Tomorrow's News Today

Bakery cafe joining popular intown center.

Dallas, Texas-based la Madeleine Country French Cafe reportedly plans to join Aladdin's Mediterranean Grill and Earth Fare in phase two of Emory Point.

The nearly 25,000 square foot Earth Fare store reportedly represents almost 65% of the available retail leasing. With the addition of La Madeleine, I'm told only a few spaces remain available.

*Phase One of Emory Point has already seen the closures of two full service restaurants. Bonefish Grill, and more recently La Tagliatella, have both closed, but each space is reportedly actively being "shopped" to prospective replacements.

The bakery cafe chain once had a half dozen locations in metro Atlanta, but has seen that count shrink to only three currently.

La Madeleine's current Atlanta area locations are in Sandy Springs near REI, in Duluth near Gwinnett Place Mall, and in East Cobb near T.J. Maxx / HomeGoods. Strangely, a likely licensed location within the atrium of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport that opened this past April seems to be missing from the chain's corporate website.

La Madeleine has closed metro area locations in Buckhead (now home to The North Face), in Marietta (now home to Rose & Crown Tavern), and in Vinings (now Noche Tequila & Tapas bar).

La Madeleine is a division of Dallas-based LeDuff America (the American arm of French restaurant conglomerate Groupe Le Duff.) LeDuff America also includes casual concepts Mimi's Cafe and Bruegger's Bagels. Mimi's has Atlanta area locations near both Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody and near Mall of Georgia in Buford. Bruegger's exited metro Atlanta for a second time earlier this year.

St. Louis-based Panera Bread, the industry leader when it comes to bakery cafe concepts, has steadily grown its metro Atlanta presence. Today, the chain has over 25 locations throughout Georgia with two not far from Emory Point. One Panera Bread sits on North Decatur Road at Emory Village while a second sits adjacent to Starbucks in ~~Loehmann's Plaza~~ Brighten Park.

The new La Madeleine at Emory Point is expected to sport a new contemporary feel which may serve as a prototype for future openings. Sources tell me La Madeleine is currently projected to open in "late Spring."

Buckhead Tavern coming to Pharr Road

Following the closure of short-lived flagship restaurant Bonehead's, Ron Barber has regrouped to open a new concept. "Destined as Atlanta’s own neighborhood 'Cheers',” Buckhead Tavern will open at the corner of Pharr Road and North Fulton Drive in the bottom of the Eclipse Condo building.

A reader of this blog hinted at the conversion plans a couple of months ago, but there had been no movement or permits filed. Interestingly, according to the city of Atlanta, the only permit filed for the restaurant was labeled as "sign business" on November 13th. Further investigation reveals this will be a halogen lit 29 square inch wall sign that is estimated to cost $2,500 and will be bolted to the wall.

With this being the only permit filed, it would seem as though no significant work will be done to change the restaurant from Boneheads to Buckhead Tavern.

Barber, who formerly operated Scenario (one of the most commented upon stories on this site ever), a hybrid restaurant, club and lounge at Chastain Square on Roswell Road, has brought in a familiar name to help run his new concept. Johnny Esposito, Jr., son of the late nightlife and entertainment leader and founder of the legendary Johnny’s Hideaway, Johnny Esposito, Sr. Barber and Esposito will reportedly jointly own the new concept with Esposito likely to run most, if not all, day to day operations.

"Buckhead Tavern will offer fresh, approachable tavern fare, handcrafted cocktails and a curated selection of beer and wine in addition to live entertainment Thursday through Sunday."

Buckhead Tavern will be helmed by Executive chef Nicole Christner along with her culinary team led by chef de cuisine Roberto Barth.

The restaurant's menu seems far from your typical tavern fare. Menu items are likely to include "Asian-braised short ribs, brined thick-cut pork chop with rosemary apple jus, truffled cauliflower/potato mash and broccoli rabe; and grilled salmon with brown sugar & mustard glaze, truffled cauliflower/potato mash and edamame succotash."

Plans call for the new restaurant to open December 18th.

Do you think Buckhead Tavern will succeed where Boneheads failed? Does the sample menu for Buckhead Tavern appeal to you? What menu item, amenity or drink must Buckhead Tavern have to get you in the door?

Please share your thoughts below.

Discount retailer to occupy long vacant space

Bradenton, Florida-based Bealls Outlet (pronounced like Bells) plans to open a new store on Cobb Parkway next near. The approximately 25,000 square foot store will replace the long vacant CompUSA store adjacent to Target, just north of Cumberland Mall and SunTrust Park.

I've never been to a Bealls Outlet, but my research suggests it's similar to a ROSS. (Personally, I'm more of a T.J. Maxx / Marshalls fan, but hey, different strokes for different folks.) "Most" merchandise in Bealls Outlet reportedly comes from Bealls department stores in Florida (the department store is without a presence in Georgia). This merchandise is undoubtedly augmented by merchandise bought specifically for sale at Bealls Outlet. The Bealls department store website reflects IZOD, Wrangler, Columbia, Champion and Jones New York as brands offered. This brand sampling leads me to believe the department store is similar to a Kohl's and in turn the outlet division would likely offer similar wares.

The Cobb Parkway CompUSA is one of the last few remaining Atlanta area locations of the once popular electronic retailer to remain unoccupied. CompUSA exited the Atlanta market in 2007 and today no longer exists.

In Buckhead at the Shops Around Lenox, the former CompUSA space became a number of new retailers including DEKA, Paper Source, lululemon athletica and Bevello. CompUSA locations near Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody and North Point Mall in Alpharetta both became Total Wine & More stores. The Duluth CompUSA store on Venture Drive is now a Salvation Army thrift store. The former CompUSA store in Morrow is today a Sears Outlet.

In Roswell at King's Market, the former CompUSA store has yet to find a permanent replacement.

Bealls Outlet has over 40 locations in Georgia but only recently started planning stores in metro Atlanta. A new Bealls Outlet is in the works at Cobb Place, just off Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw. With the combined Office Max / Office Depot company currently consolidating locations, Bealls may be able to score some prime locations.

Current plans call for the Kennesaw location to open first followed by Cobb Parkway. The Kennesaw store is currently being renovated, while renovations at Cobb Parkway are expected to begin in a week or so. Both stores are expected to open in March or April of next year.

Two "new" restaurants to open in "two weeks."

"Angry Chef" Ron Eyester is reportedly close to re-opening his failed pizza joint in Morningside. After opening in late July of last year, Timone's never caught on with the neighborhood and struggled basically from the start. Eyester, of course, already operates Rosebud and The Family Dog in the area, so perhaps he thought he could throw open the doors and the overflow would find their way to Timone's.

Diner, brought in as a local replacement to the shuttered FOX Sports Grill in Atlantic Station, was originally slated to open in December 2013. At 7,000 square feet and with a name as uninspired as the food he is likely to serve, the concept seemed flawed from the start. Brought in by North American Properties partner Mark Toro to add local appeal to the chain-dominated center, Diner is the only "new" restaurant that has yet to open. (Chick-a-Biddy in the former The Grape and The Pig & The Pearl in the former Geisha House both opened on schedule last summer.)

The inside of Diner as of November 6th, 2014

When Timone's opened last year, it replaced short-lived waffle eatery Waffold, which itself had replaced short-lived burger joint Burger Tap. (J.P. Kim, once of Yoforia, was responsible for both the waffle and burger concepts.) Caramba Cafe was the most popular occupant of the space, and they relocated to the Pencil Factory Lofts in 2010 after operating in Morningside since 1988.

On September 29th, the official Timone's facebook page announced, "Timone's is going to be closed for the next couple of weeks to remodel and launch a new and exciting component to our current offerings. Check back for updates!"

Almost two months later, on November 25th, came an update to the "couple week remodel""Things are getting close here! Once we get passed Rosebud's #TurkeyDay extravaganza, we'll be focussed on getting Timone's back up and running. Our new hours are going to be 7AM - 9PM Monday thru Saturday. Check out a draft of our new menu. Stayed tuned for the breakfast menu!"

According to a restaurant employee I spoke with earlier this week, both restaurants will open in "a couple weeks" pending each receiving their Certificate of Occupancy.

Timone's now sports a logo and branding message. Formerly "local pizza joint" and now "pizza, grocery, deli."

Top Chef viewers may recall that Chef Eyester was eliminated in week three of Season 12 in late October, making him one of the worst performing Atlanta-based chefs in the show's history. Sources indicate that it was his absence from Atlanta for the shows' taping that led to the seemingly endless delays at both restaurants. Obviously, this can only be partly true, as Diner was first announced last spring with a planned opening last December!

If you've read this blog for more than a year, you know I don't think much of Chef Eyester. As far as I'm concerned, the food offered at his restaurants is only mediocre, while their locations make them popular. Additionally, Eyester's personality seems better suited for an industry other than hospitality.

At the end of the day, Timone's should never have opened and Diner should have been named something, almost anything, else. I'd bet the menu changes at Timone's are successful but that Diner proves too large and generic to achieve long term success.

Salt Lake City-based Barbacoa Mexican Grill opened its first metro Atlanta location November 23rd in Kennesaw. Barbacoa opened off Barrett Parkway at the Shoppes at Ridenour in a former Johnny's Pizza.

Little Azio has closed its downtown Atlanta location on International Boulevard (listed as a Peachtree Street address) near Peachtree Center.

dELiA*s, the New York-based mall retailer whose main demographic was teen girls, has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to liquidate. The retailer started in 1993, and was all the rage throughout the late 90s and early 2000s. As with other mall retailers, changing habits, more options and online shopping have caused declines in popularity and sales.

A new Buffalo Wild Wings is planned for Pooler Parkway in Pooler. The new sports bar is being opened alongside the new Tanger Outlets project, not far from Savannah.

Mattress Firm has at least temporarily taken over a significant portion of the former Office Depot at Providence Square shopping center on Roswell Road in East Cobb. The Office Depot closed earlier this year as part of the consolidation following the Office Max / Office Depot merger.

New Mediterranean fast casual Bezoria (originally known as Bazaria) is slated to open this Monday, December 15th. The new would-be franchise replaces Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, which failed in its entry into the Atlanta market last summer. The space is situated at the corner of Peachtree and 8th Streets beside Villains and Noodle.

Following the recent revival of 90s cult classic Surge soda by Atlanta-based Coca-Cola, Minneapolis-based General Mills is bring back another discontinued 90s product. French Toast Crunch is coming back to grocery store shelves immediately in some markets with plans to be available nationwide by early next year. (If only Waffle Crisp was more readily available.) French Toast Crunch was launched as a pseudo-brand extension of Cinnamon Toast Crunch in 1995, but was discontinued in the U.S. in 2006. (French Toast Crunch remained for sale in Canada.)

Framingham, Massachusetts-based Staples plans to closed its location at Lenox Marketplace on Peachtree Road in Buckhead December 27th. The Buckhead closure is reportedly the only store closure in Georgia, but is one of 30 the chain announced last month it will close before the end of the year. Following the Office Depot / Office Max merger and with mounting online competition, Staples previously announced plans to close 140 stores, of which these additional 30 were not a part.

Aveda Salon will reportedly join previously announced tenants Aladdin's Mediterranean Grill, Earth Fare and La Madeleine: Country French Cafe at Phase Two of Emory Point. Plans call for the project to be complete by early to late spring, with reportedly at least four other smaller spaces still up for grabs. The remaining spaces range from about 1,200 to 2,900 square feet.

Piedmont Minor Emergency has closed on Piedmont Road in Buckhead. With the proliferation of WellStreet, now operated in partnership with Piedmont Hospital, and other urgent care facilities, Piedmont Minor Emergency apparently was unable to compete.

Meatball Bar & More is now open in the Fashion Cafe at Lenox Square. The new food court eatery offers meatballs, heros, sliders, salads, pizza and even ice cream sandwiches!

Bantam + Biddy plans to open its new location at Lenox Square today, starting with breakfast service at 8AM. The new Lenox Square location is situated behind the UGG store and across from where the Delta Airlines ticket office was for many years. Bantam + Biddy has three other locations in town at Ansley Mall and Crescent Avenue in midtown and at Avalon in Alpharetta.

Mediterranean eatery coming to Dunwoody

Pita By The Beirut plans to open next Friday, December 19th at the Walmart-anchored Perimeter Village in Dunwoody. The 1800 square foot restaurant replaces recently shuttered Schlotzsky's Deli which seems to have finally succumbed to competition from neighboring Jason's Deli.

According to the Schlotzsky's website, the Austin, Texas-based chain still has 11 locations in Georgia.

Pita by the Beirut currently has two locations, both south of the city, one in Peachtree City and the other in Newnan. Pita By The Beirut is the fast casual concept from the owners of The Beirut, a full service Mediterranean restaurant in Peachtree City.

The Newnan location of Pita By The Beirut opened about this time last year and I was actually in Newnan (visiting my friends at The Carrollton Menu) and had lunch at the restaurant. The food was good, not extraordinary, but definitely worth a taste.

At its core, Pita By The Beirut is similar to Great Wraps, with a variety of wraps like falafel and gyro but also with fresh sides like hummus and baba ghannouj. Prices range from about $7-10 with the restaurant's other locations often offering "$5 gyros on Mondays" (normally $6.95).

With Hovan gone from Perimeter Mall and now a few miles up Johnson Ferry Road, will Pita By The Beirut become the go-to for quick Mediterranean fare in the area?

Popular southern restaurant being proposed in Buckhead

Atlanta-based Fifth Group Restaurants is planning to open a third South City Kitchen.

With existing locations in midtown and Vinings, South City Kitchen is planned next to open in Buckhead on Peachtree Road. The new location would occupy 6,000 square feet on the lobby level of One Capital City Plaza. The restaurant will also reportedly have a patio at Peachtree. A portion of the planned restaurant will have to be built and has not yet been approved.

I contacted Fifth Group Restaurants partner Robby Kukler and was provided the following statement with regard to their potential Buckhead plans.

"I appreciate your interest in Fifth Group Restaurants. At this time, as you’ve stated, we do not have a signed lease for any new locations, including Buckhead. As soon as we do we will announce it and include all of the vital details."

If all goes well, a lease is signed, permitting goes as planned, and no road blocks are encountered, a well placed source tells me the restaurant will (hopefully) open in early 2016.

The 17-story One Capital City Plaza office tower opened in 1989 with top 40 radio station Star 94 as one of its first tenants. For many years, Star 94 was a powerhouse station in Atlanta, a cash machine for then-owner Jefferson Pilot Communications. While occupying the penthouse of a Buckhead highrise is nice, it comes at a cost. With radio revenues far from their mid 90s / early 2000s highs, Star 94 and now sibling station 790 The Zone relocated to the more economical Interstate North Office Park in Cobb county last spring. Although it was not known publicly at the time, Star 94 / The Zone's new home is a stone's throw from the new Braves stadium, SunTrust Park.

Following Star 94's departure, property ownership embarked on a multi-faceted renovation of the building, both inside and out. Residential home builder PulteGroup relocated from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, to One Capital City Plaza earlier this year. Pulte employees about 300 over 100,000 square feet at the Buckhead high-rise.

I'd wager a guess that similar to the impact Bistro Niko had on Au Pied de Cochon at the InterContinental Hotel, South City Kitchen will have a similar affect on Southern Art, Au Pied de Cochon's replacement.

The first South City Kitchen opened in midtown in 1993, and celebrated its 20th anniversary last year.

Fifth Group Restaurants also include La Tavola Trattoria in Virginia-Highland, Ecco in Midtown, The Original El Taco in Virginia-Highland, Alma Cocina downtown, Lure in midtown and Bold American Events, a catering company.

New restaurant open on the westside

Pijiu Belly which translates to "Beer Belly" in Chinese, quietly opened earlier this week on the westside. Occupying the former E-6 Lab building at 678 10th Street, Pijiu Belly has seemingly been in the works since last September, according to permits on file with the city of Atlanta.

The menu can best be described as a "Korean Bantam + Biddy" with whole rotisserie chicken and house-made kimchi. There is some rather odd variety to the menu with a few burgers, a cheese & charcuterie plate, spicy roast pork belly, loaded nachos and corn dogs.

Amazingly, although the restaurant has been in the works for over a year, the sandwich board outside reads BYOB, hinting that Pijiu Belly may be without a liquor license. The fact that the restaurant is still hiring was mentioned to a number of customers as well, indicating they may not yet be fully staffed.

According to permits on file with the city of Atlanta, the restaurant's official name is Bowl Fat, LLC dba Pijiu Belly. While slightly similar in name, and close in proximity, Bowl Fat is in no way related to Le Fat, the new Vietnamese restaurant from Guy Wong scheduled to open next month on Marietta Street.

Shake up at local restaurant group

Atlanta-based Here to Serve restaurants will reportedly soon change ownership, and with that change comes news that Director of Operations David Abes, a 14 year veteran of the company, is moving on. Effective January 1, Abes will become a partner in LDV Hospitality, the New York based firm bringing Corso Coffee, American Cut and Lugo Cucina Italiana to Buckhead Atlanta. Abes has "bought into the business," and will become Director of Operations for the Atlanta units and be an equity owner in the overall company. Corso Coffee is expected to open next week, followed by American Cut and Lugo next year.

Chef Tom Catherall, founder of Here To Serve, has reportedly come to an agreement with his ex-wife Leigh, whereby she will assume control of Here to Serve Restaurants. The couple's divorce proceedings have reportedly been going on for months and an agreement was only recently reached. (Tom will retain a minority ownership stake in FLY Burger Bar Boutique, a non Here to Serve restaurant he opened earlier this year on Concourse B of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in partnership with Concessions International.)

In addition to the new ownership and Abes' departure from the company, Shout will close. The popular bar & restaurant at on two levels at Colony Square was reportedly not offered a lease renewal and will cease operations at the end of the year. The roughly 14,000 square foot restaurant opened in 2004 replacing short-lived Wildwood restaurant, a spot better known by many as the longtime home of "Country Place." Country Place was for many years a popular concept from Steve Nygren of the Peasant Restaurant Group.

Here to Serve previously operated a second restaurant at Colony Square. "That's a Burger" was located adjacent to Shout and itself replaced Corner Bakery. The burger joint did not fare well and was replaced by Piri Piri, another Here to Serve concept. Piri Piri suffered a similar fate and was replace by Tamarind Seed, a Thai eatery that remains in business in the space today.

In case you have not been keeping track, Goldberg's closed in Colony Square earlier this year while the two level former home of Houlihan's also remains vacant. I've heard rumors of there being plans for new "users" in the respective space, but with now a third large space available, I've yet to hear anything confirmed.

Tom Catherall, now 65, started Here to Serve in 1993 with tomtom, a bistro, in Lenox Square. In the years since, Catherall has grown the group to include over a dozen restaurants; Noche (4 units), Prime, Aja, ~~Cantina~~, Goldfish, Twist, ~~Shout~~, Coast, Smash, Strip and Shucks. Catherall, originally from New Castle, England, got his first apprenticeship at age 15 and after 50 years in restaurants, will reportedly now spend more time at his Watercolor, Florida residence.

Unclear at this time is whether the group's loyalty program, currently known as "Friends of Tom" will be renamed "Friends of Leigh" or something else. It is expected that former AJC dining critic Meredith Ford will remain in place as Director of Marketing & Communications, a title she had held since February.

Big Lots store at Suburban Plaza with upcoming Walmart in the background

Suburban Plaza stores closures in progress

Big Lots is closing its store at Suburban Plaza near Decatur. While it comes as little surprise to see the Columbus, Ohio-based chain close a store, it's still sad to see. The store has been in the center for many years and was reportedly told multiple times (by Selig Properties) they were safe and could remain in the center even as the huge new Walmart Supercenter is built.

I wonder where former Target carts turned Big Lots buggies will end up?

Big Lots is currently offering 20% off existing inventory ahead of an as yet unpublicized last day of business.

According to a store employee, there are currently no plans to reopen the store elsewhere in the future. Luckily, there are still a number of Big Lots stores around town. The two closest to Suburban Plaza would likely be those on Candler Road, just off I-20 in Decatur, and on Chamblee Tucker Road in Tucker.

At left, signage at the current Hancock Fabric, at right, the current status at the new location

Hancock Fabrics, also originally said to be staying in the center, is also leaving. The fabric and craft store will close January 10th with plans to reopen January 17th at Northlake Festival in Tucker. Hancock will occupy the former Schoolbox space to the right of Jason's Deli. Schoolbox previously relocated to another space in the center, which if memory serves, was previously home to Kids "Я" Us .

A number of other long term tenants including Piccadilly Cafeteria, Last Chance Thrift Store, Decatur Estate and Suburban Custom Awards have already left the center.

The Decatur Estate signage remains despite the fact that they relocated over a year ago

Decatur Estate is now on Lawrenceville Highway, across the street from the upcoming Goodwill store & donation center.

Suburban Custom Awards & Framing is now on Laredo Drive, not far from Your DeKalb Farmers Market.

Last Chance Thrift Store is now located on North Decatur Road, basically behind the center in which Kroger is currently expanding their store.

Piccadilly Cafeteria and Familiy Dollar both closed and have not reopened elsewhere.

Suburban Lanes is reportedly staying through the renovation and has no plans to leave. Cozy Burger Town, the indie burger joint in the former Pizza Hut outparcel, is reportedly being forced out by plans to build a new Starbucks in its place.

A pair of Blink electric car chargers fenced in and surrounded by construction materials

For now the center is heavily fenced off making the two existing electric vehicle chargers completely inaccessible. Fortunately, Tesla recently opened a dealership, service center and showroom less than a half mile away.

Prep work on the upcoming Walmart Supercenter at Suburban Plaza

With prep work progressing on the Walmart portion of the center, many have asked what other new retailers would be opening. LA Fitness will occupy the 34,000 square foot former Winn-Dixie / Save Rite building and should start renovations in the next few months. Ross Dress for Less is also reportedly a done deal and would likely occupy about 24,000 square feet.

Former Winn-Dixie / Save Rite that will soon become an LA Fitness

Other retailers such as HomeGoods, from TJX Companies, and Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts have been mentioned but are unconfirmed.

What retailer or restaurant would you like most to see open in Suburban Plaza? Are you disappointed that Big Lots and Hancock Fabrics are leaving Suburban Plaza? What is your oldest memory of Suburban Plaza?

Please share your thoughts below.

New eatery brings in corporate partner in hopes of finding success.

A new restaurant called Mason's Tavern plans to open sometime early next year near Decatur. Mason's will be the latest concept to go into the corner space in the center on Clairmont Road also home to Bhojanic, Mint 2, Community Q and others. The restaurant space Mason's will occupy has been one of the most frequently changing in the area, having played host to at least four concepts over the past few years.

Contacted by email, Hannah Huffines, Concentrics Restaurants Director of Public Relations, was light on details saying, "We are creating a concept that is going to be a neighborhood tavern."

I recall an Ethiopian establishment called Moya lasting possibly the longest, a few years or so. Later came Selam, then Nest, Scoreboards and now Mason's.

Atlanta-based Concentrics Restaurants has been brought on to manage the new restaurant and will add immediate credibility to an otherwise vanilla establishment.

I definitely think the affiliation with such a well known restaurant group will be a plus but parking problems remain. The surface lot in which the restaurant is located is often beyond capacity during dinner periods even without the Mason's space operating.

Concentrics previously managed STATS and MAX's Coal Oven Pizza downtown as well as Murphy's in Virginia-Highland and others in Atlanta and other states.

Typical look of new RaceTrac locations

RaceTrac adding another new location

Atlanta-based RaceTrac plans to open a new 18 pump gas station and convenience store just off I-575 in Woodstock. The new RaceTrac will be built at the corner of Rope Mill Road and Ridge Walk Parkway, in front of the new Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta.

The convenience store portion of the new RaceTrac will be nearly 6000 square feet and feature the chain's next generation offerings and design. Among the upgrades found in newer RaceTrac locations are frozen yogurt, a "beer cave", "fresh" made sandwiches and assorted other "gourmet" food offerings.

Atlanta-based RaceTrac and Tulsa, Oklahoma-based QuikTrip have both been active in and around Atlanta, adding new locations and renovating others. The two chains which both have a significant presence in Atlanta are also both branching out to other southern states in further expansion.

RaceTrac has for the past few years been building out its C-store network in central Florida. QuikTrip, on the other hand, has been busy adding dozens of locations in North and South Carolina.

Both privately held, QuikTrip and RaceTrac are dominant players in the metro Atlanta market, each with over 100 locations.

At rear, what is believed to be the parking deck for the residential component

New project reportedly secures new leases

The new Gateway at Sandy Springs project has reportedly secured leases with a number of exciting new tenants.

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Cheeky Mexican Taqueria, PNC Bank, pH Wine Merchant, Alon's, Barre3, Spa Sydell and Luxury Nails will all reportedly open in the new center.

Future home of CVS Pharmacy

Additionally, Green Tacos will reportedly be the name of the previously unnamed eatery from Verde Taqueria owner Hil Rogers. In case your Spanish is rusty, Verde Taqueria translates roughly to Green Tacos in English.

The new Alon's will be Alon Balshan's third location. The popular bakery and prepared foods emporium was started in Morningside in 1992 by Balshan and his father. In early 2008, Balshan expanded the company to Dunwoody, taking over the former Eatzi's space at Park Place, across from Perimeter Mall.

The new Spa Sydell will be the chain's seventh location. The number of Spa Sydell locations has ebbed and flowed over the past few years as the company continued to come back from bankruptcy. There was previously a Spa Sydell location below One Buckhead Plaza on West Paces Ferry Road and perhaps this new location is meant to capture that business.

The new Chipotle Mexican Grill will be the chain's third within a few miles. There is already a Chipotle at Piedmont & Lenox Roads in Buckhead as well as another on Roswell Road, a few block outside 285 in Sandy Springs.

Patrick Shippey and Anthony Yambor opened pH Wine Merchant in Peachtree Hills in late 2010. The shop offers wine tastings and classes in addition to corporate gifts. A 21-acre senior living residential development known as "Peachtree Hills Place" was to be built adjacent to pH in Peachtree Hills, but after nearly 10 years, has yet to take shape. Although I was unable to get it confirmed officially, it's believed that the new pH Wine Merchant shop will replace the existing store rather than be in addition to it.

Cheeky Mexican Taqueria has existing locations in Suwanee, Forsyth and East Cobb. The casual Mexican eatery is along the lines of a LongHorn Steakhouse for Mexican food.

With popular local joint Taxco basically next door, the first Willy's Mexicana Grill down the road, and a Tacos & Tequilas in Chastain Square, one has to question how much Mexican fare the area can support.

Former RiteAid and AAA office await redevelopment adjacent to the new project

These new leases are in addition to the previously announcedopenings of CVS Pharmacy, Tupelo Honey Cafe, Urban Cookhouse, and a Sprouts Farmers Market. The Gateway Project will reportedly also be home to 600 new apartments.

The PNC Bank would seemingly be intended to replace the branch that closed over the summer on Habersham Road between Roswell and Piedmont Roads. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based bank is also opening a new branch on Peachtree Road in Buckhead in place of a recently demolished Wendy's.

The CVS Pharmacy (13,063 square feet), Urban Cookhouse (4100 square feet) and Sprouts Farmers Market (25,830 square feet) will all reportedly be stand alone buildings, while the other tenants will be "in line."

The 21-acre mixed-use project, which replaced two large apartment complexes, is expected to open this coming spring.

While I'm a fan of a number of the businesses opening in the center, I worry about the impact that the project and its 600 apartments will have on area traffic.

Kroger, and the spaces it would replace to the right

Grocer plans to grow existing store

Cincinnati-based Kroger plans to expand its current 59,130 square foot 24-hour store at Fountain Oaks shopping center in Sandy Springs. The expansion follows similar moves made by the grocer in Decatur and Brookhaven, among other markets. The new, larger Kroger is slated for completion "in 2016."

Existing tenants Bailey's Bottle Shop, Pizza Hut, Coins& Currency and Moohan Martial Arts will likely leave or relocate to other available space in the center.

I have thus far been unable to confirm how large the Kroger will be post renovation, but I'd guess it will be close to 80,000 square feet.

The expansion is likely to allow for an increased selection of natural and organic goods.

Fountain Oaks reportedly ranks in Atlanta’s top 10 percent of grocery-anchored shopping centers because of the proximity to affluent households in the surrounding communities.

Kroger has reportedly been "eyeing" this expansion for quite some time and with the many new grocers coming to the market, has finally pulled the trigger.

A nearly 26,000 square foot store from Phoenix, Arizona-based Sprouts Farmers Market is slated to open at the Sandy Springs Gateway project this upcoming spring. The Sandy Springs Gateway project is less than a mile from the Fountain Oaks Kroger. There is also talk of Earth Fare coming to the area soon as well.

Houston, Texas-based AmREIT Inc. purchased Fountain Oaks shopping center for $27.7 million last summer. Kroger has anchored the 160,600 square foot center since 1988. Ahead of the purchase, Kroger agreed extend their lease for another 10 years.

Last month, AmREIT agreed to be purchased by Columbia, South Carolina-based EDENS. The deal, valued at $522.5 million, is slated to close in the first quarter of 2015. In addition to adding to EDENS Atlanta portfolio, the acquisition gives the company an immediate presence in Texas with a host of open and upcoming projects. AmREIT premier Atlanta holdings include Fountain Oaks as well as Tuxedo Festival in north Buckhead and Brookwood Village in south Buckhead.

EDENS already owns and operates a number of metro Atlanta centers including Merchants Walk in East Cobb, Toco Hills Promenade near Emory and Lenox Marketplace in Buckhead.

Following the opening of the new RH Gallery at the Estate in Buckhead, Restoration Hardware quietly closed their store near Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody. The Corte Madiera, California-based retailer once had metro locations in Buford at the Mall of Georgia, Lenox Square in Buckhead and near Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody. Their new 70,000 square foot, six story "flagship" store opened in place of the old ESPN Zone in the heart of Buckhead late last month.

Plans call for the new Grub Burger Bar to open at Brighten Park (fka Loehmann's Plaza) on February 3rd. The first Atlanta area Grub opened this past April at Akers Mill shopping center.

Piedmont Minor Emergency has reportedly relocated Piedmont Road, under the Lindbergh Vista apartment building, next to The Home Depot.

Olde Towne Shopping Center in the 700 block of Johnson Ferry Road in East Cobb will soon be demolished. In its place, Northside Hospital plans to build a large campus. Northside's plans are seen by many as a reactive measure to Wellstar who themselves recently completed a huge new campus on Roswell Road.

Michael's is opening soon in the former Loehmann's at Perimeter Place near Perimeter Mall. The arts and crafts retailer will occupy the former off-price clothing retailer's space to the right of Target and Ross Dress for Less. Loehmann's closed earlier this year following the company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

kmart is closing its Snellville store at Wisteria Village. The store is scheduled to close no later than January 18th and will later reopen as At Home (fka Garden Ridge). Another former kmart on Buford Highway in Buford reopened as an At Home earlier this summer, as have a few others around the country.

The Crab Boil has renamed itself The Crab Spot. The seafood eatery opened last year in "Friday's Plaza" in place of the vacant Friday's.

Harbour House Pub (fka Harbor Bar & Fish House) has closed in Decatur. The casual seafood eatery opened in the former El Tesoro restaurant space on Church Street in late 2011, but even after a name change, never caught on with the community. The restaurant's final day was this past Sunday.

InterContiental Hotels Group (IHG), with North American headquarters here in Atlanta, has agreed to purchase San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. The deal, valued at $430 million, includes Kimpton's 62 hotels and 71 restaurants but does not include any real estate. Kimpton is known for their boutique indie hotels and operates under many different names. Kimpton opened a "new build" Hotel Palomar in midtown Atlanta in 2009, but exited the market in 2011 with the Palomar becoming a Renaissance Hotel. In Savannah this past May, Kimpton opened The Brice, formerly the Mulberry Inn. IHG plans to expand the Kimpton brand internationally with Europe and Asia likely early targets for development.

Former Chopstix / Scenario space at Chastain Square in north Buckhead

"Better Burger" chain continues Georgia expansion

Tampa, Florida-based Burger 21 is planning a new location at the Publix-anchored Chastain Square on Roswell Road in north Buckhead. The new restaurant would occupy the approximately 3100 square foot former Chopstix / Scenario space, to the left of the Publix. While I have confirmed this is the location being scouted, and there is a LOI (letter of intent) on the space, a lease is reportedly not yet signed.

Another new Burger 21 is coming to a new center on Medlock Bridge Road in Johns Creek. The new center, Johns Creek Promenade, will also be home to a Dunkin' Donuts, Jersey Mike's Subs and Moe's Southwest Grill, among other tenants. A Burger 21 representative told me the Johns Creek lease is signed. Burger 21's Johns Creek location will be 3000 square feet and is expected to open in the spring.

According to the representative, there are also LOI's on prospective Burger 21 locations in Kennesaw and Snellville.

Burger 21's menu consists of 21 burgers. Ten are beef options, ten are non beef (turkey, tuna, veggie etc.) The 21st of the month brings an LTO, specialty burger, available in limited quantities on that day only.

Buckhead is an especially crowded market for burgers with many local and national chains already well-entrenched. Local favorite Farm Burger is a couple miles away at Tower Place while New York import Shake Shack is doing insane business at the new Buckhead Atlanta. Phoenix-based Zinburger opened earlier this year at Lenox Square while closer to the Burger 21 Cheeseburger Bobby's replaced a failed Five Guys. Flip Burger Boutique is also in the area with a popular, highly visible location at Tuxedo Festival, at the corner of Roswell and Piedmont Roads.

Burger 21 opened its first Atlanta area location last summer at Mall of Georgia Crossing in Buford. The Buford location is a franchised unit as will be the case with future locations in metro Atlanta. The Buford franchisees plan to open a second unit in the spring on Medlock Bridge Road in Johns Creek.

Separate franchisees plan to open additional units in south Alpharetta and Dunwoody.

I've been to one of the earliest Burger 21 franchosed locations, a unit near Mall at Millenia in Orlando. I found the food good but not exception but their shakes to be rather good, rich, but good.

The first Burger 21 opened in Tampa in late 2010. Today the chain has grown to include sixteen locations in seven states. The chain was started by the founders of The Melting Pot chain of fondue restaurants.

Budget dry cleaners continues to expand

EZ One Price Cleaners plans to open its third metro Atlanta location early next year on a Cheshire Bridge Road.

Plans call for the dry cleaners to replace the soon to close Quiznos Subs in the same center as the large FedEx facility. At 2,900 square feet, the new location will be the group's smallest.

The first EZ One Price opened on Roswell Road in north Buckhead last year, and was followed by a second location on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs earlier this year.

EZ One Price is an Atlanta-based business started by two local entrepreneurs. The company offers dry cleaning services for $1.99 with a model built on volume rather than high prices.

The trouble with EZ One Price is that while they locate themselves in high income areas, where one could anticipate that customers will have high value and designer items, their staff seems ill-prepared, if not aloof. Personally, I've had multiple items not properly cleaned and one even soiled / damaged worse than when I dropped it off. A glance at the Buckhead location's Yelp reviews leads one to conclude that I'm not the only one to have experienced problems. Despite many attempts at reaching management, I've been unable to reach either someone who speaks English or someone willing to speak with me regarding my concerns.

EZ One Price Cleaners (Buckhead location) has a C- rating with the BBB including six complaints since April. (I have not yet registered my complaint.)

If all goes well, the new EZ One Price location will open by March. Plans call for at least two additional locations in the coming months, likely one in midtown. With two locations open and management unable to properly deal with existing customers, I worry about this company's prospects going forward.

Popular bakery cafe no longer in the plans

Alon Balshan has reportedly scrapped plans to open what would have been the third location of Alon's. The new bakery, cafe and prepared foods emporium would have been located within the new Gateway project on Roswell Road, just north of Buckhead. Alon's has reportedly abandoned the project and the project's leasing team of SRS Real Estate Partners is reportedly talking to a number of interested parties about leasing the space previously earmarked for Alon's. Lily H. Heimburger, Vice President with SRS, did tell me that should Alon come back to the table, his concept would be welcomed back, space permitting.

I apologize for the misinformation.

A view of the building today

Haven and Valenza owner planning new restaurant in Chamblee.

Michael Arnette, Buckhead Life alum and proprietor of Valenza and Haven on Dresden Drive, plans to open a third concept. The new, as-yet-unnamed eatery will open at the site of the former Brown Auto Service station on Peachtree Road in Chamblee.

Michael Arnette spent twelve years managing Buckhead Life concepts Buckhead Diner and later Pricci, before opening Haven and Valenza in Brookhaven in 2003.

Arnette, along with his wife Tanya and their now adult son, have lived in the "ChamHaven" (my word, not his) area for years and Michael had always admired the old gas station.

According to Arnette, the restaurant will be "upscale casual" and will likely feature classic favorites like burgers, fries and malts. Arnette said he plans to harken back to the days of the "classic American restaurant" with elements of a traditional diner as well. Arnette told me the prices will be moderate with likely nothing priced more than twenty bucks.

Arnette told me by phone that he's actually had the property leased for a year but has been working behind the scenes to make sure everything comes together. Arnette plans to honor the 50s era history of the building, renovating it for use as a restaurant, but maintaining the structure's style and appearance.

Remnants of the former auto shop sit idle inside

According to property records, the 2,370 square foot structure was built in 1953 and sits on about a half acre. One of Arnette's last remaining punch list items (pre the start of renovation) was getting the building on sewer rather than septic, as it is now. According to Arnette, he has been working for months with both the city of Chamblee and DeKalb county and a plumbing resolution should be in place in the coming weeks.

If the plumbing change goes as planned, current projections call for the restaurant to be open sometime late in the second quarter or early in the third quarter of next year.

Looking north, the new restaurant is located just inside the City of Chamblee

The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner and will have plenty of onsite parking.

This would not be the first time a former service station was turned into a restaurant. Leon's Full Service and Taqueria del Sol in Decatur and Grindhouse Killer Burger in Midtown were opened in former service stations.

"Be your own boss" salons continue Atlanta expansion

San Antonio, Texas-based Salons by JC plans to open a number of new locations in metro Atlanta as it continues to expand on the east coast.

I've discovered plans for at least two additional locations in metro Atlanta including midtown and Buford. Salons by JC locations recently opened in Sandy Springs and in Alpharetta.

In midtown, Salons by JC plans to open at Ansley Mall while in Buford, the salon chain will open on Buford Drive near the Mall of Georgia.

Salon's by JC's motto, displayed below, encourages independent thinking and entrepreneurship.

"Our culture at Salons by JC is to become your own chief creative officer. You control your look, you control your style, you control your business."

Salons by JC is not alone in the "be your own boss" salon space. Columbus, Ohio-based Salon Lofts, Denver-based Sola Salon Studios and Dunwoody-based Salon Studios are also expanding in and around Atlanta.

In each case the larger space rents out smaller "lofts" or "studios" to independent stylists giving them the opportunity to grow their business without the need for their own salon. This model seems great for both sides, but I worry about the number of similar businesses and their proximity to each other.

Salon Lofts recently opened at Cherokee Plaza, its third to open in the market. Another four stores are slated to open in midtown, Roswell (2) and Johns Creek next year. The midtown location will open in a former RiteAid / Eckerd at Ansley Square, adjacent to Ansley Mall where Salons by JC will open.

Sola Salon Studios (branded as Sola Salons in Atlanta) has seven locations in metro Atlanta with an eighth in Augusta. The Atlanta locations are in Acworth, Alpharetta, Duluth, East Cobb, Kennesaw, Sandy Springs and Snellville.

Salon Studios recently opened a new location in a portion of the former Tower Records in Buckhead Place, next to LA Fitness. The chain has three other locations in Roswell, Duluth and Dunwoody.

All four concepts offer hair styling and cut services while Salon Lofts and Salons by JC offer massage services as well. Waxing, tanning, makeup and nail services are available at select locations of the four concepts.

Only recently did I realize just how many of these similar concepts there were and how many were coming to metro Atlanta. It will be interesting to see how they fare given the flexibility they offer small business owners. Established chains like Supercuts and Massage Envy, as well as independent nail and hair salons should take note and perhaps expand their services offered.

La Madeleine Opening, Not Closing, Atlanta Area Location

New Buckhead Tavern Aims to Know Your Name

Bealls Outlet Coming to Cobb Parkway

Timone's Supposedly Reopening Soon, Diner To Follow

Bits & Bites

No More Schlotzsky's, Pita Joint Coming to Perimeter Village

South City Kitchen Planning Buckhead Outpost

Pijiu Belly Quietly Hatches on the Westside

2015 Will Bring Big Changes to Here to Serve Restaurants

Big Changes Afoot at Suburban Plaza

Mason's Tavern Hopes to Find Success in Troubled Location

A New RaceTrac is Coming

UPDATE: Sandy Springs Gateway Project

Kroger Plans Fountain Oaks Expansion

Bits & Bites

Burger 21 Bound For Buckhead and Johns Creek, More Planned

Cheap Cleaners Planning Cheshire Bridge Location

Alon's Gateway Project Information Half Baked

A New Place to Fill Up is Coming to Chamblee

Salon Franchises Cut into Atlanta Market