Tomorrow's News Today

A large IHOP franchisee has closed several locations including at least six in metro Atlanta. The group, Alliance Pancake Partners, LLC, is "based" in Delaware, carries a Sunrise, Florida address, but in reality is owned by Atlanta-based Argonne Capital Group in Buckhead. According to the firm's website, "Argonne is the largest franchisee of IHOP with nearly 300 restaurants across four partnerships." The six known Atlanta area locations the group has closed are all located in the northern suburbs and include those in Norcross, Alpharetta, Roswell, Duluth, Lawrenceville and Lilburn.

Specifically, the closures in metro Atlanta include the following locations:

6125 Peachtree Parkway - Norcross

870 N. Main Street - Alpharetta

10686 Alpharetta Highway - Roswell

11720 Medlock Bridge Road - Duluth

955 Lawrenceville Suwanee Road - Lawrenceville

4018 Lawrenceville Highway - Lilburn

None of the aforementioned locations are in any way marked "closed" on the IHOP website, but all show "Online Ordering Unavailable," and calls to each are met with disconnected phone lines. In addition, the Roswell location sports a "For Lease" sign in their front lawn.

IHOP, one half of Glendale, California-based Dine Brands Global Inc., includes some 1,800 locations worldwide. Argonne, through various partnerships, operates several hundred IHOP locations including those in Atlanta as well as units in Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee, among other markets, according to online records. Several other closures in markets in which Alliance has units have also reportedly taken place over the past few weeks.

Breakfast restaurants have been hit especially hard by COVID-19 with dozens of Waffle House restaurants still closed [likely permanently], and others like locally-owned Goldberg's Bagel & Deli experiencing regularly slower than typical days.

A separate IHOP franchise group, TUJO Restaurant Group, LLC, which reportedly operates sixteen IHOP restaurants in the greater Atlanta area, is no longer moving forward with their previously announced Flip'd by IHOP concept at Atlantic Station. The new concept, which was to be the first of several, was to open in place of Land of a Thousand Hills coffee shop at the mixed-use project, but long past its planned April debut, ToNeTo Atlanta learned that a corporate directive has led to future development of the planned quick-serve concept to be halted indefinitely.

John Merkin, Chief Operating Officer of TUJO, previously worked at Dine Brands [then known as DineEquity] and was IHOP's Senior Vice President (SVP) Operations from late 2013 until early 2015, according to his LinkedIn profile. He became COO of TUJO in late 2018.

"IHOP Express," which opened in 2013 in the T Gates concourse at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and is similar to Flip'd, appears to be closed for now.

Following the closures, there will still be several IHOP restaurants in metro Atlanta including locations in Chamblee, Marietta, Smyrna, Hapeville, Tucker, Kennesaw, and on Clairmont Road near Sagamore Hills, among others.

Are you surprised by the multiple IHOP closures in metro Atlanta? What is your favorite breakfast concept? When was the last you dined-in for breakfast at a restaurant in Atlanta?

Please share your thoughts below.

The new Embry Village Kroger is expected to open August 12! The new store, a replacement to a smaller store that stood in roughly the same place for nearly twenty years, has been in the works since at least 2016. The new Kroger, which will also include an 18 pump fuel station, led to the closure of several tenants in the center including the Motel 6 as well as the beloved S&S Cafeteria.

The new store will also debut the newly tweaked Kroger logo

The new roughly 113,000 square foot store was essentially built in place of the former motel and small shop space with the former roughly 56,000 square foot store giving way to new parking. In a related move, some of the former parking was cleared to make way for a fuel center. The new store will not feature a so-called "Kro-Bar" as has been added [but subsequently removed] from several new/renovated large format Kroger stores. The new store will, however, feature an expanded Murray's Cheese counter as well as a Starbucks.

According to a Kroger representative, the fuel center will not open with the store but is expected to make its debut two weeks later, on August 26. [Separately, another nearby Kroger fuel center is expected to debut in "the first part of August" in place of an existing Shell station at Cofer Crossing in Tucker.]

Kroger, like many grocers, has seen a significant uptick in sales and traffic in recent months as shoppers "fear shop" during the COVID-19 pandemic, at times stocking up on several product categories to both reduce the frequency of their trips out and in fear that supplies will get scarce if they delay. To this end, Kroger has reportedly twice moved up the planned opening of the Embry Village store to meet the increased demand.

In addition to the rebuilt and expanded Kroger, Embry Village has also in recent years added two new restaurants: Wayback Burgers and Your Pie, but also seen the closure of neighborhood favorite Galaxy Diner.

Are you excited for the re-opening of the new and improved Embry Village Kroger? Have your grocery visits increased or decreased over the past few months? What would you like to see open in place of the former Galaxy Diner?

Please share your thoughts below.

The W-Atlanta Buckhead will soon be reflagged as an Autograph Collection by Marriott property. Located at 3377 Peachtree Road in Buckhead, the hotel debuted as the W-Atlanta Buckhead in 2008, and has in the decade since gone though at least two multi-million dollar renovations, most recently in 2019. The hotel was sold in 2017 by longtime owner Noble Investment Group to Woodbine Development Corporation for $73 million. Woodbine's 2019 renovation represented a reported $20 million investment in updating the hotel.

As a property, the hotel dates from 1988, when it made its debut as a Days Inn. In subsequent years, the hotel was reflagged as a Holiday Inn and later a Crowne Plaza, before its 2008 renovation and conversion to the W brand which debuted in 2009. While it has been confirmed by several sources within the hotel that it will become an Autograph Collection hotel, the property's exact name seems thus far not to have been shared with staff. Although not immediate, especially in light of current events, a re-branding of the hotel's restaurant, Cook Hall, is likely as well.

Sources say the hotel will end its era as the W-Atlanta Buckhead August 19.

There are currently four other Autograph Collection hotels in metro Atlanta including The Hotel at Avalon in Alpharetta, Glenn Hotel in Downtown Atlanta and the Twelve Hotels in Midtown at Atlantic Station and Downtown.

The deflagging of the W-Buckhead leaves the Atlanta market with two W properties, W-Atlanta Midtown and W-Atlanta Downtown. The W-Atlanta Perimeter, the first Atlanta area W property when it opened in 1999, was deflagged in 2011, before reopening in 2012 as Le Meridien Atlanta Perimeter. W, Le Meridien and Autograph Collection are today all brands owned by Marriott International.

The deflagging of the W-Atlanta Buckhead follows the deflagging of fellow Marriott brand The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead, which became The Whitley, a Luxury Collection Hotel, another Marriott brand, in late 2017. Moreover, the W is the third former "chain" hotel to drop their corporate branding in favor of a more local flavor. In addition to the Ritz/Whitley conversion, owners of the Wingate by Wyndham late last year became The Burgess Hotel, a boutique hotel within Trademark Collection by Wyndham. Trademark, like Autograph, allows for otherwise independent hotels to gain access to larger companies' reservation systems and loyalty programs.

Several other boutique-style hotels are planned, under construction, or being converted in Buckhead. One of those, is The Thompson, a small chain now owned by Hyatt, that is under construction at East Paces Ferry Road and Buckhead Avenue as well as the Element Hotel, a Marriott brand, along Piedmont Road across from Ameris Bank (formerly Fidelity Bank) headquarters. Kimpton Hotels, a division of InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is converting the former SoBu Flats condo building at 374 East Paces Ferry Road into a Mid-Century Modern-styled boutique hotel. Behind Lenox Square, work is underway to turn a former vacant lot and adjacent former drive-thru ATM into a Hyatt Centric with plans still being ironed out to redevelop a Roswell Road shopping center currently home to The Big Ketch restaurant into a huge new Dream Hotel & Residences.

Are you surprised that the new owners of the W-Buckhead are dumping the name brand in favor of an independent approach? What is your favorite hotel in Atlanta? What is your favorite hotel or hotel brand in the world?

Please share your thoughts below.

After about three years in operation and despite no known financial struggles prior to the COVID-19 crisis, an 18 location roughly 200 screen movie theater operator, has shut down permanently. New Vision Theatres, established in April 2017, was formed by the acquisition and consolidation of theaters from AMC Theatres and Carmike Cinemas, among others. In Atlanta, the company operated two locations: New Vision Theatres Stonecrest 16 +IMAX in Lithonia and New Vision Theatres Movies 400 in Cumming.

Westfield, New Jersey-based New Vision, like other cinema operators, had been closed since March, when the COVID-19 pandemic led to mandates that non-essential businesses be shuttered to help prevent the spread of the virus. Despite theater management's best efforts to renegotiate their existing leases, they were reportedly unable to garner enough concessions to continue as a going concern.

Originally opened by MegaStar Cinemas in early 2002, the theater at The Mall at Stonecrest (8060 Mall Parkway) was purchased by AMC Theatres in mid 2003. New Vision took over in 2017.

Twelve screen Movies 400 (415 Atlanta Road) was opened in 2007 by MNM Theatres. In August 2011, it was taken over by Carmike Cinemas. New Vision purchased it from Carmike in 2017.

Industry leaders AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas each operate more than a dozen theaters in the greater metro Atlanta area. Both recently announced their latest reopening plans. AMC, which had previously announced plans to reopen July 15, now says "most theatres will open doors on 7/30." Regal Cinemas indicates on its website that it plans to follow a day later with theatres reopening "beginning on July 31."

What was the last movie you saw in a movie theater? Who should direct the "inspired by true events film" that will tell the COVID-19 story? You know it's gonna happen. What upcoming movie are you most looking forward to seeing?

Please share your thoughts below.

Bankrupt retailer JCPenney (JCP) has eliminated several stores from a list of those it previously said would close permanently. At least one Atlanta area store has been given "a second lease on life," with store officials confirming to ToNeTo Atlanta that the JCPenney store at Arbor Place Mall in Douglasville will, in fact, not close. In a June 4 release, JCP indicated it planned to close 154 stores as it works to "right size" its store fleet following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The company subsequently added 13 more stores to its closure list but later removed others.

The JCP at Arbor Place opened in 2003 in place of short-lived home improvement chain dekor, which itself took the place of Uptons. Uptons, an Atlanta-based department store, was to have co-anchored the mall, but went bankrupt before the mall's 1999 debut.

Arbor Place is today anchored by Belk, Dillard's, Macy's & JCPenney. Former anchor Sears closed this past February.

The six other Georgia JCPenney stores previously announced to be closing are still expected to do so and are currently liquidating all in-stock merchandise.

JCPenney stores in Georgia that are still closing

Northlake Mall - Tucker

Georgia Square - Athens

Lakeshore Mall - Gainesville

Mount Berry Mall - Rome

Statesboro Mall - Statesboro

Hatcher Point Mall - Waycross

The store at Arbor Place is among at least two JCPenneys that will remain open that are in CBL Properties-owned malls. At least two other JCP stores now spared from closure are in malls owned by Namdar Realty Group.

ToNeTo Atlanta, in partnership with our numerous and dedicated readers around the country, was able to confirm that the Arbor Place store was one of more than 20 stores that JCPenney intends to keep open. The company said in a blog post that the stores that they have spared from closing "remain on hold pending further review."

No reason was provided for the about face on the part of the retailer, but JCPenney Corporate Communications Director Dione Martin told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the decision to keep its local store open was the result of “comprehensive evaluations of our retail footprint and a careful analysis of store performance and future strategic fit for JCPenney.”

Several real estate sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta that co-tenancy clauses held by smaller stores within the affected properties likely played a role in the closure reversals at the affected malls and centers. In many cases, smaller stores sign leases with so-called "co-tenancy clauses" which provide significant incentives and or opt-out options for smaller retailers if larger retailers [anchors] vacate their spaces. JCP likely negotiated with CBL, Namdar and others to receive more favorable new lease terms (potentially free rent) to keep them in the malls, thereby preventing other smaller stores from invoking any co-tenancy clauses tied to JCPenney.

Are you surprised that JCPenney is keeping so many stores open? When was the last time you shopped at a JCPenney? What would you like see open at Northlake Mall or any of the other soon to be former JCPenney "boxes" around the state?

Please share your thoughts below

German grocer Lidl is slated to continue their Atlanta expansion with plans to open their new Dunwoody store Wednesday, August 26 at 2480 Mount Vernon Road in Mount Vernon shopping center. The store, which ToNeTo Atlanta exclusively reported was coming last year, opens in place of Sprouts Farmers Market, which shuttered its store in late 2018.

The approximately 33,000 square foot store was completely renovated to accommodate the new grocer, and is slightly larger than other stores the company has opened in recent months. Lidl's opening at the center makes it the third grocery store to anchor the shopping center in recent memory.

In the late 90s and into the early 2000s the center was anchored by Harris-Teeter. Kroger, which purchased several former Harris-Teeter stores in metro Atlanta, continued to control the Dunwoody store's lease despite not operating a store. Ace Hardware operated from the space for several years after attempts by Goodwill to open a thrift store were unsuccessful. Kroger finally relinquished control of the space paving the way for the 2014 opening of Sprouts Farmers Market.

Enter Lidl, a growing off-price grocer which has its eyes on capturing a significant share of the American grocery market. The store, like its German rival Aldi, features primarily private label products at prices lower than than name brand alternatives. Unlike Aldi, all Lidl stores also feature on premise bakeries, which feature, among other things, their popular pretzel offerings. Our personal favorite has been their 10 ounce Lidl brand hummus which at $1.95 seems just as good, if not a tad better than, category leader Sabra.

Lidl started 2020 by opening a new store in Peachtree Corners on May 13, and in the weeks since, has added additional new locations in Suwanee (its 100th overall store in America), Lawrenceville, and most recently in Brookhaven. Sources say a new-build store in Jonesboro should also open in August or early September. Several other stores, including those planned for East Cobb, Sandy Springs, Marietta and Woodstock(2), among others, are slated to open later in 2020 and into 2021.

In the months and years to come, Lidl also has additional stores in the works in Duluth, Roswell and Atlanta on Memorial Drive in Kirkwood, among others.

To support their Atlanta and regional expansion, Lidl announced plans in January to invest $100 million in opening what will be their fourth American distribution center. The center, announced in 2017 to be located in Cartersville in Bartow County, is instead coming to Covington in Newton County.

Have you been to a Lidl? Have your shopping habits changed as a result of COVID-19? What one grocery item will you travel to a specific store for?

Please share your thoughts below.

The American Girl Boutique & Bistro at North Point Mall has closed. The 12,000 square foot shop and eatery was the first such concept by the brand to ever open when it debuted in 2007. The North Point opening was soon followed by a location at The Galleria in Dallas, Texas.

In the years since, the company, owned by toy powerhouse Mattel (originally launched by Pleasant Company) , has expanded to more than a dozen other locations but the current COVID-19 pandemic on top of changes in retail and consumer habits has led to the closure of not only the Atlanta outpost, but two other boutiques around the county.

All stores are still listed on the American Girl website with the Alpharetta outpost also listed on the North Point Mall website, but it is the American Girl site that informs would-be guests of the location's permanent, rather than temporary, closure.

"This store location is permanently closed. It has been our privilege to serve this community for more than a decade. We thank you for your loyalty to American Girl and look forward to continuing our valued relationship with you. You can always find us open at americangirl.com, or we hope you’ll visit us at one of our other U.S. retail locations."

In addition to the Alpharetta closure, American Girl stores in Lone Tree, a suburb of Denver, Colorado, closed at Park Meadows and another in Overland Park, Kansas at Oak Park Mall did too. The three July closures come after the company shuttered its stores at Natick Collection outside Boston and at Mall of America outside Minneapolis last year, and at Chesterfield Mall near St. Louis in 2018.

The Atlanta outpost, which opened incredibly strongly, was seen as an anchor of the suburban mall. The outpost drew daughters, mothers, grandmothers, aunts and more not only from metro Atlanta, but it was actually a regional destination: a reason to visit Atlanta. The subsequent opening of locations at SouthPark Mall in Charlotte in 2014 and at CoolSprings Galleria near Nashville in 2015 surely cannibalized would-be customers from the Alpharetta location.

We have reported previously that North Point Mall and the greater North Point corridor was seemingly doing just fine even as retailers, restaurants and other businesses closed and in many cases they were soon replaced. That said, the closure of American Girl and the Disney Store and the imminent closure of Sur La Table will be big holes to fill. American Girl and Sur La Table are two of eight businesses that North Point Mall refers to as "Key Tenants" on their website.

Several one-time North Point Mall tenants fled the mall in recent years for the shinier, newer, outdoor Avalon development. Those departures, which included Pottery Barn, Gap, Janie & Jack, and Williams-Sonoma, also included Apple, which likely represented the biggest blow to the mall.

In years past, the mall, then owned by GGP, had success in backfilling former department store and junior anchor spaces with successful new tenants. These efforts included their replacement of a former Belk department store in late 2011 with a new Von Maur department store, and the late 2012 replacement of a former Parisian department store with a new state-of-the-art 12 screen AMC Theatres. Fast-fashion retailer H&M nearly doubled the size of their existing North Point Mall outpost in 2018 with the debut of their new roughly 22,000 square foot store.

GGP was purchased in 2018 by Brookfield Properties who has since the purchase announced several initiatives and projects for the Alpharetta mall. Following the 2018 closure of Sears at the mall, Brookfield announced a significant redevelopment plan for the 83 acre site that Sears previously occupied. The plan includes about 300 apartments, more than 20,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, and the addition of new play areas, green space, trails and other outdoor amenities.

Spaces, a co-working business owned by Regus, is also expected to open in the mall in place of former retail space but while it remains listed as "coming soon" on the North Point Mall website, it's unclear just how soon [or if] it may actually open.

Are you surprised by the closure of the American Girl Boutique & Bistro at North Point Mall? What would you like to see open in place of the American Girl Boutique & Bistro at North Point Mall? What can the owners of North Point do to get shoppers and diners to return to the mall?

Please share your thoughts below.

Popular Kosher eatery Pita Grille in north Buckhead near Chastain Park has closed. The restaurant, located in the Fresh Market-anchored Roswell Wieuca Shopping Center, reportedly closed without warning at the end of last week. A simple sign was posted to the restaurant's front door announcing the closure and thanking customers for their years of patronage.

David Bloom, co-founder of email marketing business Silverpop, originally opened the restaurant in 2013 in place of what had then most recently been Swirll, a failed frozen yogurt franchise. Bloom recruited Roi Levi, then manager at Pita Palace (now Toco Grill) near Toco Hills, to run the restaurant. An internet entrepreneur by trade who had in 2014 sold Silverpop to IBM in a deal valued at $275 million, Bloom eventually sold the restaurant business to Levi.

Despite the restaurant's relatively small size (1,635 square feet) and poor location with no visibility from Roswell Road, it garnered a devoted following, largely from the Jewish community that sought a Buckhead area Kosher restaurant option.

No explanation was given for the closure, but sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta that the affects of COVID-19 played a role in the decision to close, and that Levi will reportedly be returning to Israel.

With ToNeTo Atlanta headquarters nearby, we had several times enjoyed Levi's falafel, which we considered among the best in the city. That said, and while not kosher, a new Mediterranean eatery that recently opened nearby should be a welcome replacement for those in the area seeking similar fare. Sahara Cafe opened June 1 in the nearby Publix-anchored Chastain Square, and has quickly become a favorite of ours for their generous portions, flavorful sides and awesome service. Sahara is a counter service eatery featuring falafel, gyro, lamb, and chicken plates and wraps, among other options. Sahara Cafe will also in the days to come start offering "family meals" featuring larger portions of their most popular dishes to feed families of four or more.

Were you a fan of Pita Grille? What would you like to see open in place of Pita Grille? Have you tried Sahara Cafe?

Please share your thoughts below.

Bankrupt retailer Tuesday Morning recently revealed the "second phase" of stores it plans to close as it navigates bankruptcy and hopes to remain a going concern. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May, the company indicated it planned to close more than 200 of its nearly 700 stores nationwide. The company claimed the stores it planned to close were both under-performing and close to other existing Tuesday Morning locations. The initial list included about 130 stores, of which eight were in Georgia. The new list, revealed within the past few days, includes another 66 stores, of which three are in Georgia.

The second wave of closures in Georgia includes a pair of metro Atlanta locations, as well as third store in Newnan. The new metro Atlanta closures are both in Marietta, one on Barrett Parkway in Towne Center Prado, the other on Dallas Highway in Village Green shopping center. The Newnan location is situated in Newnan Pavilion, a shopping center along busy Bullsboro Drive.

Liquidation sales are ongoing at most of the previously announced closing stores with savings of as much as 70%. Some stores, like the one in Interlochen Village on Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree Corners, have already closed. Store associates tell ToNeTo Atlanta that sales at the remaining locations are expected to continue through the weekend at which point they will close for the last time.

Stores announced to be closing in the second phase are currently offering all in-stock merchandise at 10-30% off.

Tuesday Morning spent big when it relocated stores in Brookhaven, Vinings and East Cobb, among others, to higher profile, more expensive spaces, where sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta their return on investment was not always what they had hoped. All three were among the stores the company announced would be closing in their original announcement. Although the effects of COVID-19 surely played a part in the company's need to declare bankruptcy and close hundreds of stores, real estate observers agree that Tuesday Morning's push into higher profile spaces was likely an ill-advised move that also contributed to their current troubles.

Founded in 1974, Tuesday Morning originally was only open for about half of the year. The chain subsequently adopted more typical operating hours to better compete with brick and mortar rivals like HomeGoods and Pier 1 Imports.

The chain hopes to exit bankruptcy in the fall with about 450 locations including those on Montreal Road in Tucker, Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell, State Bridge Road in Alpharetta, Scenic Highway in Snellville and Lower Roswell Road in East Cobb, among other locations in metro Atlanta.

Have you visited any of the closing Tuesday Morning stores? Where is your favorite place to shop for home goods and accessories? What would you like to open in place of the closing Tuesday Morning stores?

Please share your thoughts below

This past February, we shared news that Chicken Salad Chick was planning to open a new location in Johns Creek/Suwanee. We are delighted to announce that the opening day is upon us! The new eatery, located near the corner of McGinnis Ferry Road and Peachtree Parkway in Johns Creek Town Center, is slated to open in the third week in August, potentially as early as Tuesday August 18! The center is anchored by Kohl's, Sprouts Farmers Market, PetSmart, Lowe's and Stein-Mart, and recently welcomed a new ULTA.

The new Chicken Salad Chick replaces Cheeseburger Bobby's which closed in the 2,500 square foot space this past February, weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the restaurant industry. ToNeTo Atlanta had the opportunity to speak with Chicken Salad Chick Vice President of Marketing Tom Carr about the Johns Creek opening, how the brand is adjusting to the pandemic, and future plans for the company in metro Atlanta.

Started as a single eatery in Auburn, Alabama in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick has blossomed into a 160+ unit chain with several more restaurants slated to open before the Johns Creek debut. In all, Carr tells us that the company projects that it will open 34 restaurants in 2020, tremendous growth in any year, but even more impressive when you consider that the pandemic is still ongoing and America is seeing record numbers of restaurant closures. Carr said the company is "super optimistic" about its prospects moving forward.

In Georgia, where the company already operates 30 restaurants, more are planned as Chicken Salad Chick focuses on northern suburban cities and communities such as in Gwinnett County near Mall of Georgia, Snellville and potentially, Tucker, too, among other markets.

Chicken Salad Chick has experimented with several new service models over the past few months including "pop-up drive-thrus" at inline locations and "community pop-ups" in areas where they don't yet have a presence but have seen interest via social media and other platforms. The latter offering has allowed the company to gauge actual product interest in certain communities with Carr telling us that in basically every instance, the reception has been "overwhelmingly positive."

About 30 percent of the company's restaurant network features a drive-thru, and plans call for more units to include it in the future. In addition to drive-thru units, the company in recent months established partnerships with DoorDash and Uber Eats to drive sales at restaurants where in many cases, dining rooms were closed to the public. So called "community drop offs" have also been a success for the company during COVID-19 with brand fans in markets not yet served by the restaurant coordinating centralized drop offs for the restaurant to test the waters in new markets. Customers are able to pre-order food and pick it up from a designated community location.

The opening in Johns Creek will be similar in many ways to the company's recent opening in Loganville. Whereas as a typical Chicken Salad Chick opening would be a very crowded social event, the company has modified their opening festivities to encourage social distancing and ensure a safe and enjoyable visit for patrons. In years past, a Chicken Salad Chick opening would be similar to that of a Chick-fil-A opening where eager patrons line up hours in advance for the opportunity to win free food for a year. The first 100 patrons would be awarded 12 free Quick Chick meals: one a month for a year. In Johns Creek, however, there will be no such line. Instead, patrons can arrive at the restaurant as early as 7AM to receive a numbered Chicken Salad Chick fan. Patrons will then be invited to return later in the day, closer to opening, in groups of ten, to be awarded their prize. Rather than awarding the first person to arrive with free food every week for a year, one participant will be randomly selected from the first 100 to receive the special prize.

Chicken Salad Chick has in recent months established a significant corporate presence in metro Atlanta and while there are no current plans to relocate the company from Auburn, the metro area is definitely a significant part of their business.

Are you excited for the upcoming opening of Chicken Salad Chick in Johns Creek? What is your favorite Chicken Salad Chick variety? Where would you like to see Chicken Salad Chick open next?

Please share your thoughts below.

Popular breakfast joint Martin's is expanding again with plans to open its 19th overall location. The small chain, based in Mableton, plans to open a new restaurant at 8947 Dallas Acworth Highway (Highway 92) in Paulding County. Martin's traces its roots to 1962 when it was known as "Martin the Burger Boy." The restaurants are only open for breakfast and lunch (MON-SAT 5AM-3PM / SUN 6AM-3PM) and are known for their biscuits, burgers, and onion rings, among other menu offerings.

The new restaurant will open at the corner of Highway 92 and Royal Sunset Drive in an undeveloped out-parcel of the Kroger-anchored Crossroads Pointe shopping center. Planning documents suggest the site is about 1.5 acres.

Martin's, unlike many other chain breakfast restaurants such as Bojangles' and Waffle House, is [currently] only in Georgia and [currently] does not franchise.

"We are a small, growing company that concerns itself about what is going on inside our doors, not what is happening down the street. Communication and teamwork are how we define success. Take care of your people, and they will take care of your customers. We are a hands-on organization that talks with our managers daily – ask them and see!"

Martin's motto is "Fresh Tastes Best."

"Our motto isn’t just a handy catch-phrase, it’s what sets us apart from the typical fast-food restaurant. Our menu items are prepared fresh and from scratch daily, our chicken is hand filleted, breaded in our special blend of seasonings, and cooked fresh. Our biscuits, the finest in the business are made from scratch each day. And you’ve never tasted good onion rings until you’ve had ours! Come in today and see how freshness makes our food the best you’ve tasted."

Martin's is primarily found in rural parts of Georgia and those who live closer in, but have tasted food from the restaurant, get hooked and often comment, gripe, pray, etc. for the chain to expand. The closest Martin's to many in metro Atlanta would likely be their outpost on Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Norcross.

In 2019 we reported on what was then the chain's 18th overall location in Canton, which was the third new, ground up location to open in the past three years following the openings of Rockmart in 2017 and Dallas in 2018. The Rockmart restaurant was the first new location that the company had opened since 2002.

Owners Milan Savic and Jon Molander reportedly have plans to add even more new locations in the years to come. "We will be adding more [locations] and are in the process of that now. I can’t disclose where but keep watching" said Kathleen Tibbitts, Martin's Marketing Director last year, ahead of the Canton opening.

Many ToNeTo Atlanta readers had hoped that a shuttered Burger King on Sandy Plains Road near Sprayberry Crossing would become a Martin's, but instead Freddy's, a purveyor of frozen custard and steakburgers, will open. Separately, there was excited speculation that several shuttered Bojangles' restaurants in metro Atlanta would reopen as Martin's after the orange awnings were repainted blue, but alas, it was all part of the "un-branding" of the property, rather than an indication of any replacement, Martin's or otherwise.

With the entire restaurant industry in turmoil, it's great to see Martin's continue to expand. The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting restaurants but those focusing on breakfast have been hit especially hard. The presence of a drive-thru at Martin's has no doubt helped the restaurant weather the storm better than restaurants that focus more on dine-in customers.

Are you excited for the opening of Martin's in Acworth? What is your favorite breakfast restaurant? Where would you like to see Martin's open next?

Please share your thoughts below.

Stars & Strikes in Sandy Springs has closed. The roughly 51,000 square foot entertainment facility opened in late 2013 and quietly closed as of July 6 at North River shopping center (8767 Roswell Road.) The company announced the closure on their website in advance, but its shuttering seems to have gone nearly completely unnoticed by neighbors and local media. Exterior signage has been removed from the building and the Sandy Springs location has been removed from the company's website, but signage remains on the center's marquee along Roswell Road and the facility remains listed on the center's website.

“We are grateful to our dedicated and hardworking team members and loyal guests who have supported our Sandy Springs location over the past seven years.” said Stars and Strikes Managing Partner, Chris Albano. “This decision follows months of working to identify all possible paths to remaining open in Sandy Springs in this current environment. The Sandy Springs location has always been largely dependent on Group sales and event revenue. Unfortunately, the private event environment has been significantly impacted by COVID-19, hindering our ability to operate effectively in our Sandy Springs location.”

When the Sandy Springs location opened in December 2013, it was the Alpharetta based company's fifth overall outpost and largest unit at the time. The location featured 20 public bowling lanes, eight private lanes, 40 TV screens and a 250-seat restaurant, 710 Grille.

Stars & Strikes continues to operate fourteen locations, primarily in Georgia. Of the company's nine remaining units in Georgia, several are in the greater metro Atlanta area including locations in Stone Mountain, Dacula/Lawrenceville and Buford. A fifteenth location is expected to open in September in Concord, North Carolina where, according to a company release, "Assets from Sandy Springs" will be put to use.

North River shopping center, one of several properties sold by Atlanta's Mimms Enterprises to Stream Realty in late 2015, was once in the planning stages of adding a Lidl grocery store to a large portion of the parking lot, but community opposition led to the grocer eventually abandoning its plans. [Lidl did eventually sign a lease in City Center Crossing, another former Mimms center now owned by Stream, where it will open in place of a former Marshalls.]

Are you surprised to see Stars & Strikes close in Sandy Springs? When do you plan to next visit a family entertainment facility like Stars & Strikes? What would you like to see open in place of Stars & Strikes in Sandy Springs?

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More than a year after one developer walked away from his planned redevelopment of several intown parcels, another firm is proposing an even more absurd project on the same site. Jay Gipson of The Gipson Company had in 2017 proposed redeveloping a 3.8 acre land assemblage at the corner of Clairmont and Briarcliff Roads into a new RaceTrac, Wendy's and Express Oil Change. After significant neighborhood opposition and a failed attempt to get the parcels annexed into the City of Brookhaven (from unincorporated DeKalb County), the plans were called off. Now, Stein Investment Co., LLC wants to develop 264 apartment units and 10,000 square feet of restaurant/retail space on the prized parcels.

Referring to the proposal as a "vibrant, pedestrian-oriented mixed-use development," according to plans filed with DeKalb County, Stein is seeking to have the subject property rezoned from C-l (Local Commercial) and C-2 (General Commercial) to HR-3 (High Density Residential--3) to accomplish their redevelopment plans. It is believed that like Gipson, Stein has the property under contract pending the approval of their rezoning request. All of the subject parcels are currently owned by JMAR Investors, L.P.

The site is one exit north on I-85 from where Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) and Emory Healthcare are each developing huge new campuses at North Druid Hills Road.

The Stein project would be comprised of three buildings: A six-story residential building with ground floor retail, a five/six-story residential building that wraps a parking deck, and a two-story restaurant structure with a rooftop patio. The buildings would be separated by what the developer says would be "an inviting pedestrian plaza and vehicular drop off area."

The property is currently occupied by five older, single-story buildings housing auto-repair, oil change and auto salvage businesses. A long since demolished Waffle House that has in recent years played host to assorted vehicle services also occupies one of the parcels. The project is scheduled to be heard at the August 11 Community Council Meeting (District 2) which according to planning documents is "subject to COVID-19 restrictions." The project will subsequently be heard by the Planning Commission on September 1 and at the Board of Commissioners meeting on September 22. The two September meetings like the one in August are all "subject to COVID-19 restrictions" but it's unclear what exactly those are.

Stein Development is no stranger to the area. ToNeTo Atlanta reported in late 2018 that the firm purchased the roughly six acre Williamsburg Village shopping center across the street from the proposed multifamily development. A representative for Stein said at the time that the firm is committed to creating a redevelopment that the neighborhood can be "proud" of. Additionally, Space Shop, a self storage business which has been Stein's primary commercial development vehicle, has several locations in the area including a recently completed climate-controlled facility on Clairmont Road near Dresden Drive.

The former Manna Pro Feed Mill near the Chamblee MARTA station is also now controlled by Stein. The firm is planning to rechristen the property "Red Rose Silos" and incorporate a food hall, entertainment, retail, office and restaurant space, among other elements, according to leasing materials from The Shopping Center Group.

The Stein project is at least the second planned multifamily redevelopment pitched in the area. ToNeTo Atlanta reported this past December that Miami's Related Group was looking to redevelop an assembled six acre parcel near the Target on North Druid Hills Road. On the assemblage, about a mile west of the site of the proposed Stein project, Related Group wants to redevelop several parcels - known in planning documents as 2601 Briarcliff Road - with 382 apartments, a 140-room hotel, 25,000 square feet of office space, and a combined 20,000 square feet of restaurants and retail space. The project would replace several properties including popular neighborhood watering hole Tin Roof Cantina and Indian restaurant Cafe Bombay.

What are your thoughts on Stein Development's planned redevelopment? Do you think Stein has a better or worse vision for the property than Gipson had? What do you think would make the most sense for the property?

Please share your thoughts below.

Peloton plans to open its second Atlanta area location later this fall at Avalon in Alpharetta. The at-home exercise equipment company opened their first Atlanta area retail store at Lenox Square in Buckhead in 2016. The new store replaces the Levis's store which closed at the suburban shopping destination this past April. ToNeTo Atlanta heard talk in April that Peloton would replace Levi's, but was told by sources close to the project that a lease had not yet been finalized. Confirmation of the lease came last week with the installation of Peloton branding at the space. The new Peloton store should open before the end of the year.

Ascena Retail Group announced last week it will close several hundred stores as it navigates Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In metro Atlanta, the company, whose primary brands include Ann Taylor and LOFT, will close just one store, Lou & Grey, a smaller women's apparel concept that operated a store at Avalon Alpharetta. New Jersey-based Ascena also operates the Justice tween brand and plus-size retailers Lane Bryant, Cacique and Catherines.

Brinker International has brought their new virtual restaurant It's Just Wings to metro Atlanta. The concept, basically a digital only restaurant brand, offers just three menu items: chicken wings, curly fries (free with every food order) and fried Oreo cookies. The menu is simple, the prices are affordable, and the food is available exclusively via DoorDash. There are no separate It's Just Wings locations, instead, the concept operates out of existing Brinker restaurants such as Maggiano's Little Italy and Chili's.

In related news, Brinker plans to open a new Chili's in Warner Robins. The new Chili's is coming to a portion of a former Toys R Us store at 3000 Watson Boulevard and will be roughly 4,700 square feet.

Tanaka Ramen at TOWN Brookhaven has closed. The restaurant, which opened at the mixed-use development in 2018, had been closed since March, and while no signage is posted to the restaurant indicating the closure, all permanent signage has been removed from the building.

Louisiana Crab Shack is coming soon to South Cobb Drive in Smyrna in place of a freestanding Ruby Tuesday restaurant that closed in late 2018. The new restaurant is the latest in a series of "crab shack" openings across metro Atlanta. Over in Cherokee County, another former Ruby Tuesday site is getting new life but the building was demolished for its new occupants. Work is underway to open a new Popeyes as well as a new Chipotle Mexican Grill on the site of the former Ruby Tuesday along Highway 92 in Woodstock.

A new restaurant called Red Crab Juicy Seafood is coming soon to Northridge Shopping Center along Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. The roughly 7,000 square foot restaurant was most recently home to Barnacle's, a sports bar, but had also in years past been a Buffalo Wild Wings, among other concepts. The formerly Kroger-anchored center recently welcomed a Goodwill in a portion of the old grocery, but in recent weeks has also lost junior anchor Dollar Tree which relocated north on Roswell to Loehmann's Plaza.

Crumbl Cookies, which entered the metro Atlanta market earlier this year with a location on Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta, has inked a third deal in the market. Already with a second location planned for Sandy Plains Marketplace in East Cobb, sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta that the Utah-based franchise also has a lease signed at Brannon Crossing in Cumming.

Popular Loring Heights eatery Endive Publik House announced Tuesday that it has closed indefinitely. "It is with heavy hearts that, due to COVID-19, we have to announce we have closed our restaurant indefinitely. We thank everyone who has supported us throughout these past few months. However, we are happy to say that the Publik House space is still available to book for events of 30 people or more." The restaurant, which opened in early 2014, was located at 1468 Mecaslin Street, not far from Summerour Studio.

A new custom framing business called Framebridge is entering the Atlanta market with a pair of locations. In Buckhead, Framebridge will open in place of gift boutique Ona in The Shops Around Lenox with the shop also opening along Howell Mill Road in Westside Provisions next to Warby Parker. Both shops are expected to open in September. "Framebridge initially launched online in August 2014 as a solution to Founder and CEO Susan Tynan’s ongoing frustration over the outrageous pricing and complexity of the custom framing process. Since its inception, the brand has disrupted the traditional framing experience with a commitment to deliver deeply personal products framed easier, faster and more affordably without sacrificing quality or style."

A new location of Phenix Salon Suites is planned for Buckhead. The new salon suites franchise will open in the street level of the Allure apartments at 360 Pharr Road. Phenix Salons will be located next to Fantasyland Records in a space most recently occupied by Best Fitness by Pharr. There are today more than a dozen Phenix Salon Suites locations in metro Atlanta including those in Midtown, Akers Mill, Roswell, Smyrna and Peachtree Corners, among others.

We reported earlier this month that the Colonnade Restaurant was planning to reopen July 31 after an extended hiatus. The restaurant, an Atlanta institution for nearly 100 years, earlier today reconfirmed the planned reopening and also provided some updates on the operation and safety procedures.

"We are excited to get back to work frying chicken! We have been preparing for our reopening. The restaurant has been sanitized, we have moved tables around, including putting some in the banquet room for seating. Sanitizers have been installed throughout the building. We will have single use paper menus. There are 6 spaces designated for curbside pickup 404-874-5642. We regret to inform everyone that due to rising food costs we will no longer offer the Early Bird Special. Hope to see everyone at The Nade!"

The restaurant also updated its hours:

Monday: CLOSED

Tuesday: CLOSED

Wednesday: 5PM-9PM

Thursday: 5PM - 9PM

Friday: 5PM - 9PM

Saturday: 5PM - 9PM

Sunday: 12PM - 8PM

While the elimination of the "Early Bird Menu" will no doubt be an unwelcome development for many patrons, it was seemingly a necessary evil to keep the business afloat. The elimination of Saturday lunch service (a popular early bird mealtime) is more puzzling and makes little sense when you consider that the restaurant has now completely eliminated Monday and Tuesday service.

The announcement suggests that there will be dedicated curbside pickup parking spaces, but does not shed light on whether the restaurant will make its food available on third-party delivery platforms such as Uber Eats and DoorDash.

In other neighborhood news, a claim that the TARA Theater at the corner of Cheshire Bridge Road and LaVista Road had closed for good is not true. Like basically all movie theaters around the country, TARA and others owned by Regal Cinemas, AMC and more, remain closed as they navigate a reopening in wake of renewed COVID-19 fears and increases in cases.

Are you excited for the reopening of The Colonnade? What is your favorite menu item at The Colonnade? Do you plan to visit the Colonnade this week?

Please share your thoughts below.

The last Atlanta area Smashburger has closed. The restaurant, located in a roughly 2,300 square foot suite in the Marshalls/Ross/HomeGoods/Office Depot anchored Buckhead Crossing shopping center, closed permanently within the past few days and will reopen Thursday as Cluck -N- Mooh. The new concept, owned by former Smashburger franchisee Chirag Patel, has an existing location in Kennesaw and features a menu centered on burgers, tacos, tenders, wings and "Monster Shakes."

When Smashburger opened in Buckhead in July 2011, it was to be the first of 50 units for the Denver-based franchise in metro Atlanta. A short time later that plan was scaled back to 28. Eventually, a total of seven locations opened. The Buckhead outpost was the final metro Atlanta location for the chain following closures of the concept earlier this year in Locust Grove, Johns Creek, and Stockbridge.

In Buckhead Crossing, Cluck -N- Mooh makes the fourth quick-serve restaurant concept in recent memory to occupy the highly visibly corner space along Sidney Marcus Boulevard. KFC operated from the space for several years until Fatburger entered the Atlanta market and opened in the space in 2005. Fatburger closed in 2011 at which point Smashburger opened in its place.

[A source first told ToNeTo Atlanta of the planned Cluck -N- Mooh conversion in June, and it was said then that the plan was "hatched" pre-COVID.]

The original Cluck - N- Mooh opened this past fall on Due West Road in West Cobb. Patel also owns Boru Ramen Noodle & Poke Par which he opened in late 2017 in place of the former Kennesaw Smashburger on Barrett Parkway near Town Center at Cobb. [Patel previously owned the other three Atlanta area Smashburger locations in Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs.]

From the looks of their food and social media postings, Cluck -N- Mooh definitely seems made to be "Instagramable." One Yelp review (we discovered after drafting this post) literally reads in part:

"Cluck -N- Mooh is a dope new spot over in West Cobb that sells burgers, tenders, wings, tacos, salads, and shakes that are instagrammable for days."

In Buckhead Crossing, Cluck -N- Mooh joins Nancy's Pizzeria, Pasha Mediterranean, Extreme Teriyaki Grill Express and Wings 101 as eateries in the center.

Have you been to the original Cluck -N- Mooh? Does the Cluck -N- Mooh menu sound appealing to you? Are you surprised Smashburger performed so poorly in Georgia?

Please share your thoughts below.

A Tennessee-based burrito joint is seemingly hoping that the third time's the charm when it comes opening in metro Atlanta. DosBros Fresh Mexican Grill plans later this year to expand their footprint beyond their home market of Tennessee into metro Atlanta with an outpost in Sandy Springs. DosBros is the third Tennessee-based burrito business to enter the metro Atlanta market in recent years following Mojo Burrito [Chattanooga] which opened in Dunwoody in 2014, and Blue Coast Burrito [Nashville] which opened in Berkeley Heights in 2017.

As ToNeTo Atlanta readers will recall, neither of the previous two Tennessee imports fared well in their Atlanta expansions with Mojo closing after about eight months in business and Blue Coast lasting 13 months.

Business partners Kush Shah and Milan Patel opened the first DosBros in the Chattanooga suburb of Cleveland in 2015. In the years since, the duo, who both previously ran frozen yogurt businesses, have expanded their Mexican concept to include twelve locations in Tennessee with three more on the way, plus their planned Sandy Springs unit and another in Raleigh, North Carolina, also a new market for the concept.

Shah openly says that the inspiration for DosBros came from some of "the big guys" in the quick-serve Mexican space, presumably the likes of Moe's Southwest Grill, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Qdoba Mexican Eats, among others.

The business partners are definitely proud of the success they have achieved.

"Our process works. Our track record is best in class. We’re one of the fastest growing restaurant chains in the Southeast. Most importantly, people love our food! 12 units in 5 years, 3 under construction, 20+ in the franchise pipeline, and much room to grow! Are you ready to be a Bro?"

ToNeTo Atlanta recently visited the corporately run Cleveland location and found it OK, but by no means outstanding. The restaurant was clean, the food seemed fresh and the pricing was fair, but there was nothing particularly noteworthy that would help the concept stand out in a market as competitive as metro Atlanta, where both national chains and local favorites are already well-entrenched.

Interestingly, on our visit, when we asked for half chicken/half tofu in our burrito bowl, we were told that we would be charged additional for the tofu. Making such a request at Moe's, Willy's, Chipotle and elsewhere would not come with an extra charge, and for this to have been the response was puzzling and troubling with the chain looking to enter new markets and hoping to compete with established chains.

New market penetration is never easy and a cute name alone will not carry this concept. The food is not bad, but it's simply not good enough nor does the menu provide enough options to convert customers of other concepts to a "bro" long-term.

Sandy Springs has been an especially tough market for quick-serve Mexican chains with Barberitos and Moe's both having closed along Roswell Road in recent years and Baja Fresh having closed several years back in a space now occupied by Hearth Pizza Tavern.

DosBros does already have a presence in Georgia having opened franchised locations in Dalton in 2018 and Rome in 2019, but extrapolating metro Atlanta success from their small market success seems risky at best.

Sources tell us that Shah plans to relocate to metro Atlanta to steer the company's expansion and that the Sandy Springs location will be a corporately owned restaurant.

ToNeTo Atlanta made several attempts via phone and social media to obtain comment from the "bros" at DosBros on their planned Atlanta expansion, but received no replies/comment.

Have you been to DosBros Fresh Mexican Grill? Do you think DosBros is wise to enter the Atlanta market? What is your favorite quick-serve Mexican eatery?

Please share your thoughts below.

A new Dunkin' [Donuts] and Baskin-Robbins combo store is coming soon to Lawrenceville Highway near Decatur. The new donut and ice cream shop would open in place of the former Bruster's Ice Cream at 2550 Lawrenceville Highway, about a mile from I-285 and not far from Druid Hills Middle School and North DeKalb Mall. Bruster's closed this past September after about two decades in business.

Image courtesy of LoopNet

A request for a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) was submitted and subsequently approved by DeKalb County earlier this year. The SLUP was needed in order for the new business to make use of the existing drive-thru. Dunkin' also plans to expand and renovate the existing structure from about 1,200 to about 2,000 square feet on the approximately one acre site.

Planning documents suggest there will be limited (16) seats inside and that the new business will be open from 5AM until 10PM seven days a week.

Although many Atlanta area Dunkin' locations were built for the doughnut purveyor, the company has in several cases made use of existing structures for new locations.

Previous buildings modified for Dunkin's use in metro Atlanta include outposts on Piedmont Avenue in Piedmont Heights (onetime Burger King), Howell Mill Road on the Westside (onetime KFC) and on Roswell Road in East Cobb (onetime Donato's), among others.

ToNeTo Atlanta reported in March that another Dunkin/Baskin combo location is being proposed on Moreland Avenue in southeast Atlanta. Here, a Dunkin' franchisee is hoping to make use of an existing structure with a previously decommissioned drive-thru.

The Lawrenceville Highway location would be the second new Dunkin' in the Decatur area in recent years following the late 2017 debut of Dunkin' at the Sprouts Farmers Market anchored Decatur Crossing shopping center across from Suburban Plaza. Another Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins combo store opened about four miles north at 4092 Lawrenceville Highway in 2014.

Not far from the upcoming Dunkin/Baskin-Robbins combo store, a combination Jamba [Juice] and Auntie Anne's was recently proposed at Toco Hills. The new combo location, at 2941 North Druid Hills Road, would open where a Wing Stop and Tokyo Grill closed in 2017 after an extensive fire. The site, once home to a McDonald's, was completely demolished more than a year ago, which will make the requested SLUP that much more difficult to secure. (FWIW, who the heck is driving down the road with a hankering for a hot pretzel?)

While the long-term affects of the COVID-19 pandemic are not yet clear, real estate brokers we spoke to agree that a drive-thru and existing buildings already equipped with one, have already become an even more desirable feature than ever before.

Are you excited for the planned opening of a new Dunkin' + Baskin-Robbins? What is your favorite ice cream shop in metro Atlanta? What other businesses would you like to see open in the area?

Please share your thoughts below.

Snellville will later this year welcome a new Chicken Salad Chick restaurant. The former Wendy's (1918 Scenic Highway), will provide a drive-thru for the chicken salad eatery, a feature that will undoubtedly become even more in demand as potentially permanent shifts in consumer habits take shape in the months and years to come. For its part, Wendy's closed the unit to reopen at about a mile south at 2229 Scenic Highway, a smaller, more efficient unit that sports the company's latest branding and imaging. The new Wendy's is expected to open in the next 60 days or so.

Chicken Salad Chick, based in Auburn, Alabama, has steadily been expanding its presence in the greater metro Atlanta area, having recently added a new location in Loganville. ToNeTo Atlanta reported in July that Chicken Salad Chick plans to open their latest Atlanta area location August 18 in Johns Creek/Suwanee.

ToNeTo Atlanta recently spoke to Chicken Salad Chick Vice President of Marketing Tom Carr who said that Snellville, Tucker and the Mall of Georgia corridor are all areas of interest for the company. Readers of this site have been especially vocal over the years of their wishes for the chain to open in Tucker.

30 percent of Chicken Salad Chick's roughly 160 units nationwide feature a drive-thru according to Carr, and while the availability of that feature does not necessarily dictate whether or not they open in a specific area, getting one, as in Snellville, is a definite plus.

Scenic Highway is already full of quick-serve restaurants, but more have opened in recent years, including Cook-Out, Zaxby's, Culver's, Freddy's, Taco Bell, Arby's and Krispy Kreme, among others. Across from the upcoming Chicken Salad Chick, McDonald's opened in place of a demolished former Fuddruckers, while Del Taco re-entered the Atlanta market by converting a former Fazoli's.

The Chicken Salad Chick in Snellville could open before the end of the year and would be one of more than 30 the company has opened or plans to open in 2020. In metro Atlanta the company operates eleven, with Johns Creek to be number twelve.

Are you excited for the planned opening of Chicken Salad Chick in Snellville? What is your favorite Chicken Salad Chick flavor? Where would you like to see Chicken Salad Chick open next?

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In a surprise move, Publix announced Tuesday that it will permanently close two of its nine GreenWise Market stores. The Lakeland, Florida-based grocer's announcement comes less than two months after it opened its first Atlanta area GreenWise Market at the new Sandy Plains Marketplace in East Cobb. The two stores the company plans to close are both in South Carolina: one in Lexington, and the other in Mount Pleasant.

Both stores were originally to be The Fresh Market locations, but never actually opened as the Greensboro-based grocer. The 21,535 square foot GreenWise in Mount Pleasant anchors Indigo Square shopping center and opened last May. The slightly smaller 21,400 square foot Lexington store opened in Lexington Marketplace this past December. [German grocer Lidl has already opened in one former Atlanta area Fresh Market store (Brookhaven), and will soon open in another (East Cobb.)]

“We have made the difficult decision to close both GreenWise Market locations in South Carolina.” Publix spokeswoman Maria Brous said late Tuesday. “Both locations were acquisitions that fit our needs at the time of opening.” she said. “However, as our concept has evolved, the locations have space constraints that will not fit our current vision for GreenWise Markets.”

This sudden about face is especially puzzling when you consider that just this past December Publix President Kevin Murphy indicated he and his GreenWise team were "very excited to bring this new shopping experience to Lexington and the greater Columbia community.”

The company indicated that there are no plans to reopen either store as a traditional Publix store or to reopen the GreenWise stores in larger spaces in the same markets. (Whole Foods converted nearly all of their 365 stores to flagship Whole Foods Market stores when they abandoned their off-shoot concept including two in metro Atlanta.)

Both GreenWise stores will close as of 7 PM on August 29.

The GreenWise in East Cobb is just over 25,000 square feet, and while still larger than the two closing stores, is smaller than other GreenWise locations such as the ones in Mountain Brook, Alabama (28,000 square feet), Tallahassee, Florida (29,000 square feet) and Boca Raton, Florida (27,750 square feet), among others.

Bisnow reported January 28 that Orkin & Associates, the real estate investment arm of the Orkin family, purchased the 73,000 square foot Sandy Plains Marketplace for $43.8M from Fuqua Development. At $600 per square foot, it is reportedly one of the most expensive shopping center sales in Metro Atlanta's history. The sales prices was no doubt driven by the long term lease Publix signed for their space.

We visited the new East Cobb GreenWise on day one and found the store unspectacular. Sources have told ToNeTo Atlanta that the store has been just OK traffic-wise in the weeks since. If Publix were to decide to close in East Cobb, too, it would be devastating for the center, as numerous small shop tenants reportedly have "co-tenancy clauses" linked to GreenWise anchoring the center.

Elsewhere in East Cobb, building plans suggest that Publix is finally moving forward with their planned store at East Cobb Crossing Shopping Center. Here, at the corner of Roswell and Johnson Ferry Roads, Publix will occupy a 36,563 square foot space in the remaining portion of the former kmart not taken by Dick's Sporting Goods. This store, as well as another planned for Ashford Dunwoody Road in Dunwoody, were both previously planned as GreenWise Market stores, according to sources familiar with the grocer's plans.

Have you been to the new GreenWise Market in East Cobb? Would you be surprised if Publix closed their GreenWise Market in East Cobb? What is your current go-to grocery store?

Please share your thoughts below.

[EXCLUSIVE] IHOP Franchisee Shutters Six Suburban Spots, New Concept Shelved at Atlantic Station

[UPDATE] Rebuilt Kroger at Embry Village to Open in August

[EXCLUSIVE] W Atlanta Buckhead to be Deflagged, Become Autograph Collection Hotel

[LIGHTS OUT] New Vision Theatres Shuts Down Completely

[UPDATE] JCPenney Arbor Place Gets New Lease on Life as Company Pulls Back on Planned Closures

[EXCLUSIVE] Lidl to Make Dunwoody Debut in August

[IN NOT SO PLEASANT COMPANY] American Girl Closes Three Boutiques, Atlanta Among Them

[EXCLUSIVE] Pita Grille Says Shalom, Shutters

[UPDATE] More Georgia Tuesday Morning Stores to Close

[OPENING ALERT] Chicken Salad Chicken to Debut Next Month in Johns Creek (Suwanee)

[EXCLUSIVE] Martin's Opening Restaurant Number 19

[TURKEY!] Stars & Strikes Shutters Site in Sandy Springs Shopping Center

[UPDATE] New Proposal Surfaces for Prized Parcels at Clairmont & Briarcliff Roads

Bits & Bites

[UPDATE] The Colonnade Restaurant to Reopen Friday!

[EXCLUSIVE] Smashburger Gives Way to Cluck -N- Mooh in Buckhead

[EXCLUSIVE] DosBros Hoping to Break Tennessee Burrito Curse in Sandy Springs

[COMING SOON] Dunkin' + Baskin-Robbins Planned Near Decatur

[EXCLUSIVE] Chicken Salad Chick Sets Sights on Scenic Highway in Snellville

[ALERT] Publix Shutters Two GreenWise Market Stores, Atlanta Store Safe For Now