Allen Godfrey

Allen Godfrey brings a rare blend of creativity, vision, and entrepreneurial grit to CM Collaborative, where he now serves as a co-owner in Central Ohio’s competitive commercial construction market.

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Allen with his love of Architecture and design made his mark as both a design partner and builder in the city’s vibrant restaurant and nightlife scene. Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s his uncanny ability to spot trends, unique locations and strike deals helped create some of Atlanta’s most talked-about establishments.

Allens’ first venture Fountainhead Lounge, became Atlanta’s first high design boutique lounge which quickly gained critical acclaim. As Founder, design partner and builder, Allen oversaw every detail of the project, which earned multiple design and “Best of” awards, including Atlanta Magazine’s “Best Lounge”, “Best Place to Take Out of Town Friends” (1999) and Creative Loafing’s notorious

Building on that success, Allen partnered with Charles and Tom Cook to launch Cobalt Lounge in Buckhead, a two-story club featuring six bars, multiple lounges, and an upstairs disco. Once again serving as both design partner with ASD and builder, Allen shaped one of Atlanta’s hottest nightlife destinations, which hosted legendary DJs such as Moby, Fatboy Slim, John Digweed, Grandmaster Flash, Rabbit in the Moon, and Jellybean Benitez. It was also a magnet for celebrities and athletes, attracting the likes of Oliver Stone, Dennis Rodman, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Dan Patrick, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, Stuart Scott, Jamal Anderson, David Justice, Stephon Marbury, and Ray Lewis (fresh off the infamous 2000 Super Bowl). Cobalt’s mix of cutting-edge music, fresh Design, and star power cemented it as a cultural landmark in Atlanta’s nightlife history.

Shortly after, Allen realized his dream project with the launch of Halo Lounge. Hidden in the lower floor of the Biltmore Hotel’s parking deck, once a horse stable.  Halo was intentionally unmarked, fueling its air of mystery. Serving as Founder, co-designer, operator and builder, Allen transformed the forgotten space into one of the most decorated nightlife venues in the country. Halo earned recognition such as CitySearch National’s Top 10 Best Bars and Nightclubs in the U.S. (2001–2002), CitySearch Atlanta’s Editor’s Choice, and Bombay Sapphire / Interior Design Magazine’s Top 10 Designed Bars in the World (2002).

Designed in partnership with Thom Williams of ASD | Sky Design, the lounge’s showpiece was a 40-foot backlit white onyx bar. The Lounge served as a networking space for Atlanta’s newly emergent tech industry clientele. Halo was also a magnet for celebrity sightings, hosting Dallas Austin, Christina Aguilera, Denzel Washington, Woody Harrelson, Collective Soul, Busta Rhymes and Outkast’s André 3000. It became Atlanta’s ultimate hideaway blending design, exclusivity, and culture at the highest level. 

Ultimately, Allen chose to leave the spotlight of Atlanta’s nightlife to focus on what mattered most: his family. He and his wife Julie moved to Westerville, Ohio to raise their two children in a more grounded environment. For the last 13 years Allen has channeled his creativity and business acumen into CM Collaborative. Though he still has a passion for design, he exercises his creativity with innovative scheduling and cost-effective solutions.

When he’s not working, Allen is an avid mountain biker and proud member of COMBO (Central Ohio Mountain Biking Organization). He also enjoys hiking and kayaking with Julie, embracing the outdoors as another outlet for his energy and creativity.