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World of Whopper Heading to Walmart

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Burger chain continues Walmart partnership

Miami, Florida-based Burger King and Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart are apparently partnering on at least three new restaurants within area Walmart stores.  

I first got wind of Burger King's partnership with Walmart last year when the two partnered on a location in Orangeburg, South Carolina.  The Orangeburg location opened in  late 2013 in a portion of the store's bakery area.   

In Georgia, Burger King plans to open new restaurants in three existing Walmart stores. The Walmart stores are located in Woodstock, College Park and Loganville.  

In Woodstock, Burger King will open in the Walmart at 12182 Highway 92 in a space once occupied by Blimpie.  

In College Park, Burger King will open in the Walmart at 6149 Old National Highway, also in a former Blimpie.  

In Loganville, Burger King will open in the Walmart at 4221 Atlanta Highway in a space previously home to McDonald's 

Each Burger King will be about 2,100 square feet. 

Walmart has previously partnered with McDonald's, Blimpie and Subway, among others, on restaurants in their stores. 

On Howell Mill Road, Subway occupies a space in the retailer's Supercenter. The Walmart at Perimeter Village in Dunwoody previously had a McDonald's within it but it closed when the store was renovated a few years ago.  A McDonald's remains open in Walmart's store in Warner Robins on Watson Boulevard.  

I contacted Bill Wertz, Director of Communications - East Public Affairs & Government Relations for Walmart, who said he knew little of the upcoming restaurants nor did he know of plans for any additional new or converted Burger King restaurants.  I contacted each individual location, and while they each seemed rather unsure, each seemed to say that they expect their respective Burger King restaurants to open by mid November.  

My attempts to contact Burger King's corporate office in Miami as well as their New York-based public relations firm were unsuccessful.  As far as corporate offices go, Burger King was among the least responsive and most difficult to communicate with.  

What are your thoughts on Burger King possibly coming to a Supercenter near you?  What fast food chain do think makes the most sense within a Walmart? In your opinion, who makes the best fast food burger?

Please share your thoughts below.  

Bits & Bites

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Miami, Florida-based Pollo Tropical will celebrate the opening of its newest Atlanta area location today in Woodstock.  The new restaurant is located at 188 Molly Lane, just off Highway 92.  As part of the grand opening, beginning at 9AM today, the restaurant will offer guests a chance to win "free chicken for a year," will provide the first 100 guests with a coupon for a free meal, and have a  "charity challenge" to benefit local charities. Earlier this month, Pollo Tropical opened a new location on Buford Drive near the Mall of Georgia.  Early next month, Pollo Tropical will celebrate the opening of their East Cobb location on Johnson Ferry Road at Parkaire Landing Shopping center.   

A new Dunkin' Donuts is preparing to open on Cobb Parkway in Marietta. The new freestanding donut shop is being built in front of the existing Northside Apartments, between Bojangles' and Tip Top Donuts, a local bakery.  With the Walker School, Coca-Cola Enterprises and White Water not far away, hopefully there will be enough business for everyone.  

KnuckleUp Fitness plans to open a new gym in the former Rite Aid on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.  The property sits adjacent to the new "Gateway" project, closest to the CVS Pharmacy.  The new 13,000 square foot gym is slated to open September 1st.  

Alex and Ani, a Cranston, Rhode Island-based jewelry retailer, plans to open their first Georgia location at Lenox Square in Buckhead.  The new store will open on the mall's upper level in a space most recently occupied by Cache.  Cache relocated to the upper level, from the lower level of the mall last year, but filed for bankruptcy earlier this year and closed soon after.  A friend familiar with Alex and Ani described the brand as being similar to jewelry offerings from Free People. Free People, of course, has a store almost directly below the Alex and Ani store.  

Memphis, Tennessee-based Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken opened yesterday in the Mall at Peachtree Center on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta.   The chain, which dates from 1953, has expanded to include eleven locations with another eight "coming soon" to the likes of Los Angeles, Fort Worth and Chicago, among other cities. 

Midtown's Sivas Mediterranean eatery has opened a second location.  Close to double the size of the midtown location, at 8,000 square feet, the new Sivas opened today in place of the recently shuttered Tilted Kilt on Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw. Sivas is owned by Kamal Karsli who before opening the first Sivas, operated its predecessor, Cafe Mezo, and before that, worked at Cafe Agora.   Sivas offers traditional Mediterranean fare as well a hookah bar and lounge.  Decatur's Cafe Istanbul, a similar establishment, also expanded to Kennesaw, opening on Wade Green Road in early 2011.  

Grindhouse Killer Burgers: A Sale, An Opening and a "Big New ITP" Location

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Original Grindhouse Killer Burger sold...again

The original Grindhouse Killer Burgers at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market has again been sold, this time to a local resident. 

The 1,500 square foot counter service restaurant has been purchased by Tony Accurso, who reportedly lives "a short bike ride away." Contrasted to the two most recent owners, Accurso, who according to his LinkedIn profile has a background in marketing and advertising, plans to be a "hands on" owner with "incredible plans to grow the business." Accurso will operate the restaurant though a franchise agreement with Alex Brounstein.  

Both Brounstein and Steve Josovitz, Vice President of  The Shumacher Group, who brokered the sale,  indicate that the Grindhouse at the Curb Market has always been profitable.    

According to a recent press release, as of September 13th, the Market, along with Grindhouse and other vendors, will open on Sunday afternoons, a day on which all had been closed in the past.   

Restauranteur Alex Brounstein first opened Grindhouse Killer Burgers at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market in 2009. At that time, I was a student at Georgia State and would often carve time out of my day to make the trek to the restaurant from the university's main campus.  

In the time since the original opening, Brounstein has added new locations to Piedmont Avenue in midtown, South Lumpkin Street in Athens and Concourse D of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.  A fifth location is currently under construction on North McDonough Street in downtown Decatur, behind Chick-fil-A and across from Decatur High School.  After a number of delays, Brounstein tells me he is on track to have the Decatur outpost open by "late 2015." 

In addition to the Decatur location, there are reportedly two other Grindhouse locations in the works.  Delaware North, the restaurant's airport operator, is opening a second location in a new area of the T gates, just past security. The additional airport location is on track to open mid-September.  

In more exciting news, Brounstein tells me earlier this week he signed a lease on a "big new Grindhouse ITP." Brounstein would not reveal an exact location, but hinted at it being in line with his openings since the Curb Market. i.e. freestanding, both repurposed and new builds, in high traffic, popular areas.  Given his previous obstacles and setbacks with bureaucratic red tape,  "it won't open until early 2018," he said of the new location. 

Where do you think the new Grindhouse will open?  Are you excited that the Curb Market will be open on Sundays?  Does the existence of the  Atlanta Streetcar (and the fact that it's free until the end of the year) make visiting the Curb Market more appealing?   

Please share your thoughts below.  

Marlow's Tavern Looks to Add Brookhaven Outpost

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Meet me at Marlow's... in Brookhaven!

Atlanta-based Marlow's Tavern plans to open their next location in Brookhaven.  The 3,400 square foot restaurant would occupy suite 301 of Brookleigh Market on Johnson Ferry Road in Brookhaven.  The Coro Realty Advisors project is already home to a recently opened two story Pure Taqueria and will soon welcome Bon Glaze, a gourmet doughnut shop, Brookhaven Provisions, and BURN Studios, a fitness facility,  among other tenants.  

A source I spoke with on condition of anonymity reports there is an LOI (letter of intent) on the space, but that the deal is not final.  All indications are that the deal will close in the coming days.  

The Brookhaven location of Marlow's will be the chain's 17th in Georgia and 21st overall.  Marlow's started in Alpharetta in 2004 and has since expanded to central Florida with three locations and a fourth slated to open next month.  

Marlow's has been scouting Brookhaven for a while and seems to have finally found the right location.  

Other new Atlanta area Marlow's are expected to open in Roswell on West Crossville Road in October, and on Shallowford Road in Marietta next June.  

Where would you like to see Marlow's open next?  Where is your favorite Marlow's?  What other businesses would you like to see open in Brookleigh Market?

Please share your thoughts below.  

Bits & Bites

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Farm Burger's Berkeley location 
Farm Burger plans to open at least three new locations in the coming months.  New Farm Burger restaurants are planned for San Anselmo in Marin County, about an hour north of San Francisco, Huntsville, Alabama and Nashville, Tennessee.  The San Anselmo location is located on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in a space most recently occupied by Ross Valley Kitchen.  Current projections have the San Anselmo Farm Burger opening by the end of September. Farm Burger plans to open in "The Shops at Merchants Walk," an outdoor shopping center at the corner of Bob Wallace Avenue and Memorial Parkway in Huntsville, Alabama.  In this new Whole Foods Market-anchored center, Farm Burger will join Birmingham-based Maki Fresh and Atlanta-based Spa Sydell.  The Huntsville Farm Burger is expected to open "late" this fall.  In Nashville, Farm Burger has finally found a space that restaurant owner George Frangos said took two years to locate.  Farm Burger Nashville will be located in the new "Hill Center" in the city's Sylvan Heights neighborhood.   This location is furthest out with an expected opening next spring. The Atlanta-based better burger chain started in Decatur in 2010 and now has a total of three outposts in Georgia, one in Asheville, North Carolina and one in Berkeley, California, which opened this past fall.

Denny's plans to open a new restaurant in a retrofitted former Burger King on Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road in Suwanee.  The former Burger King sits adjacent to a former Mrs. Winners that was previously renovated to become a new Cinnabon / Schlotzsky's /Carvel . The 2,824 square foot Burger King built in 1991 has been vacant for a few years.  A Denny's representative claims the new location will open in "60 days."   Denny's previously announced plans to open a new location on Buford Highway in Brookhaven but that location and their Brookhaven plans are reportedly being "re-evaluated" A new Denny's location did open on Scenic Highway in Snellville last year.  A new Denny's opened in June at 5368 North Henry Boulevard in Stockbridge. The building was most recently a combination Long John Silvers / A&W but had sat vacant for years. 

Following the closures of both Reign and Vanquish in midtown, Alex Gidewon's AG Entertainment seems to have also closed his Velvet Room club on Chamblee Tucker Road.  For those familiar with Atlanta's nightlife scene, an earlier incarnation of the Velvet Room was the same space later renovated and reopened as Reign and Vanquish.

Noble Fin, the new restaurant from popular intown chef Jay Swift of 4th & Swift has finally started construction in Peachtree Corners.  The new restaurant is being built in an outparcel of the recently opened Earth Fare, on land previously home to Dreamland BBQ.  Dreamland burned in early 2013.  A restaurant representative claims that Noble Fin will open in November, but I'd guess the opening occurs closer to Valentine's Day.    

King of Pops will open their first "bricks & mortar" location at Ponce City Market's Central Food Hall later this fall.  

The former home of Keller Williams Peachtree Road offices has been demolished!  The property, at the corner of Colonial Drive and Peachtree Road, has been in flux since the neighborhood voiced their concerns to a Walgreen's being built on the parcel.  Over two years since talks started, Walgreen's has reportedly made enough changes to appease those involved.  The new pharmacy, with office space above, should open next spring.  

Atlanta's third bartaco, at Inman Quarter in Inman Park had its soft opening this past week.  

The Texaco at the corner of Grandview Avenue and Pharr Road has become a Chevron.  

A new Mattress Firm and Starbucks are planned for the 100 block of Walker Parkway in Fayetteville.  

A new 40s era themed establishment called "Whisky Mistress" plans to open by mid September on Maple Drive in Buckhead. The new bar, lounge and restaurant will occupy the former Julio Cesar Salon & Day Spa.  Whisky Mistress is being opened by Billy Allen, owner of Buckhead's Dive Bar and prior owner of Beluga Martini Bar on Piedmont Road.  (Beluga now operates as Rose Bar).  Whisky Mistress will surely try to capture some the business left behind by Establishment's recent relocation to midtown and Mood Lounge's previous closure on East Shadowlawn.  

Diner at Atlantic Station closed prematurely at 4pm yesterday reportedly due to "maintenance issues," promising via their facebook and twitter to "be back open at 8am" (today).  My unsolicited advice to chef / owner Ron Eyester: do us all a favor, save yourself some cash and stress, and don't reopen.  

YOLO : Yoforia Only Left One

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Yoforia has closed on Howell Mill

Atlanta-based Yoforia has closed its westside location on Howell Mill Road at Westside Provisions.  The frozen yogurt purveyor shuttered their Morningside and Brookhaven locations earlier this year leaving the "chain" with few locations.  Although their website and Facebook are grossly outdated, it appears that Yoforia's sole remaining Atlanta area location is on Monroe Drive near Piedmont Park with access and visibility from The Beltline.

A sign posted on the door of the Howell Mill location promises to continue to serve patrons at the Monroe Drive location for "many years to come." 

In North Carolina, a previous expansion market for the eatery, it seems the only remaining locations are at EpiCentre, a lifestyle center in Uptown Charlotte and Mooresville.  (I say seems as I was unable to confirm both are still open as of this week.)  

The Yoforia website seems to have languished for months while their social media platforms (facebook and twitter) have not been updated since last year.  On facebook, a platform on which they were previously especially active, they still have over 15,000 "likes." 

The first Yoforia shops opened in 2007 in Alpharetta on Windward Parkway, in the Perimeter Mall food court in Dunwoody, and in Morningside.  

Altogether, Yoforia previously operated over a dozen domestic locations in Georgia, North Carolina and Connecticut.  The chain also had a pair of licensed locations in Kuwait that appear to have closed. Interestingly, eleven locations licensed in India remain open.  
With all the yogurt businesses both local and nationwide, Yoforia does have one of the most unique, "brandable" names, so it's sad to witness their demise.       

Frozen yogurt is no doubt a tough business, whether you are a local upstart or a nationwide powerhouse.  Locally, Cowlick's Yogurt & Floats and Yorekaclosed both of their locations.   National players like Menchie's and Pinkberry have each closed locations while Red Mango and Swirll have left entirely.  

There have been a few success stories.  Atlanta-based Yogli Mogli still operates (via franchise) 21 metro locations.  Yogli Mogli also has two locations in Illinois with single units in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.     

Irvine, California-based Yourtland operates three metro locations in TOWN Brookhaven, Buckhead on West Paces Ferry Road and in Norcross at The Forum.

Will you miss Yoforia?  What should replace Yoforia on the Westside?  Where is your favorite place to get fro yo in metro Atlanta?

Please share your thoughts below.  

Taziki's Taking on Toco Hills

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Taziki's is coming to Toco Hills

Birmingham, Alabama-based Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe plans to open a new location at Toco Hills Promenade. The Mediterranean eatery will open in the former Uncle Maddio's Pizza Joint at the Publix-anchored center on North Druid Hills Road.  Uncle Maddio's at Toco Hills was the now chain's first location when it opened in 2009.  As I reported in April, the restaurant closed due to a reported "30% rent increase."   

Ironically, Taziki's will mark the return of "Mediterranean fare" to the 3,551 square foot space at Toco Hills.  Prior to Uncle Maddio's Pizza Joint, Mama Fu's Asian House, and some other random Asian eatery, the space was for many years home to Gyro Wrap.  Gyro Wrap, today known as Great Wraps, is Atlanta-based and known for their "Mediterranean inspired menu." This location was a favorite of my family's in the 90s.  

Taziki's entered metro Atlanta in 2012 with a location in Sandy Springs at the  "Glenridge Springs" development, near the Haverty's building. Taziki's added a location on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta in late 2013. Last spring, the chain opened in Athens in the Bottleworks on Prince Avenue.  

This past July, Taziki's opened in Suwanee on Old Peachtree Road.  Here, Taziki's joined Nashville, Tennessee-based I Love Juice Bar in a newly built center just off I-85 and adjacent to an existing Home Depot.  (I Love Juice Bar recently opened in Toco Hills Promenade)

As I previously announced, Taziki's upcoming Decatur location will open alongside a new outpost of Highland Bakery at 315 West Ponce de Leon Avenue. While a drive-thru I Love Juice Bar was also proposed for the property, the concept was rejected by the city of Decatur and ultimately abandoned.  

Taziki's also plans to open in the Fashion Cafe at Lenox Square.  In the Buckhead mall, the Mediterranean eatery will replace the recently shuttered Subway restaurant.  In Lenox, Taziki's joins fellow fast casual operators Chipotle Mexican Grill and Freshii. Taziki's will hope to fill the void left by longtime Mediterranean eatery Hovan Gourmet which closed in the Fashion Cafe in late 2013.  

In case you've never been, Taziki's has similarities to Zoës Kitchen, and with good reason. 

Marcus & Zoe Cassimus started  Zoës Kitchen in 1995, and in 1998, Keith & Amy Richards opened Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe.  According to a well placed source within Zoës Kitchen, Keith Richards first approached Zoës Kitchen about opening a franchise, but after being trained,  he departed and subsequently opened Taziki's.  

Both Zoës and Taziki's are fast casual restaurants featuring Mediterranean fare, and both started in Birmingham, Alabama.  

Today, Zoës is headquartered in Plano, Texas, has about 150 locations in sixteen states, and as of last year, is a publicly traded company. Taziki's remains based in Birmingham and has 47 open or opening locations in 14 states.

A Taziki's representative told me plans are to have the Lenox Square location open in time for Black Friday shoppers. The Toco Hills and Decatur locations are expected to open in mid January.  

Have you been to both Zoës Kitchen and Taziki's?  If so, which do you prefer?  Do you think Taziki's will do well in Lenox Square?  What is your favorite Mediterranean dish?  

Please share your thoughts below.  

Jamba Juice Jumps Back into Metro Atlanta

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Emeryville, California-based Jamba Juice is returning to metro Atlanta.  

The first of six planned locations will open in Sandy Springs, north Buckhead  and Decatur.  The Sandy Springs location, at the Publix-anchored Abernathy Square, will return the smoothie and juice eatery to the area for the first time in about 15 years.  When Whole Foods Market opened in Sandy Springs on Roswell Road in 2000, it opened with a Jamba Juice inside it.  The location remained open for a couple of years before closing and being replaced with Whole Foods branded options.  

The new 1200 square foot location replaces Divine Drapery in suite 12 of the center.  

In north Buckhead Jamba Juice will open in a roughly 1000 square foot space in the Publix-anchored Chastain Square center.  

The new location will reportedly open in place of jujubees, an Italian frozen yogurt purveyor that closed late last year.  

In Decatur, Jamba Juice will again replace a failed frozen yogurt shop, but rather than a local one, it will replace national franchise Red Mango.  Red Mango shuttered its location at North Decatur Center during the summer of 2013. The space has remained empty with Red Mango signage still up, in the two years since the closure.  

Jamba Juice, like Atlanta-based Planet Smoothie, has attempted to diversify their offerings beyond sugary smoothies to more healthy lower calorie offerings.  

The Buckhead and Decatur Jamba Juice locations are currently expected to open in November. The Sandy Springs location should follow in early January.  

The Sandy Springs Jamba Juice will have little direct or indirect competition and will be located within close proximity of an LA Fitness.  

In Buckhead, Jamba Juice will open north of established offerings from the likes of dtox, who will soon relocate to Buckhead Court, and Arden's Garden, located adjacent to Johnny's Hideaway.  

In Decatur, Jamba Juice will open across the street from Emory Walk where Arden's Garden opened last year.  The FedEx Office-anchored center in which Jamba Juice is opening is notorious for terrible parking which will likely prove to be a significant challenge for the business.  


Aimee Peterson, the wife of retired NFL linebacker Julian Peterson, reportedly signed a six unit development agreement with Jamba Juice.   The four other locations are reportedly planned for the  "greater metro Atlanta area." 

Currently Jamba Juice is represented in Georgia by licensed locations at Spelman College and at T Concourse at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Are you you excited for the return of Jamba Juice to metro Atlanta?  Do you think the smoothie franchise will find success in their return to the area?  Where else should Peterson open Jamba Juice locations?  

Please share your thoughts below.  

Saks to Bring More "Outlet" Shopping to Buckhead

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Saks OFF 5TH is coming to Buckhead

New York City-based Saks Fifth Avenue plans to bring its lower priced "OFF 5TH" concept to Buckhead Station next year.  The store will open in place of a portion of Toys“R”Us, which is slated to close September 6th after nineteen years in business.  

Property owner Equity One, who purchased the center in 2007,  operates a similar center in Long Island, New York, near Roosevelt Field Mall.  The Gallery at Westbury Plaza is also a two story center, home to Ulta Beauty, Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy and a Saks OFF 5TH, among other retailers. 

While I have been thus far unable to get anyone from Equity One or Saks to confirm the retailer's plans, multiple well placed sources indicate a deal is in place to bring the store to the Buckhead center.  It's believed that OFF FIFTH will occupy about 25-30,000 square feet of the overall 45,000 square foot space.  

Saks currently operates one full line store in metro Atlanta at Phipps Plaza in Buckhead, as well as three "OFF FIFTH" stores in Sugarloaf Mills in Duluth, North Georgia Premium Outlets in Dawsonville and The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta in Woodstock.  

As a frequent shopper, I have found Saks OFF 5TH to be among the most egregious offenders in the use of the term "outlet" when describing their stores.  Basically, an OFF 5TH store is a regular store, selling cheaper merchandise, likely never (previously) found in a full line Saks Fifth Avenue store.  Moreover, I have found Saks (OFF 5TH) to mark up merchandise, only to "mark it down" to still inflated prices at the outlet.     

Bloomingdale's The Outlet Store and Neiman Marcus Last Call both feature similar misleading tactics, but I feel Saks is probably the worst offender I've observed.  

Overall, I've found Nordstrom and their nordstrom rack division  to be among the "best in class" when it comes to department store outlet stores.  Given my many visits to rack stores in multiple states, I'd estimate that their average inventory is 15-20% merchandise from a full line Nordstrom store compared to close to 1-7% at Saks OFF 5TH.  This could be the reason a recent BuzzFeed article reported that the rack division brought Nordstrom 1 million new customers to its full price stores last year.  

Neiman Marcus last call studio, which opened last year at Lenox Marketplacein Buckhead, is another "sham outlet" as I refer to them.  Operating under the notion that consumers will believe that they're getting a deal, 100% of "studio" merchandise is made / purchased for the store unlike a traditional Last Call store, where you might hope to score a Jimmy Choo heel for a deal.   

What are your thoughts on the watering down of outlet stores?  Are you a fan of Saks OFF FIFTH?  What else would you like to see open in Buckhead Station?  

Please share your thoughts below.  

Bits & Bitess

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Chick-fil-A celebrated the opening of their newest Atlanta area location in an outparcel of Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody yesterday at 6AM.  The store opened after the celebratory "First 100" promotion in which 100 fans of the restaurant camped out overnight in order to receive "Free Chick-fil-A for a year" (52 #1 combo meals).  The new restaurant and drive-thru replaced a Macy's auto center.  Future Atlanta area Chick-fil-A restaurants are planned for Shallowford Road in Marietta in October, Northside Drive in midtown in November, and at Fuqua Development's Glenwood Placenext year.  

Sprouts Farmers Market opened their newest Atlanta store at Gateway on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.  The new Sprouts is the eighth in metro Atlanta for the Phoenix, Arizona-based chain.  New Sprouts  locations are also in the works in Midtown, Peachtree City and East Cobb although no opening dates have been announced. 

A new Dunkin' Donuts is planned for 223 James P. Brawley Drive on the campus of Clark Atlanta University.

After closing a location at 250 Park Avenue West overlooking the Georgia Aquarium in 2008, Starbucks is returning to the area.  A new Starbucks is planned for the Embassy Suites hotel on the lobby level, adjacent to where Starbucks previously operated.  The former Starbucks location today operates as Baja Fresh.  

A new Del Taco is planned for McDonough on Georgia Highway 20, across from the popular South Point shopping center.  The roughly 2,500 square foot freestanding restaurant will be built between Party City and Advance Auto Parts.  Construction has yet to begin, but the restaurant should be open sometime in the first half of 2016. Currently the Lake Forest, California-based chain operates seven locations in Georgia.  Sources say that a few other locations are "in the works" for metro Atlanta.  

Plano, Texas-based Urbana Varro, a national commercial real estate investment, development, and management firm, has acquired the Artmore Hotel in midtown from Jamestown.  Originally built as a luxury apartment building in 1924, the Artmore Hotel is located at the corner of 16th and West Peachtree Streets, around the corner from The High Museum of Art.  

The AJCreports that the owners of  Smith’s Olde Bar have been granted a lease extension through the end of the year. Smith's owner Dan Nolen was able to renegotiate with the current landlord,  the family of original owner Beverly Taylor, before it was put on the auction block on August 28th.

The Brickery on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs has announced that it will close in late December "with no relocation on the horizon." The shopping center which the restaurant the calls home, Hilderbrand Court, is being razed for what promises to be a super exciting mixed use development. (M.U.D.) Having been in business for 24 years, The Brickery has lasted longer than many local restaurants, but sadly follows a trend in Sandy Springs.   This past January, The Real Mandarin House, a once popular Asian eatery on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs Plaza, closed after about 40 years in business.  Last spring, Kobe Steaks, also a Sandy Springs institution, closed at The Prado after nearly 40 years in business. 

Discount department store Filene's Basement is being relaunched as an online store.  According to an official email I received this week, the new store will open its "digital doors""in a few short weeks." According to the email "You'll find the brands, the prices, and the amazing Basement deals you loved us for, plus a level of personalization and style diversity you've never seen before." Filene's Basement first opened in Boston in 1908 and grew to include locations in a number of states.  Filene's closed in Buckhead and across the country in 2011 following their Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.  Another popular off-price retailer, Loehmann's, closed last year after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy but was subsequently reborn as an online only retailer.   

The Palm Restaurant within the Westin Buckhead has reopened after a nearly two month renovation.  The new design features a large hand-painted mural that overlooks the main dining room and highlights Atlanta’s landmarks. The offers seating for 240 guests (an increase of 40 seats.)  Many of the signature caricatures were removed in the renovation but some remain and others were added.  This year marks 20 years that the New York-based steakhouse has been in Atlanta.  Bruce Bozzi Jr., a fourth generation family member , today serves as the restaurant's executive vice president. 

My friends at The Douglasville Menureport that Arden's Garden will soon expand to their neck of the woods.   A new Arden's Garden is planned for Douglas Boulevard in Arbor Walk, a small center not far from Arbor Place Mall.  Started by entrepreneur Arden Zinn in 1995,  Arden's Garden has slowly expanded from making juices in Zinn's kitchen to a far larger production facility in East Point.  Arden's Garden has evolved over the years, and is now run by Arden's daughter, Leslie. Following a recent growth spurt that saw the addition of new locations on the Westside, Buckhead, Decatur, and Vinings, among other communities, the company now operates thirteen locations in metro Atlanta.  

Ocean Prime Goes Under in Buckhead

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Buckhead steakhouse prepares to close  
Ocean Prime on Piedmont Road in Buckhead will  close later this month.  Ocean Prime, a creation of Columbus,Ohio-based Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, opened in Buckhead in 2011. 

The freestanding restaurant building at 3102 Piedmont Road is currently listed for sale by The Cheroff Group . The asking price? $4.93 million.  The "Investment Summary" indicates the building dates from 1969 and was renovated in 1997 and 2011.  Ocean Prime opened in the 9,706 square foot space in 2011, replacing longtime favorite, Sambuca, a jazz café and lounge.  

The listing indicates that the restaurant was paying $320,298 in annual rent with a fifth year renewal option set to come up July 15, 2016.  

An "Early Termination" clause indicates that  "Tenant shall have the right to terminate this Lease on one hundred eighty (180) days notice to Landlord on the following terms." All the terms seem to indicate that it would behoove the restaurant to give at least 180 days notice to the landlord ahead of their planned closure.  As I was just informed of the closure this week and with the closure currently scheduled for after dinner service on September 12th,  it's unclear (to me) which terms are applicable in this situation.  

I have heard for over a year that the restaurant was in trouble but got official confirmation earlier today that the restaurant was indeed closing.  Online reservation platform OpenTable has plenty of tables available for the restaurant until the evening of September 12th. 

I never like to see restaurants fail, but Ocean Prime was about as vanilla as you can be for a "modern steakhouse." The food was good, not amazing.  The lighting was cool, not out of this world.  With established favorites like Hal's, Bone's and Chop's, Ocean Prime faced an uphill battle from day one.  If there is one thing Buckhead does not need, it's another "basic" steakhouse.

Ocean Prime follows in the footsteps of other out-out-state restaurants such as craft, Emeril's, AquaKnox, Don Antonio by Starita that have closed in Buckhead in the recent past.  

Following the closure of the Buckhead location, Ocean Prime will operate ten locations throughout the country.  New locations are slated to open in New York City in October and in Boston in November.   with an eleventh planned for New York City next summer.  

I'm not aware of any interested parties thus far, but at nearly 10,000 square feet and almost $5 million, I'm sure the list will be short.  

While Buckhead is basically without any good Chinese or Mexican restaurants, I doubt a restaurant featuring one of these cuisines would / could afford to open in the space.

What would you like to see happen to the Ocean Prime building?  Should it be redeveloped?  Should Sambuca reopen?  Does Buckhead need just a few more apartments / condos? Maybe a Mattress Firm Superstore?  

Please share your thoughts below. 

Breastaurant Reduction for Tilted Kilt in Atlanta

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Breastaurant chain continues to close locations 

Tempe, Arizona-based Tilted Kilt, a Celtic themed "breastaurant," has now closed two metro Atlanta locations within the past month.

The Tilted Kilt restaurant on Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw closed late last month, followed by the closure of the Sandy Springs restaurant this past week.  

The Kennesaw location will reportedly reopen in the coming months as a new tavern from the owners of midtown's Sivas restaurant.  The Sandy Springs location (in the former Max & Erma's) occupied a 6,800 square foot freestanding outparcel of the Perimeter Pointe shopping center and opened in 2010.  The space has great visibility at the corner of Mount Vernon Highway and Perimeter Center West, but I'm unaware of any imminent replacement plans.  

Previous Tilted Kilt closures in metro Atlanta have included locations in Johns Creek at Medlock Crossing and on Holcomb Bridge Road in Alpharetta.  

Following the closures, Tilted Kilt will operate just three Georgia locations in Suwanee, Buford and near Cumberland Mall.  

Atlanta-based breastaurant industry leader Hooters operates eighteen locations in Georgia with a nineteenth coming soon near Mall of Georgia.   Upstart Twin Peaks, based in Dallas, Texas, operates three locations in the peach state. 

What would you like to see open in place of Tilted Kilt in Sandy Springs?  Why do you think Tilted Kilt has fared so poorly in metro Atlanta?  Are you offended by the term breastaurant?  

Please share your thoughts below 

Aja Quietly Says Sayonara in Buckhead

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Asian eatery in Buckhead abruptly shutters

Aja (pronounced like Asia), the Asian restaurant & bar from Here to Serve Restaurants, has closed.  The 9,024 square foot restaurant was located in the lobby level of One Alliance Center on Lenox Road in Buckhead and closed after dinner service this past Saturday.

Fellow Buckhead area restaurant Ocean Prime is scheduled to close this coming Saturday the 12th, after about four years in business.  

Aja opened in October 2008 in place of Emeril's, which had closed in April of the same year after about five years in business.  

Aja seemed to go through a number of identity crises: it was not sure if it was a lounge, a bar, a restaurant, a club, or some combination of them all. The restaurant featured Chinese, Japanese and Thai cuisine. According to a well placed source with knowledge of the situation,  "we (H2S) just couldn't make the space work no matter what we tried." 

The building's landlord, Highwoods Properties, was reportedly very understanding and let the group out of their lease.  As of now, there is reportedly no immediate replacement tenant lined up, but I suspect someone will come forward soon.   

Three Alliance Center, the final phase of Tishman Speyer's Alliance Center development, is currently under construction next to One Alliance Center.  The 30-story office building will contain 500,000 square feet of office space and is slated for completion in late 2016.  

Aja is only the latest Here to Serve restaurant closure.   Late last year, the group closed its popular Shout restaurant at Colony Square in midtown.  This past May, Here to Serve shuttered Goldfish, their seafood eatery at Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody.  Earlier this month, the group converted their Noche restaurant in Johns Creek to their Coast seafood concept.   

Going forward, the group will continue to operate Noche (three units), Prime, Twist, Coast (two units), Smash, Strip and Shucks.

What would you like to see open in place of Aja?  Why do you think Aja was unable to make it? What is your favorite Here to Serve Restaurant concept?  

Please share your thoughts below.  

Cook Out Feeling 22 in Marietta

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Cook Out on Moreland Drive in a renovated former Mrs. Winner's 
Burger chain continues Atlanta expansion

North Carolina-based Cook Out plans to open a new restaurant in Marietta later this year.  The new Cook-Out restaurant will open at 3800 Austell Road on the site of a former KFC.  The roughly 2,300 square foot restaurant has great visibility and plenty of parking.

The new Cook Out is located not far from WellStar Cobb Hospital in West Cobb county.  

Unlike Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, who celebrates grand openings with day long camp outs, Cook Out literally opens its doors and is seemingly immediately inundated without any promotions or specials.  

Cook Out is known for cheap food and featuring nearly forty different milkshakes.  A combo meal costs five bucks with the option to upgrade the drink to a milkshake for another dollar.  
Privately held Cook Out entered the Georgia market in 2013, and today has twenty-one locations in the state. In addition to North Carolina and Georgia, Cook Out also operates in South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.  

Cook Out's expansion has been accompanied by a number of technological and social media advancements. The chain now operates and frequently updates their facebook page and has earned the "Very responsive to messages" designation. One facebook post even asks its fans where they should open next: Ohio or Florida.  (Something tells me they have plans to enter both.) 

Cook-Out also operates Twitter and Google+ pages but might want to consider replacing the Google product with an Instagram account. Cook Out also recently revised their website to include more images, functionality and even nutrition facts. 

In case you were wondering, the least caloric of the chain's milkshakes is the "Fresh Banana," with 538 calories, and the worst is "Cherry Cheesecake," with 925 calories.  

The website also indicates an "online store" is coming soon! 

Where would you like to see Cook Out open next?  What is your favorite Cook Out menu item?  Do you think Cook Out is overrated?

Please share your thoughts below.  

Dollar General Surrenders at Vista Grove

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Dollar store to close.

Goodlettsville, Tennessee-based Dollar General plans to close its location on LaVista Road in Vista Grove shopping center.  The store opened in late 2010 in the former Eckerd space within the center.  

The store is currently offering 10-25% select products. I say select products, as food, drink, paper goods, personal care items and seemingly anything a person would want, are all excluded from the "closing sale." Plans call for the store to close October 31st. 

Last summer, Dollar General lodged a competing bid of $9.7 billion against Dollar Tree for Family Dollar. The bid was subsequently rejected  by the Family Dollar board, which said it would proceed with the deal with Dollar Tree.  The $9.2 billion Tree / Family merger inched closer to completion recently with news that the company has agreed to sell 330 Family Dollar stores to private equity firm Sycamore Partners.  The stores involved, spread throughout 35 states, are meant to settle an FTC complaint that the proposed merger would be anticompetitive.  

Dollar General and Family Dollar, unlike Dollar Tree, offer products for multiple dollars, as opposed to a dollar. 

There is reportedly no immediate replacement in Vista Grove for the Dollar General space.  It would be interesting to see a convenience store like RaceTrac or QuikTrip occupy the space and make use of the abandoned gas station in the parking lot left idle from the Village Market closure nearly ten years ago.  

What would you like to see open in place of Dollar General? Did you ever patronize the store?  Would you like see the gas station reopened or cleared and returned as parking?

Please share your thoughts below.    

Bits & Bites

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LUNA boutique will relocate to the Shops Around Lenox October 4th.  Luna will occupy the former DEKA space in the Crate & Barrel-anchored center near Lenox Square. While they were previously said to be staying in the Buckhead Exchange shopping center on Peachtree Road, it seems their plans changed.  Buckhead Exchange is in the midst of a major renovation that will see the addition of YEAH! Burger and Storico Fresco Alimentari Ristorante e Mercato.  Nancy's Pizza, Jeanne's Body Tech and Establishment all previously left the center.

Cabana Grill has closed its sole Atlanta area location on Scenic Highway in Snellville.  A test concept from Texas-based Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., the restaurant will soon reopen under the group's Pollo Tropical brand.  A Pollo Tropical spokesperson said there is currently no definitive opening date. 

Jimmy John's opened their newest Atlanta area location earlier this month. The new Jimmy's is located in "The Peach" shopping center on Peachtree Road, to the left of Planet Smoothie.  

Venkman’s, the new dining & entertainment concept from local chef Nick Melvin and Nicholas Niespodziani & Peter Olson of Yacht Rock Revue is scheduled to open Monday September 14th.  The new establishment is located at 740 Ralph McGill Boulevard in the Old Fourth Ward.  

Montreal, Canada-based Groupe Dynamite plans to bring their Garage brand to the Georgia market later this fall. New Garage stores are expected to open in the coming weeks in Mall of Georgia in Buford and North Point Mall in Alpharetta. Although I have not personally visited a Garage store, it seems similar to Forever 21.  

Yesterday Macy'sannounced it plans to close 35-40 underperforming stores, about 5% of its total locations. The stores, not yet publicly announced, are due close in early 2016.  Without any solid information, I'd wager the chances of Macy's locations in Northlake, North DeKalb, Greenbriar and Gwinnett Place Malls all remaining open are slim.  In other news, Macy's  announced it will open six new "Macy’s Backstage" offprice locations this fall.

Pie Five Pizza Plots Path to Atlanta Expansion

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New fast casual pizza opens first Georgia location

Fort Worth, Texas-based Pie Five Pizza Co. has opened its first location in Georgia.  Pie Five occupies a 2,400 square foot space at Newnan Festival, a small new center not far from Ashley Park in Newnan.   The restaurant opened late last month.

Pie Five Pizza Co. was launched in Fort Worth in 2011 but is related to an established pizza brand: Pizza Inn.  Both Pizza Inn and Pie Five Pizza Co. are owned by RAVE Restaurant Group Inc., a publicly traded company.   

According to the Pie Five website, at least five other locations are coming soon to metro Atlanta.  

The website lists locations coming soon to Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw as well as Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.  Having previously revealed that the Duluth location will be in Fuqua Development's upcoming "Sugarloaf Marketplace" project, I would not be be shocked to see the Kennesaw location be located within Fuqua's upcoming "Kennesaw Marketplace" project.  Both projects are slated for completion next spring.  

Another Pie Five is listed as coming soon to Roswell Market Place, the recently renovated center that also received a new anchor, Sprouts Farmers Market.  The website also lists a location coming to "PeachTree Crossings" in Chamblee which is likely meant to be Peachtree Crossing.  Peachtree Crossing is a new 11-acre center being developed on Peachtree Road on a former Superfund site, previously home to Oxford Chemicals. Superfund is the name given to the environmental program established to address abandoned hazardous waste sites.  The site is reportedly clean and fit for commercial purposes.  Construction is due to begin in October with a planned opening in early 2017.  

Another Pie Five is planned for McDonough, at 1500 Highway 20, and judging from the specificity of the location is likely the next to open.    

Fast casual pizza has been one of the most popular segments within the QSR industry. Metro Atlanta is already home to two homegrown operations: Uncle Maddio's Pizza Joint and Your Pie.   I wrote a piece this past November detailing the numerous players in the quick serve pizza market, including Pie Five.

Another pizza player, Pasadena, California-based Blaze Fast Fire'd Pizza, is actively scouting the metro Atlanta market for locations.

Have you tried Pie Five Pizza Co?  If so, what were your thoughts?  Where should Pie Five or Blaze open in Atlanta? What is your price for an individual fast casual pizza? 

Please share your thoughts below.  

Walgreens Out Cold in Sandy Springs

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Aerial photo from LoopNet property listing 
Sandy Springs location closed as part of overall store reduction 

Deerfield, Illinois-based Walgreens Boots Alliance has closed its freestanding Walgreens location on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. The drugstore, adjacent to Marshalls Plaza (where Marshalls is no longer a tenant), was located at the corner of Roswell Road and Vernon Woods Drive since opening in 2009.  There is another freestanding Walgreens about 2.5 miles north on Roswell Road as well as two others a few miles south on Roswell, in Buckhead.  

I called the phone number of the Walgreens and reached a recording indicating that prescriptions have been transferred to the Publix at Abernathy Square.  According to a Walgreens spokesperson, the store closed as of July 29th.

A drive by the business yesterday showed that although the store is closed, they are still selling store fixtures.  

A freestanding CVS Pharmacy remains open across the street. 

The 13,650 square foot building is equipped with a drive-thru lane and sits on 1.89 acres.  According to a sales flyer from LoopNet, the property is being offered for sale for $2.85 million. 

The store closure is part of Walgreens' previously announced plan to close 200 stores in an effort to save $1.5 billion in expenses over the next three years.  Walgreens operates over 8,000 stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Walgreens has realized that in some markets they overbuilt, and the reductions are an effort to eliminate underperorming stores while driving traffic, and hopefully profitability, to stronger locations.  

Freestanding buildings such as this Walgreens are popular with other retailers who are able to repurpose the building. Among those I've most frequently seen occupy former drugstores are Dollar General, Family Dollar, AutoZone and Advance Auto Parts.  

Aside from Walgreens, Atlanta is littered with former Revco, Eckerd and CVS Pharmacy locations converted into other businesses.

Walgreens does have two other metro area locations in the works.  One, a repurposed building downtown, the Olympia Building ,and another, a multi purpose, two story building that will house the pharmacy on the lower level on Peachtree Road in Brookhaven.

Are you surprised that this Walgreens locations was "underperforming?" What would you like to see open in place of the Walgreens in Sandy Springs?  Are you excited for the downtown and Brookhaven store openings?  

Please share your thoughts below.  

Five Guys Planning Black Friday Debut in Fashion Cafe

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Burger joint bound for Buckhead mall
Lorton, Virginia-based Five Guys Burgers & Fries plans to open a new location in the Fashion Cafe of Lenox Square.  The new eatery will occupy suite 1011, a roughly 640 square foot space left vacant when Cafe Supreme closed last year. The owners of Cafe Supreme subsequently opened wokdragon, a similar Asian eatery, in the adjacent space.  

Fellow burger eatery Checkers, located on the other side of wokdragon, will remain open for the time being.  Although their burger offerings (quality & price) are very different, it does seem doubtful that both would remain in the Fashion Cafe in the long run. 

According to a building permit filed earlier this week with the city of Atlanta, $125,000 will be spent to convert the space for Five Guys.  

A source told me that Five Guys hopes to open in time for the holiday rush in mid November but plans to be open no later than the end of the year.  

Five Guys is just the latest in a string of new eateries that have opened or will soon open in the mall's food court (Fashion Cafe.) 

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Freshiiand a relocated Chick-fil-A are already open while Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe is coming soon.  

Overall, Five Guys is one of the more popular "better" burger chains, but has had a few missteps in Atlanta. 

Five Guys has closed some area locations over the past few years including eateries in north Buckhead, Dunwoody and Buford.   

Do you think Five Guys will find success in Lenox Square?  What other eateries would you like to see added to Lenox Square?  What is your favorite quick serve / fast casual burger?  

Please share your thoughts below.  

Forever 21 Opening Even Cheaper Concept : F21 RED

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Forever 21 to open new concept store in Fayetteville

Los Angeles, California-based Forever 21 plans to open a new"F21 RED" store later this year in Fayette Pavilion in Fayetteville.  The new 20,000 square foot store will open between T.J. Maxx and Bed Bath & Beyond, occupying about half of what was previously The Sports Authority.  

Described as being "even cheaper than Forever 21," an F21 RED store essentially only sells "basic" Forever 21 merchandise, already cheap.  For instance, items you can expect to find in an F21 store include camisoles from $1.80, jeans from $7.80, tees from $3.80, and leggings from $5.80. All of these items are currently found for similar, if not identical prices, within full line Forever 21 stores.  Basically the F21 RED stores are just that: "basic" and only basic, carrying only the super cheap wares from the popular fast fashion brand.  


The first F21 Red store opened last year in South Gate, California near downtown Los Angeles. Additional locations has since been added around the county including one that opened this past May in Peachtree Mall in Columbus. 


Forever 21 already operates a nearly 26,000 square foot store at Arbor Place Mall in nearby Douglasville.  


In related news, Forever 21 is rethinking its large scale mega stores, one of which is 162,000 square feet.  The average Forever 21 is 38,000 square feet.  Forever 21  is reportedly talking with landlords about downsizing some of its larger stores.  Industry sources suggest the chain may try to reduce the size of their leases and or convert some existing stores to the F21 RED brand.

Are you a Forever 21 fan?  Have you been to an F21 RED store?  Is Forever 21 too expensive for you?

Please share your thoughts below. 
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