Johnson never stopped, though. "I had some time on my hands,'' he said. Johnson, 60, put it to good use. Along with his wife, Karen, and partners Richard and Michelle Formato, Johnson opened The Southern on 8th, a 4,000-square-foot restaurant that includes a bar and outdoor porch, on Dec. 11. Located at the corner of 8th and Montrose Street, The Southern on 8th is within walking distance of Johnson's other establishment, Clermont Brewing Company, which opened in 2019. Johnson is working on plans for an upscale spa — he is hoping to break ground as early as March — and a sprawling fresh market that could debut by year's end.