacts: Mr. Michael Odinero Stewart and Ms. Veronica Bercy