Gallery Cafe will be closing December 31 at Tuxedo Festival in Buckhead.  The owners of the popular Chastain Park area eatery reportedly decided not to renew their lease given the uncertainly of the world and the challenges facing the restaurant industry.  The lunch eatery has been a Chastain Park staple for more than two decades, having first opened in 1998.  

Replacing Gallery Cafe is Buff City Soap, a growing soap and cosmetics franchise that recently entered the metro Atlanta market.  The Memphis-based business has existing Atlanta area locations in Roswell, Peachtree Corners, and Fort Oglethorpe near Chattanooga, and will early next year open in the roughly 2,100 square foot Gallery Cafe space.  

ToNeTo Atlanta has visited the Roswell location several times and even made our very own soap!  Entrepreneur Brad Kellum opened the first Buff City in 2013.   In some ways Buff City is like Lush, a UK-based soap and cosmetics company, but Buff City is more localized in their approach and their offerings.  Each location is able to create and offer their own "signature bar," and also offer soap-making classes.  That said, Kellum does has have lofty growth aspirations with his hope that Buff City will one day be "the Starbucks of soap."  

Have you ever tried Buff City Soap?  Where would you like to see Buff City Soap open next?  Are you a bar or liquid soap person?

Please share your thoughts below.  

Amazon.com Inc. has leased a well-known suburban commercial space for a new "final mile" warehouse.  The ecommerce giant will soon open their new warehouse in the nearly 200,000 square foot facility at 4000 Venture Drive, not far from Gwinnett Place Mall and adjacent to Costco in Duluth.  The sprawling building, originally constructed as an Incredible Universe store, opened in 1996 and closed in 1997.  Over the past two decades, the space has been home to several other businesses including PGA Tour Superstore, Haverty's Furniture Outlet and Dave & Buster's.  Over time, though, those businesses have either consolidated operations, moved, or as the Haverty's Outlet did last December, closed altogether.  

The building, which already includes a truckyard and eight truck bays, was rezoned earlier this year from C-2 (General Business District) to M-1 (Light Industrial District), to accommodate Amazon.  [The rezoning approval at the time was ambiguous, without it being publicly known then who would occupy the building.  The coming occupant was only recently revealed when signage went was erected.]

Amazon already operates several large format warehouses in Georgia including those in Lithia Springs, Braselton, Jefferson, East Point, Smyrna, and Newnan, but the Duluth location will be  about one fourth the size of standard warehouses.  The expansion into smaller, suburban warehouses is part of a significant effort by the ecommerce retailer to deliver packages in one day - or the same day - rather than two days - to its valued  Prime members.  According to a September report by Bloomberg, Amazon is planning to open at least 1,000 "final mile" warehouses in suburban neighborhoods around the country.  The expansion into even faster delivery is seen as a defensive move by Amazon as it fends off renewed competition from legacy brick & mortar retailers such as Walmart and Target, both of whom have launched their own one day/same day delivery services, Walmart Plus and Shipt, respectively.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to record ecommerce sales with many shoppers turning to Amazon and their assorted services for basics, gifts, and everything in between.  

Amazon.com Inc. registered its most profitable quarter ever in the three months ended September 30 with revenue from North America increasing 39.3% year over year.  Overall revenue increased 37.4% to a record $96.15 billion. Its net income also set a quarterly record at $6.33 billion, an increase of 196.7% over the third quarter of 2019.  

A onetime Hi-Fi Buys on West Liddell Road is now home to Fresh Start Church and Jag Fitness while a former Super Target is now partially Furniture Mart but also largely vacant.  A large freestanding former location of The Sport Shoe is now home to So Good Beauty & Bridal.  The former Circuit City on Venture Drive is now a Studio Movie Grill, while the former Harry's Farmers Market on Satellite Boulevard is now the Aviation Institute of Maintenance. 

Did you ever shop at Incredible Universe?  What do you think Gwinnett County should do with Gwinnett Place Mall?  Are you pleased to see Amazon opening another facility to make shipping faster?

Please share your thoughts below.  

Abercrombie & Fitch plans to close its Abercrombie & Fitch, abercrombie kids and Hollister stores at North Point Mall in Alpharetta as well as its Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister stores at the Mall of Georgia in Buford. An abercrombie kids store at the Mall of Georgia will remain open.  Sources close to the retailer indicate that the company would like to reopen at least some of the banners elsewhere in Alpharetta, while in Buford the retailer is reportedly interested in smaller space(s) within the mall.  

American Eagle Outfitters is also reducing its store count locally with plans to shutter its stores at The Mall at Stonecest in Lithonia and Southlake Mall in Morrow.  There are reportedly no plans to reopen or relocate either store.  Additionally, like Abercromie, neither store is having any special "closing sales" and is instead simply participating in current company-wide sales and promotions.  The Southlake store is due to close December 27, the Stonecrest store "in January," according to employees at the stores.   American Eagle, also like Abercrombie, previously closed its outpost at Gwinnett Place Mall.  The retailer also shuttered its store at Atlantic Station in Midtown.  ToNeTo Atlanta reported November 10 that American Eagle is expanding its "flagship" store at Lenox Square in Buckhead where it will add its popular Aerie line and will swell to about 10,000 square feet.  In addition to the store at Lenox Square, American Eagle operates other local outposts at Perimeter Mall, North Point Mall, Cumberland Mall, The Avenue West Cobb and Mall of Georgia, among others.    

GAP is actively closing its store at Atlantic Station and IS having a closing sale.  All in-stock merchandise is currently 40-60% off with the sale expected to continue until all merchandise has been sold, according to store employees.  Clothing retailer Lindbergh will later next summer open a new store in place of GAP at Atlantic Station.  The new Lindbergh store will be a relocation of sorts for the brand which previously operated a Buckhead storefront at Buckhead Village District.  GAP previously closed stores in Phipps Plaza in Buckhead, Northlake Mall in Tucker, North DeKalb Mall near Decatur, Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth, North Point Mall in Alpharetta, The Shoppes at Webb Gin in Snellville, Underground Atlanta Downtown, Cumberland Mall near Smyrna, and Town Center at Cobb, among others.  

Selene, which is liquidating merchandise from former Buckhead boutique Luna, is also having a special sale.  All merchandise is 75% off with an additional 10% discount given to ToNeTo Atlanta readers who mention this site when checking out.  The store is located a few doors down from Jamison Shaw Hairdressers in the Piedmont Peachtree Shopping Center, aka the Disco Kroger center.  

Are you surprised to see Abercrombie & Fitch closing so many stores in metro Atlanta?  What would you like to see open in place of the stores that are closing?  What is your favorite chain retail store?

Please share your thoughts below  

ToNeTo Atlanta has learned that Sprouts Farmers Market plans to open a new store in the soon-to-close Cost Plus World Market space in Smyrna.  The freestanding junior anchor space, which ToNeTo Atlanta reported December 16 will be vacated by Cost Plus as of December 31, will reopen as the fifteenth metro Atlanta location of the Phoenix-based grocer.  Sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta that a lease is not yet signed but that a deal is "imminent."   The approximately 19,000 square foot space sits in an outparcel of Heritage Pavilion shopping center along Cobb Parkway in Cobb County.  

In addition to the Smyrna store, which should open in late 2021 or early 2022, another new Sprouts is slated to open later this summer in Buford at Fuqua Development's new The Exchange @ Gwinnett.  The Buford store, which will measure about 23,000 square feet, is in line with what real estate sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta is the grocer's new store model. The Smyrna store will be smaller than this, but reportedly was a market the grocer was intent on penetrating despite the slightly smaller size.  Existing Sprouts in metro Atlanta are 25,000-35,000 square feet.  

The new Sprouts will be the second in the Smyrna area and the fourth overall in Cobb County joining existing locations on East-West Connector (Olde Ivy Village), East Cobb (Providence Square) and West Cobb (Parkside West Cobb).  

Sprouts brings to Cobb Parkway a new grocery option which in the immediate area can be hard to find save for Costco (membership) and Target (limited grocery options).  ALDI operates a newly renovated store at the corner of Cumberland Boulevard and Spring Road, but the German discount grocer with its cart rental, limited brand names and small format is not for everyone.  In advance of the opening of The Battery Atlanta, there was talk of Sprouts, among others, having expressed interest in being part of the mixed-use development, but nothing ever came to be.  

Lowe's Home Improvement will early next year open their first Lowe's Outlet store in Georgia.  The Mooresville, North Carolina-based company opened their first Lowe's Outlet in late 2019 in Monrovia, California in a former Orchard Supply Hardware, a chain it owned but shuttered entirely in 2018.  The Georgia Outlet will open in the Shoppes at Morrow Station (1865 Mount Zion Road) outside Southlake Mall in Morrow, about 15 minutes south of Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport.  

According to those who have visited the stores and company comments, Lowe's Outlets primarily feature "scratch & dent" appliances including stoves, freezers, washers, dryers, refrigerators, and microwaves, among other products.  Customers can expect to see discounts of 25 to 50 percent off original retail prices.  

Industry observers see Lowe's entry into the "scratch & dent" business a smart move as the retailer seeks to fill a void in the market left by the closures of other similar businesses by Sears, among others.  Atlanta-based Home Depot does not currently operate any outlet stores.  

For whatever reason, Morrow has been a popular city for retailers to open clearance and specialty stores.  

ToNeTo Atlanta reported in 2012 that Costco would open their first, and still only, Georgia Business Center in a converted traditional Costco store.  The store, which is also on Mount Zion Boulevard, does not have a food court and instead features a wider assortment of products suited for restaurant and c-store sale.  

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. in 2012 operated a "warehouse sale" store in Morrow.  The store, located in Southlake Festival, occupied a former Best Buy and was in business for about a year between 2017 and 2018.  The store was marketed under the Pottery Barn banner but also featured furniture and other products from sister brands pottery barn kids, Williams-Sonoma and West Elm.  

Have you ever been to a Lowe's Outlet store?  Would you consider purchasing your next appliance from the Lowe's Outlet?  What retailer do you wish would open an outlet store?

Please share your thoughts below  

Georgia Theatre Company's Park 12 Cobb Cinemas has closed.  The 12 screen theater, located at 2925 W. Frank Gordy Parkway in East Cobb, closed as of December 31, according to ToNeTo Atlanta reader in the community and confirmed by a notice on the theater's website.  As of Sunday afternoon, there was no signage at the theater to indicate the closure.  The theater's website directed would-be patrons to the company's sister location, Merchants Walk Stadium Cinemas 12, about seven miles away.  

"In response to an increasingly challenging theatrical landscape and sustained key market closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic," Regal Cinemas in early October "temporarily suspended" operations at all of their locations nationwide, including more than a dozen in metro Atlanta.  Rival operator AMC had been closed for several months (and at the brink of bankruptcy) before they reopened in August on a limited basis with limited capacity.  

St. Simons Island-based GTC operates 24 theater locations in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Virginia.  Georgia is the chain's largest market with 21 locations including one on Washington Road in Augusta - Masters 7 - that is marked "temporarily closed" on the GTC website.  

In January 2020, GTC founder and chairman William Stembler announced the sale of his company to the Georgia Theatre Company Stock Ownership Trust.  “Our employees are the foundation of Georgia Theatre Company,” Stembler said. “By transitioning to an employee-owned company, we are empowering them to play an integral role in the company’s future. My family and I are grateful for this opportunity to reward our employees for their hard work, loyalty and contributions by creating the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).”  This move creates an ownership structure similar to Lakeland, Florida-based Publix wherein the grocery store's employees are owners of the business through an ESOP.  

It's unclear why GTC opted to close Park 12 or if other closures are planned.  Also unclear is what's next for the 5.8 acre site that the Cobb County Tax Assessors office valued at nearly $6 million in 2020. German discount grocer Lidl abandoned plans in 2017 to open a new grocery store on the site of the theater after the Cobb Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 against the grocer's planned redevelopment.  

Are you sad to see Park 12 close?  When was the last time you were in a movie theater? What did you see?  What would you like to see open on the site of the now former Park 12 Cinemas?

Please share your thoughts below. 

Once popular "breastaurant"Tilted Kilt has closed its last remaining Atlanta area location.  Situated along Cobb Parkway across from Akers Mill Square, Tilted Kilt closed as of December 31, according to several social media posts.  The restaurant had chains around its front doors on Sunday when a ToNeTo Atlanta reader visited, but surprisingly there was no notice of the closure onsite.  At its height, the Tempe, Arizona-based chain had seven locations in metro Atlanta, including outposts in Kennesaw, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Buford and Suwanee. 

Fellow breastaurant operators Dallas-based Twin Peaks and Atlanta-based Hooters both continue to operate multiple locations in metro Atlanta.  Hooters has a location in an outparcel of Akers Mill Square across the street from the now shuttered Tilted Kilt, as well as in Downtown, Kennesaw, Roswell and Buford, among others.  Twin Peaks operates locally in Buckhead and Kennesaw in addition to a unit in Augusta.  

For its part, Tilted Kilt has always been a distant third: RC Cola in a Coke & Pepsi world.  Tilted Kilt had 80 locations at the end of 2017.  In recent years, franchisees have closed dozens of units and the chain itself sold for $10 in 2018.  The corporate Tilted Kilt website is seemingly down for the time being, so it's difficult to confirm, but online research and posts to the Tilted Kilt facebook page suggest that there are as few as a dozen units still in operation.  

There are sure to be plenty of second generation restaurants becoming available in the coming months and while the former Tilted Kilt could draw interest from restaurant operators, it could also be viewed as a good addition to the Barnes & Noble parcel next door.  ToNeTo Atlanta reported in November that the 2.4 acre Barnes & Noble site was being marketed as a redevelopment opportunity.  The nearly one acre Tilted Kilt, while not essential to any would-be redevelopment, could be an intriguing addition.  (There are also unconfirmed reports that the restaurant could be reopened as a new concept from the same owners  - Crooked Kilt anyone?) 

Are you surprised to see Tilted Kilt close near Cumberland Mall?  What is your favorite Cumberland/Vinings area restaurant?  What would you like to see open in place of Tilted Kilt?

Please share your thoughts below. 

Castellucci Hospitality Group (CHG) plans to bring their popular Recess restaurant to Buckhead later this year.  The original Recess opened at Krog Street Market in Inman Park in early 2018.  The Buckhead Recess will be located on the ground floor of the Hanover Buckhead Village high rise apartment community (3150 Roswell Road) at the corner of Roswell Road and Irby Avenue in the heart of the Buckhead Village.  

Recess Buckhead, located beside Tiff's Treats, will be roughly 1,400 square feet in a space along Roswell Road with a small patio, too, near the entrance to the property's shared parking garage. Sources with knowledge of the deal indicate that Castellucci showed nearly immediate interest in the space, but that it was only in recent days that a lease was signed.  At Hanover Buckhead Village, Recess will join fellow CHG concept The Iberian Pig, which opened in 2018.  

Current Recess options include a variety of bowls, salads and sandwiches as well as vegetable side dishes such as charred broccoli and brussels & pear slaw.  The menu at Recess Buckhead will reportedly be similar to, but slightly more expansive than, the existing location.  

CHG, founded in 2010, includes Sugo in Johns Creek, The Iberian Pig in Buckhead and Decatur, Double Zero in Emory Village, Cooks & Soldiers on the Westside and Bar Mercado in Krog Street Market.  It was revealed in December that CHG plans to open a brick & mortar version of their sushi pop-up MUJO on the Westside.  MUJO, which began as a pop-up at sister eatery Cooks & Soldiers, is slated to open later this summer in the former Kane Boutique (691 14th Street). The 1,500 square foot space is, like Cooks & Soldiers, located in the retail portion of the Cottonwood Westside apartment community at the corner of 14th Street and Howell Mill Road.  

In Buckhead Village, Recess will join the recently opened Fire Hen (corner of Irby Avenue and Cains Hill Place) and the recently reopened Velvet Taco in Buckhead Market Place as new casual lunch/dinner spots in the neighborhood.  

Are you excited about the addition of Recess to the Buckhead dining scene?  Have you been to the original Recess in Krog Street Market?  What is your favorite lunch spot in Buckhead?  

Please share your thoughts below.

Casual sandwich, soup, salad & pizza restaurant Newk's Eatery closed at least two Atlanta area units at the end of 2020.  The restaurants, in Smyrna and Atlanta, originally opened in December 2017 and July 2018, respectively.  Real estate sources indicate that both locations had been quietly shopped in advance of their closures, but that both spaces remain available. 

Jackson, Mississippi-based Newk's Eatery was launched in 2004 by father and son chefs Don and Chris Newcomb along with Debra Bryson.  The elder Newcomb had earlier launched the McAlister's Deli chain which was sold to Atlanta-based FOCUS Brands in 2005.  Newcomb hoped to emulate the same success with Newk's that he'd had, and later FOCUS experienced, with McAlister's, which now counts nearly 500 units nationwide.  

There were 67 Newk's in March 2014 when the Newcombs sold a majority stake in the business to New York private equity firm Sentinel Capital Partners.  The following year, with fewer than 100 units open, company executives claimed they would have 300 units open by 2018.  As of early 2020, their unit count was about 120, with their total units in operation now closer to 100.  

One thing that may have contributed to the closures in Smyrna and Atlanta was that both locations were significantly larger than what Newk's own marketing materials indicates is the average unit size: 3,200-3,800 square feet.  It seems that the company [and franchisees], eager to open units and grow the brand, may not have been as disciplined as they should have been in their expansion efforts.  

That said, location was also likely a factor in the poor performance and eventual closures of both locations.  The Shumacher Group, an Atlanta-based real estate brokerage, currently has three "highly profitable" Atlanta area Newk's Eatery units under contract, with two of the three larger than the chain's stated average size.  (Steve Josovitz of The Shumacher Group would not disclose the exact locations of the Newk's under contract, but indicated that all three are actively open and in the greater metro Atlanta area.)

Earlier last year, two other local Newk's closed at The Shops at Metropolis (933 Peachtree Street) in Midtown and Commons at Chastain (745 Chastain Road) in Kennesaw.  

Remaining Atlanta area Newk's include those in TOWN Brookhaven in Brookhaven, The Village at Druid Hills on Briarcliff Road, Perimeter Expo in Dunwoody, Tucker Meridian in Tucker, and Kennesaw Marketplace in Kennesaw, among others.  

Are you surprised to see so many Newk's close in metro Atlanta?  What is your favorite casual sandwich eatery?  What would you like to see open in place of the shuttered Newk's locations?

Please share your thoughts below.  

Macy's Tuesday announced its plans to shutter another 45 stores as part of its three year store closure plan that started in 2020.  The company has not yet made public a list of the affected stores, but ToNeTo Atlanta has reviewed a list (and CNBC later published the same list) that indicates the Macy's at Greenbriar Mall in southwest Atlanta will be one of the stores that is to close.  Affected stores are slated to close by mid year.  In total, Macy's plans to close 125 stores by 2023.

A notice to employees reviewed by ToNeTo Atlanta reads in part:

"A decision to close a store is never made lightly as we know closing a store impacts our colleagues and the communities we serve. Where we can, we will be looking to place colleagues in neighboring locations." 

The closure at Greenbriar comes on the heels of last year's closure of Macy's stores at South DeKalb Mall in Atlanta and at Macon Mall in Macon.  

In an oft changing retail landscape, where shifts to online retail have been accelerated by COVID-19, Macy's was perhaps more proactive than it had been previously when it announced its first round of closures last January.  Macy's no doubt needs to "right-size" their store fleet if they plan to continue as a going concern.  

The company continues to operate several Atlanta area stores including those at Lenox Square in Buckhead (flagship), Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody, Northlake Mall in Tucker, North Point Mall in Alpharetta and Cumberland Mall in Smyrna, among others.  

Are you surprised to see Macy's close at Greenbriar Mall?  What is your fondest memory of Rich's?  What department store do you shop most (either in store or online)?

Please share your thoughts below. 

After months sitting idle but under the premise that it would reopen, Lovies BBQ on Piedmont Road in Buckhead has seemingly closed for good.  The restaurant, located on the back side of the Piedmont Road-facing building that also houses Indian quick-serve eatery NaanStop, closed in July 2020 "until further notice" as the result of rising COVID-19 cases.  

Atlanta natives and high school friends Nate Newman and Drew Gregory opened Lovies in January 2014 and it eventually garnered a following for its pulled pork and chicken, macaroni and cheese, Brunswick stew and sweet potato waffle fries, among other offerings.  ToNeTo Atlanta visited the eatery a few times and was especially impressed with their chicken biscuit.  

The restaurant's nearly six year run is indicative of the success they were able to achieve despite having what many would consider an inferior location.  If not for the effects of the pandemic and resulting shutdowns and service limitations, it's reasonable to surmise the business would have continued to operate from their Piedmont Road outpost.  

Lovies is now the third eatery to close in the immediate area in the past few months, following the closures of Chama Gaucha in Tower Place and Marco's Pizza in Piedmont Peachtree Crossing.  Burgerfan, a new burger joint opened last year by the same owners who had previously operated Sushi Bar Yu-ka from the same place in Peachtree Piedmont Crossing shopping center, remains "temporarily closed," with sources close to the center indicating it will not reopen.  

Despite the pandemic and other restaurant closures, a separate Selig-owned property adjacent to the former Lovies welcomed a new bar, lounge, and restaurant at the end of October.  Florida-based Blue Martini opened its heavily delayed Buckhead outpost at 3402 Piedmont Road October 30.  

Were you a fan of Lovies?  What is your favorite place for barbecue in Buckhead?  What would you like to see open in place of Lovies?

Please share your thoughts below.  

After an extended hiatus, Grand Lux Cafe at Phipps Plaza in Buckhead will reopen later this month.  The roughly 11,000 square foot second floor restaurant, which first opened August 2018, has remained closed since last summer following the detrimental effects of the pandemic on restaurant sales and associated decrease in foot traffic at Phipps Plaza.  

Calabasas, California-based The Cheesecake Factory Inc., parent company of Grand Lux, has several locations in metro Atlanta including one at Lenox Square in Buckhead that has remained open throughout the pandemic when restrictions allowed.  

This past October, when Cheesecake reported their results for third quarter of fiscal 2020, the company revealed that they had closed one Grand Lux unit during the quarter.  The restaurant, located at Cherry Hill Mall in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, originally opened in July 2012.  Following the closure and after the reopening in Atlanta, the chain will operate a total of eleven units in eight states.  

Plans for a Buckhead outpost of the popular cafe, bakery & market Alon's at Phipps Plaza remain in flux with no word on when/if it will open.  ToNeTo Atlanta was first to reveal in September 2019 owner Alon Balshan's plans to open at Phipps Plaza.  To date, the only action at the space (the remaining portion of the former Twist not occupied by Agency) was an August 6, 2020 building permit for "commercial alteration" filed with the City of Atlanta, which estimated the cost of construction to be $1.25M.  

Are you pleased to hear Grand Lux is reopening at Phipps Plaza?  What is your favorite Phipps Plaza eatery?  Have your trips to Phipps Plaza (and Lenox Square) decreased in light of recent criminal activity at the two popular malls?

Please share your thoughts below.  

It's been a tough year for restaurants, for hotels, for medical professionals... for everyone.  Thankfully, we have a bit of good news to share to start off 2021.  The Sandy Springs location of The General Muir is slated to open Saturday at City Springs.  ToNeTo Atlanta first reported the planned expansion of the intown favorite in August 2019.  The new, roughly 3,100 square foot restaurant is located along Johnson Ferry Road and includes both inside and outside dining. 

"We'll open our location at City Springs, in Sandy Springs, from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, January 9 and Sunday, January 10.  Given the limited seating capacity during the ongoing pandemic, we will seat by reservation only. Takeout is also available, with online ordering for contactless pickup, or ordering by phone. On Wednesday, January 13 we'll roll out our regular hours -- 8am-8pm, Wed-Sun."

The General Muir gets its name from the U.S. refugee transport ship that brought co-owner Jennifer Johnson’s mother and grandparents—Holocaust survivors—to New York, after World War II.  The restaurant's menu features many classic deli items such as a corned beef Reuben, pastrami sandwich, and a burger stack, as well as popular breakfast fare such as bagels, omelettes and pecan crusted french toast, among other offerings.   

The expansion is the latest venture for Chef Todd Ginsberg, Shelley Sweet and husband and wife Jennifer and Ben Johnson, who collectively own Rye Restaurants.   The restaurant group includes the original The General Muir and TGM Bread at Emory Point, Fred’s Meat & Bread and Yalla at Krog Street Market, and Wood’s Chapel BBQ in Summerhill. Sweet and the Johnsons are also partners in West Egg Café in West Midtown.  The group closed their micro food hall The Canteen in Midtown this past May. 

In City Springs, The General Muir joins several other restaurants already open in the mixed-use development including The Select, Flower Child, Nam Kitchen, and Cafe Vendome. 

Are you excited for the opening of The General Muir in Sandy Springs?  What is your favorite Rye Restaurants concept? What is your favorite bagel?

Please share your thoughts below.  

Lidl will open their latest Atlanta area store January 20 in Sandy Springs.  ToNeTo Atlantafirst reported October 28, 2019 that the store, first announced in 2017, would in fact be moving forward albeit in a slightly different form.  Originally planned as a ground-up freestanding store, it is instead opening in a roughly 29,000 square foot portion of the former Marshalls in the center previously known as Marshalls Plaza and today known as City Center Crossing.  

The grocer, which entered the Atlanta market in 2019 (and the state in 2017 with a store in Augusta), today operates thirteen stores in the state including eleven in metro Atlanta.  Lidl in 2020 added new stores in Brookhaven, East Cobb, Suwanee and Marietta, among other communities, and has plans to add stores to Roswell and Kirkwood in the coming months.  

ToNeTo Atlanta has also confirmed that another two Lidl stores are slated for Cumming and Lawrenceville.  In Cumming, Lidl will open a new store at 4335 Kelly Mill Road, where it will anchor The Shoppes at Kelly Mill.  The Lidl in Lawrenceville will open on vacant land at 1945 Braselton Highway.  

Current Lidl stores in the state include: Snellville, Mableton, Marietta (2),  Brookhaven, Peachtree Corners, Woodstock, Dunwoody, Jonesboro, Suwanee, Lawrenceville and Augusta.

Sources close to the grocer indicate that there are also plans for Lidl stores in Midtown Atlanta and another in Cobb county, among others.  

It can be a challenge to find good news to report lately, but we are pleased to be able to share that not one, but three new restaurants are headed to Buford! The restaurants, Chicken Salad Chick, Blaze Pizza and 'cue barbecue, are all opening in existing centers around Mall of Georgia, with the first having opened Tuesday. 

A new Blaze Pizza is slated to open in the corner space adjacent to Chicken Salad Chick in Mall of Georgia Crossing.  Carl Hoover, Operating Partner at Blazing South, the local franchise group, tells ToNeTo Atlanta that his team received their building permit this past week and plan to be open in late March or early April.  The new 2,800 square foot Blaze will be the fourth in metro Atlanta for Blazing South, which operates existing locations in Decatur, Cumberland and on the Westside.  The most popular item at Blaze is their 11 inch "build your own" pizza, where for about nine bucks you can get as many toppings as you want.  Blaze also features larger family pies and smaller kid pies, as well as assorted salads, "dough knots," and new cheesy bread, among other offerings.   The opening of Blaze in Buford marks the return of a quick-serve "build your own" pizza eatery to the area following the closure of Uncle Maddio's Pizza and its independent evolution as Pazzi's Pizza.  Started in 2011 by Rick and Elise Wetzel of Wetzel's Pretzels fame, Blaze Pizza and its local franchisees now operate more than 300 locations nationwide. 

The owners of popular OTP barbecue eatery 'cue barbecue plan to open their fifth location later this year.  The new 'cue, at 3350 Buford Drive in Buford, will replace Dickey's Barbecue Pit, which closed at the end of 2019 after opening at the end of 2017. (Aklat Mediterranean Cafe, and before that, Radio Shack, previously occupied the space 'cue has leased.)  The new BBQ joint will join existing eateries in the small strip center including Chipotle Mexican Grill, J Buffalo Wings, Parma Tavern and Firehouse Subs, among others.  The barbecue restaurant is a casual table service eatery which promises to "Make everything from scratch and make it yummy."    Founded in 2009, 'cue today has four Atlanta area locations in Milton, Cumming, Lawrenceville and Peachtree Corners.  The new Buford outpost will be the second franchise of the local chain joining the Lawrenceville franchise which opened in 2019.  Pending hiring and limited interior modifications, plans call for the Buford 'cue to open sometime in late February or early March.  

Are you excited for the new eating options in Buford?  Have you been to any or all of the upcoming restaurants?  What eatery would you most like to see open in Buford?

Please share your thoughts below.  

Beloved chocolatier Godiva announced late Wednesday that they will be closing all of their brick and mortar locations in North America.  The closures will affect nearly 130 retail stores and cafes in the region including 115 in the United States.  The company indicated that affected locations will all cease operations as Godiva by the end of the first quarter of 2021 either through sales or closures. 

The three Atlanta area Godiva shops all occupy premium spaces on their respective malls' second floors, right off the escalator, at "center court."  The owners of Lenox Square (Simon Property Group),  Perimeter Mall (Brookfield Properties Retail Inc.) and North Point Mall (New York Life Insurance Company) while still navigating the effects of COVID-19, should see interest in backfilling the Godiva spaces given their visibility and premium location.  

The decision to close all the North American outlets comes less than two years after the company introduced their café concept in New York City and announced plans to open more than 400 in the region.  

The café concept, an attempt by Godiva to broaden their reach and become more than just a dessert shop, introduced a host of new and unique products.  The menu included the signature Chocolixir, a decadent cold blended drink, baked items like Belgian liege waffles and chocolate inspired cookies, sandwiches and salads.  Available exclusively at GODIVA cafés, the menu also included the Croiffle™, a buttery croissant pressed in a hot waffle iron available in six flavors including Three Cheese filled with melted Gruyere, Havarti and Swiss; Bacon, Egg & Gouda; and GODIVA dark or milk chocolate.  Select items from the café menus were introduced into the Atlanta area shops.  

COVID-19 has led to significant changes in buying habits, not only in retailers, but in restaurants, eateries and other food shops too.  Godiva relied heavily on the in-person shopping experience and their café concept was meant to capitalize on the foot traffic of their stores but their products, especially the new cafe offerings, did not translate well to curbside and other alternative sales.  Additionally, Godiva took longer than some might have predicted to reopen their stores once regulations allowed and this gap likely furthered the stores' financial struggles.   

Food Business Newsreported Thursday on Godiva's decision to shutter its stores,  “Our brick-and-mortar locations in North America have had a clear purpose since we first opened our doors in this market — to provide an in-person experience for consumers to enjoy the world’s most exquisite chocolates,” said Nurtac Afridi, chief executive officer. “We have always been focused on what our consumers need and how they want to experience our brand, which is why we have made this decision."

Afridi, who was named interim CEO of Godiva in October and officially given the title this past December, added:

 “Of course, this decision was difficult because of the care we have for our dedicated and hardworking chocolatiers who will be impacted. We are grateful for all they have done to make wonderful moments for our consumers and spread happiness through incredible customer service and living our values and behaviors.”  

While Godiva is exiting its brick-and-mortar locations in North America, the company remains committed to the region, Ms. Afridi said. In an effort to reach consumers where they are shopping most frequently, the company has shifted its sales focus to food, drug and mass (FDM) retail outlets and online merchants.  Godiva said it will maintain retail operations across Europe, the Middle East and Greater China.

Are you surprised to see Godiva close all of their North American shops?  What is your favorite premium chocolate?  What would you like to see open in place of the soon-to-shutter Godiva shops in metro Atlanta? 

Please share your thoughts below.  

Dinner-and-a-movie theater chain Studio Movie Grill (SMG) has closed its location on Holcomb Bridge Road in Alpharetta.  The nine screen location, which first opened in 2010, quietly closed last week.  There was reportedly no notice given to the public in advance of the closure, but many suspected it would close in light of the planned opening of a new SMG about five miles away on North Point Parkway.  

In metro Atlanta, several theater locations have already permanently closed due to the pandemic. 

ToNeTo Atlanta reported this past September that CMX CinéBistro at TOWN Brookhaven in Brookhaven would not reopen after initially closing earlier in the year to complete a fire-caused renovation.  Shortly after the new year, we also reported that Georgia Theater Company (GTC) had permanently closed its Park 12 Cobb Cinemas in East Cobb.  In addition to the single closures by CMX and GTC, New Vision Theatres closed all of their locations last summer including metro Atlanta outposts in Cumming and Lithonia.  

For its part, SMG filed plans to convert a former AMC Theatres on North Point Parkway in Alpharetta in 2019 intending to open in 2020.  There has been limited work completed at the site over the past year, but the closure on Holcomb Bridge suggests that the company may now be directing their attention to North Point, where sources say it still does intend to open.  

Studio Movie Grill continues to operate two other Atlanta area locations: a ten auditorium theater on Venture Drive in Duluth that opened in 2012, and an 11 auditorium theater on Roswell Road in Marietta that opened in 2017.  

Are your surprised to see Studio Movie Grill close their Alpharetta location?  When was the last time you saw a movie in a theater?  What is your favorite movie theater chain?

Please share your thoughts below. 

At long last, Snooze an A.M. Eatery is about to open in Sandy Springs!  ToNeTo Atlanta was first to reveal plans of the Denver-based breakfast joint's entry into metro Atlanta in 2019, but its opening, originally planned for the first half of 2020, was delayed several months due to the pandemic.  Snooze opens in place of Urban Cookhouse at Gateway, a mixed-use project anchored by Sprouts Farmers Market at 4600 Roswell Road, not far from Chastain Park.  

Snooze officials at the company's "mother ship" in Denver have been reluctant to provide ToNeTo Atlanta any details on the planned opening, but sources close to the restaurant's Sandy Springs team tell us they are currently training, with a planned opening on February 17.  

When Snooze does open, it will join several existing breakfast joints in the area including Tupelo Honey Cafe, also located in Gateway.  Goldbergs Fine Foods (fka Goldbergs Bagel Co. & Deli) and Buttermilk Kitchen are also among the locally owned favorites already serving breakfast fare in the area.  

In addition to the Sandy Springs location, Snooze also plans to open at least one other Atlanta area outpost.  The second Snooze, planned for the Westside, is to open in the ground floor retail of the new Osprey apartment complex at 980 Howell Mill Road.  The Westside, a part of Atlanta that has seen tremendous commercial and residential development over the past several years, is perhaps even more competitive than Chastain Park.  

When Snooze opens on the Westside, potentially as soon as this fall, they will join newcomer Maple Street Biscuit Company (which replaced sibling eatery Holler & Dash) as well as neighborhood favorites West Egg Café, Cultivate Food & Coffee and locations of both Flying Biscuit Café and Waffle House (2).  

If dining out for breakfast, where is your favorite place in metro Atlanta? Are you excited for the opening of Snooze in Sandy Springs?  What is your all time favorite breakfast food?  

Please share your thoughts below.  

Warby Parker will open their third Atlanta area location at Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody in early 2021.  The store, slated to open on the mall's second level,replaces Michael Kors which previously closed.  The New York City-based eyewear retailer has existing locations at Buckhead Village District in Buckhead (opened 2014) and Westside Provisions District on the Westside (opened 2016).  Sources close to the mall indicate that the new Warby Parker should be open later this spring.  

Ruby Tuesday in recent weeks shuttered its restaurant at 3010 Panola Road in Stonecrest.  The restaurant was located in a freestanding outparcel of a Lowe's Home Improvement-anchored center.  

A new location of popular wing joint Wingstop is coming soon to Howell Mill Square on the Westside.  The new Wingstop will occupy a nearly 1,900 square foot space in the Kroger-anchored center, close to The Juicy Crab.  Elite Cleaners was the most recent occupant of the endcap space, but closed in late 2020. The new Wingstop should be open later this spring or early summer.  

GAO Vietnamese Restaurant is slated to replace the former Zoës Kitchen on Medlock Bridge Road in Johns Creek.  The Zoës in Johns Creek and several others in metro Atlanta closed last year as the COVID-19 pandemic raged.  Work is already underway to convert the 2,940 square foot restaurant space into the new Vietnamese eatery.  

Peter Glenn Ski & Sports is moving from The Prado to Sandy Springs shopping center where the outdoor apparel and equipment retailer will occupy the former Pier 1 Imports.  The roughly 13,600 square foot space will give the retailer far greater visibility than their current location. Signage at the new space indicates the new store is expected to open May 1.

A new Chipotle Mexican Grill is coming to East Main Street in Cartersville.  The new restaurant, slated to occupy a presently vacant outparcel in the Academy Sports + Outdoors-anchored shopping center, will be about 2,300 square feet and, according to renderings, will also feature the chain's call-ahead "Chipotlane" drive-thru.   

Farm Burger has launched a new concept: Farm Birds.  The new eatery, a virtual restaurant of sorts, is "powered by" and located within Farm Burger Buckhead.  Farm Burger owner George Frangos in recent days teased the offshoot concept on his personal Instagram and also shared a couple of the special sandwiches on the Farm Burger Buckhead Facebook page. One, the Nashville Hot fried chicken sandwich features Cooks Venture’s heritage breed, pasture-raised chickens breaded in fresh buttermilk batter and spiced then fried to perfection, served on a toasted, buttered brioche bun with housemade pickles. The sandwich is served with a side of chopped slaw.  In addition to the Nashville hot, the virtual restaurant also features an Original and the Atlanta Lemon Pepper Wet. All sandwiches feature Heirloom Breed chicken and each sells for $7.99. Farm Birds menu items are for now available in limited quantities and exclusively in the Buckhead Farm Burger or via DoorDash.  If successful, the concept may be expanded to other Farm Burger locations or even as its own concept in the future, according to Frangos.  

Dunkin' celebrated the grand opening of their new "digital" location in Marietta Barrett Creek former drive-thru only Wendy's on January 19.  "Featuring the brand’s next generation design, the drive-thru only Dunkin’, which also offers a fully-integrated digital kiosk within the store for guests to order without the help of a crew member, will allow guests to run on Dunkin’ faster and more conveniently than ever before. This new fully digital Dunkin’ restaurant design is the first of its kind in the Southeast region and marks the second drive-thru only Dunkin’ location in the state of Georgia."