Tomorrow's News Today

The Burger King on Memorial Drive at Columbia Drive has closed for an extensive renovation. The restaurant, which appears to date from the early 90s, is actively being deconstructed to be rebuilt with the brand's latest look. The restaurant is expected to reopen in about five weeks.

The new McDonald's on Chamblee-Tucker Road just off I-285 has opened. The new restaurant replaces a shuttered QuikTrip which reopened in a newer, larger space across the street in 2013.

Chef Guy Wong's highly anticipated ramen shop, Ton Ton Ramen & Yakitori, opened yesterday at Ponce City Market. Guy Wong already is known to Atlanta's dining community for his Miso Izakaya restaurant in the Old Fourth Ward and more recently, Le Fat on the Westside.

In a related move, Le Fat is ending lunch service today, July 1st. Wong said the move was so that he and his team could "put our lunchtime resources at our Ponce City Market location."

Jinya Ramen Bar, an LA based restaurant, also opens today in Sandy Springs. The restaurant is located in the same center as Flying Biscuit Cafe, D. Geller & Son, Sunflower Cafe, and Cheeseburger Bobby's among others, just north of Lowe's Home Improvement.

Shoe Center officially closed at Toco Hills June 26th. There is speculation that new property owner Edens will subdivide the 12,000 square foot space into a few smaller spaces.

Southern Baked Pie Company is not only opening a new location in Buckhead in August, but also a new shop in Alpharetta. The Alpharetta pie shop will be located in the new development The Atwater on Old Milton Parkway, across from Avalon. The Atwater recently welcomed Starbucks, Pieology and Firebirds Wood Fired Grill and will soon welcome the second location of Bezoria, a growing Mediterranean chain. The Alpharetta location of Southern Baked is expected to open in late September.

Atlanta Improv Comedy Club & Dinner Theatre plans to reopen "winter 2017" in a roughly 7,300 square foot space at Tower Walk. The popular comedy club closed at the end of last year, as did its fellow establishments in the East Andrews Entertainment District. The new property, located at 3365 Piedmont Road, sits above AMC Theaters Fork & Screen and behind Chama Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse on "Piedmont Plaza - Lower Level." The new Improv will reportedly be larger than its East Andrews predecessor with seating for 350 patrons. Renderings indicate that local firm plexus r+d will design the space. While work is underway at the space, the only building permit I could find on file with the city of Atlanta was earlier this month for installation of two 1,500 gallon grease traps.

Also at Tower Walk, the retro red telephone booth outside of Farm Burger on street level will soon be replaced by a PNC Bank ATM, according to a permit filed this week with the city of Atlanta.

New pizzeria coming to Buckhead.

Rosati's, a Chicago-based pizza franchise, is adding a second Atlanta area location. The new Rosati's will open in north Buckhead on Wieuca Road, just off Roswell Road. The restaurant opens in place of Chastain Tavern, which had been for sale and was recently sold and closed.

Chastain Tavern opened in late August 2014.

The first Atlanta area Rosati's opened in 2013 in Cumming in place of a former Buckhead Pizza Co. Local resident Matt Smith is the franchisee of both the Cumming and Buckhead restaurants.

Rosati's is a casual restaurant featuring a full bar, Chicago-style, thin-crust, double-dough pizzas, calzones, a variety of pastas, sandwiches, salads, desserts and catering. The Buckhead location, which measures 4,772 square feet, will provide seating for about 150 plus outdoor seating for 100 in addition to a bar with seating for 20. The restaurant has two floors and plans to better utilize the second floor.

Sources indicate that the Buckhead Rosati's is targeting an October opening.

Steve Josovitz with The Shumacher Group represented the seller in the transaction.

Have you been to Rosati's? Do you think Rosati's will do well with neighborhood favorite Fellini's so close? What is your favorite style of pizza?

Please share your thoughts below

Dated mall continues to deteriorate.

ROSS Dress For Less and Rack Room Shoes, both longtime tenants of North DeKalb Mall, will close for good tomorrow, Sunday July 3rd.

ROSS, which occupies a 30,000 square foot space, is "moving" to Suburban Plaza, where they will reopen July 16th in a roughly 25,000 square foot space. Many area residents imagined the Suburban store might replace the North DeKalb store, as less than two miles separates them, but that decision was not made public until recently. Interestingly, the current store is not offering any discounts to liquidate in-stock merchandise as they seemingly plan to just transport it to Suburban Plaza. ROSS opened at North DeKalb in the early 2000s in a former Old Navy store.

Rack Room Shoes, which has been a tenant of North DeKalb Mall for as long as I can remember (at least 25 years I'd guess), is directing customers to their "nearby" location in Stone Mountain Square. Stone Mountain Square is a large shopping center just off Highway 78 near Rockbridge Road, just over ten miles east of the North DeKalb store. Rack Room's approximately 5,400 square foot location at North DeKalb looks out on ROSS and has been a mainstay in the mall, even as the mall went through many changes in direction. A Rack Room store associate with whom I spoke indicated that the retailer would "consider returning to North DeKalb if and when previously promised changes and upgrades are completed at the mall." Unlike ROSS, most in-stock merchandise is at least 50% off the lowest marked price at Rack Room Shoes.

Despite the closures, some tenants at North DeKalb seemed to be doing robust business when I visited on Friday afternoon. Marshalls, which has entrances and registers at both its front and back doors, had long lines at both and the store was full of customers. Nearby, AMC Theatres seemed busy too, with moviegoers waiting in line at the box office and many more for concessions. In the food court, the only remaining national tenant is Wendy's, where many were getting food.

Other national names like Bath & Body Works and Foot Locker (both of which sport rather recent store formats) remain open, but seemed to have little foot traffic.

Burlington Coat Factory, the mall's last remaining anchor, remains open with reportedly no intention of going anywhere. Dollar Tree, a relatively recent addition to the mall but without an interior mall entrance seems to do fine as well, likely due to its location near Marshalls and AMC.

Countless national names have left the mall over the years including Applebee's, Buffalo's Cafe, Freshens, Dippin' Dots GAP, Subway, Chick-fil-A, Wolf Camera, KB Toys, The Children's Place, Stein-Mart, Hallmark and most recently Macy's (in the former Rich's.)

Others like Woolworth's, Radio Shack, B.Dalton, Little Bucks, Camelot Music (later FYE) Uptons, Mervyn's, Lechmere and Phar-Mor closed due to overall corporate issues not directly related to their presence in North DeKalb.

At least one local business, The Barber Shop Atlanta, located near AMC and Marshalls appears to be doing well. Challenges, previously a popular arcade that had been closed for a number of years, has been reborn as a trading card and pop culture enthusiasts' emporium.

As for the future of North DeKalb, there is conflicting information about the status of the would-be Costco. The popular wholesale club has been linked to the mall for nearly a decade with the recent closure of longtime anchor Macy's said to have been the match that would reignite their interest. I contacted Costco's corporate offices in Washington and was told that while there is no deal in place, it it is a store the company is "actively looking at." There was talk from well placed real estate sources that the deal to bring Costco to the mall was "dead," but that thankfully seems to be untrue.

North DeKalb Mall, which originally opened in 1965, has definitely had its share of ups and downs. With luck, the Costco will happen and the mall, or lifestyle center as its slated to become, will once again be a magnet for shoppers and retailers alike.

What would you like to see happen at North DeKalb Mall? What is your favorite memory at North DeKalb Mall? Do you think Costco will end up coming to North DeKalb Mall?

Please share your thoughts below.

A new bar modeled after a 1980s New York area tavern is planned for downtown Decatur.

The new tavern will open in place of Colbeh on East Court Square, which had been for sale for a while, but was sold yesterdayby Steve Josovitz of The Schumacher Group, and closed. Colbeh opened in April of 2012 in a space that was previously Zucca, a pizzeria. I was never fond of Colbeh and had it on ToNeTo's DeathWatch soon after its opening. While they did last far longer than expected, their closure comes as little surprise.

Business partners Michael Condon and Paul Vinces of Decatur's Calle Latina along with industry veteran Brian Buchanan plan to open "Truman," a neighborhood tavern, in the Colbeh space. Buchanan was most recently involved in the liquor distributing world, but he also previously held a management position at Buckhead Life Restaurant Group among other hospitality endeavors.

Buchanan tells me that Truman will be modeled after a historic tavern in Manhasset, New York. Publicans, as Buchanan knew the tavern in the 1980s, was a popular, neighborhood tavern where, as they would say in Cheers, "everybody knows your name." Publicans, previously known as "Dickens" was the setting for the 2005 memoir "The Tender Bar," a book by JR Moehringer. In the book, Moehringer tells of his single-mother upbringing and being practically raised by the patrons of Publicans. The bar, which has a nearly 70 year history as a number of different establishments, was most recently known as Edison's Ale House.

When discussing the idea for the Decatur bar with Buchanan, I learned that its name came about in a rather odd fashion. After winning a vintage pub sign that simply said "Truman" at a Renfroe Middle School auction over two years, the trio decided that the sign needed a home and that home would be a pub, a pub called "Truman." The partners are all residents of Decatur and have searched for the past two years for the perfect place to open their dream bar.

Plans call for the Truman to be family friendly and approachable for all. The tavern will be open seven days a week, serving lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Buchanan and his partners envision offering "better bar" food with an emphasis on quality and value. Expect elevated bar menu classics with some seasonal and local flare added to the menu.

Inheriting an existing 3200 square foot restaurant, the partners don't envision doing too much to the space. Barring any unforeseen issues, plans call for Truman to open in late August or early September.

Are you excited for a new neighborhood-centric tavern to be opening in Decatur? Are you surprised that Colbeh closed? Have you read "The Tender Bar?"

Please share your thoughts below.

The new Black Walnut Cafe in Alpharetta

Texas-based Black Walnut Cafe opened its first Atlanta area location today in Alpharetta. The restaurant is located in a newly constructed freestanding building at the corner of Windward and North Point Parkways. A second Black Walnut Cafe is planned for Peachtree Corners across from The Forum. The Peachtree Corners restaurant is expected to break ground in the coming weeks with an expected opening in late February. A previously planned Dunwoody location, where the chain had intended to construct a new building in place of Old Hickory House is "shelved for now." Joe Brassard, Director of Operations for Black Walnut Cafe, indicated that the group pounced on the property sight unseen and has since decided it may be too small for their needs.

The former Taj Mahal / Vegas Nights club on Cobb Parkway will soon be home to a car lot. The 3.5 acre property at 1830 Cobb Parkway includes a 22,000-square foot building that was an auto dealership from 1985 until 1992. The property was converted into Taj Mahal, a then popular strip club in 1993. The club was forced to close in 1998 after the city began enforcing its anti-nudity ordinances. The club reopened as Vegas Nights, a nightclub, in late 1998, but it was not as popular as Taj Mahal and closed a few years later. According to a local source, the lot will be operated by "Atlanta Used Cars" as "Atlanta Auto Mall."

La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries on Pleasant Hill Road is actively liquidating ahead of a planned closure date of Sunday, July 31st. The furniture store is located in a difficult location between Snellville and Duluth, where a Lowe's Home Improvement closed a few years ago.

101 Concepts' newest restaurant, 101 Steak, is now open at Vinings Main shopping center in Vinings. As first reported by ToNeTo Atlanta, the restaurant opened in place of Social Vinings, a restaurant that closed at the end of last year.

After countless delays, Superica's Buckhead location is now on track to open Monday, July 11th. Ford Fry's Tex-Mex eatery replaces a shuttered Outback Steakhouse in Buckhead Court on Roswell Road in north Buckhead. Superica's existing location is at Krog Street Market.

A new Bojangles' is planned for Marietta on Powder Springs Road. The new freestanding restaurant will open as part of Powder Springs Pavilion. The center, which already includes a Dollar Tree, was partially demolished due to an apparent change in direction.

O4W Pizza is now open on Main Street in downtown Duluth. The New Jersey-style pizzeria is maintaining its original name despite recently closing its original (and only other) location in the Irwin Street Market.

The heavily delayedTaziki's Mediterranean Cafe is currently targeting a July 19th opening at Toco Hills Promenade on North Druid Hills Road.

The new Dave & Buster's logo that was introduced in 2013

New entertainment facility planned for Alpharetta

A new Dave & Buster's is being proposed in place of the former Regal Cinemas North Point Market 8 on North Point Parkway, across from North Point Mall. The theater, which originally opened as a United Artists multiplex with the shopping center in 1994, was subsequently converted to the branding of later parent company, Regal Cinemas. Regal closed the North Point theater in early November of 2014. About the same time, Regal Cinemas opened a new state-of-the-art 12 screen theater complex at Avalon, a new lifestyle center just north of the North Point area on Old Milton Parkway. The North Point area continues to be served by two AMC Theatres complexes, AMC Mansell Crossing 14 and AMC North Point 12 which opened as an anchor of North Point Mall in September 2012, replacing former anchor Parisian.

The proposed Dave & Buster's would be just under 35,000 square feet, making it the smallest for the chain in the Atlanta market.

Current Dave & Buster's locations in metro Atlanta include the original complex in Marietta (53,000 s/f) which opened in 1994, Duluth (58,000 s/f) which opened in 1999 (in a portion of the former Incredible Universe) and Lawrenceville (61,160 s/f). The Lawrenceville location opened in ~~Discover~~ Sugarloaf Mills in late 2009 in what had originally opened in late 2001 as Jillian's, a similar concept. (Dave & Buster's purchased and converted a number of Jillian's locations around the same time having opportunistically acquired them amidst the rival's Chapter 11 Bankruptcy filing.)

The Dave & Buster's website lists their specifications for freestanding or inline locations:

• 26,500 square feet (+/- 1,000 square feet) OR 40,000 square feet (+/- 1,000 square feet)
• Midway Seating: 50
• Special Events Seating: 200
• +/- 175' x 200' Footprint
• 300 to 400 Parking Spaces (can be shared)
• Two-Level Storefront Height/Facade • Clear Height = +/- 16'0"

Demographics

700,000 to 1,000,000 daytime population (within 10 miles)

The property flyer for North Point Market Center indicates a 2016 daytime population within 7 miles of about 328,500. The same flyer suggests that the Dave & Buster's space has 370 parking spaces in front of the building.

A request by Dave & Buster's for a liquor license, including beer, wine & liquor - Sunday sales, is due to be heard before the Alpharetta City Council on July 14th at 2PM.

While the liquor license must still be approved, a representative from CBRE, who handles the center's leasing, indicated that a definitive lease has been signed.

The first Dave & Buster's opened in 1982 in Dallas, Texas. Today the company, which went public in 2014 (NASDAQ: PLAY), operates about 90 locations in nearly 30 states. According to the Dave & Buster's website, the average unit volume (AUV) of one of their complexes is $10.1 Million.

Dave & Buster's joins a growing roster of entertainment facilities near North Point. Fellow Dallas-based entertainment facility Main Event Entertainment opened a 65,000-square-foot complex at 10700 Davis Drive, less than two miles from the Dave & Buster's. Main Event, which opened in mid 2014, replaced a former Home Depot EXPO store. Main Event features "state-of-the-art bowling; multi-level laser tag; gravity ropes adventure course; over 100 interactive, virtual and video games; regulation size billiard tables; full-service bars; quality dining experiences and free Wi-Fi access." A second Main Event later opened on Cobb Parkway at Parkway Pointe.

Main Event's Alpharetta location

Topgolf, yet another Dallas-based enterprise opened its first Atlanta area location in Alpharetta in May of 2014. The upscale, three-level driving range, sports bar and event space opened on Westside Parkway, about three miles from Dave & Buster's. A second Topgolf has since opened on Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard on Atlanta's Westside.

Austin, Texas-based iFLY, an indoor skydiving facility, had sought to open a location in Alpharetta but after having its plans voted down by the Alpharetta City Council, is moving forward with a site near Cumberland Mall Cobb county.

In addition to the aforementioned entertainment options, North Point Mall is home to Atlanta's only American Girl Boutique & Bistro.

Do you think Dave & Buster's will do well in their planned location? Do you prefer Dave & Buster's or Main Event? What else would you like to see open around North Point? Are you surprised to see the amount of interest in the North Point market even after the opening of "mall-killer" Avalon?

Please share your thoughts below

Bank planned for former restaurant parcel

Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank has submitted an application for a SLUP (Special Land Use Permit) to allow them to construct a new branch in Dunwoody. The 3,700 square foot freestanding building would be constructed in place of the former Old Hickory House restaurant. Old Hickory House closed its Dunwoody location on Chamblee Dunwoody Road near Dunwoody Village in late August 2014. The popular barbecue restaurant had served the Dunwoody community for decades.

At the time of the closure one local resident took it upon himself to let everyone know what they did not want to have open in place of the restaurant. "Anything here but a bank" read a sign planted in the yard beside the restaurant's street sign.

Soon after the closure, Texas-based Black Walnut Cafe announced it had secured the site and would open their restaurant in place of the Old Hickory House. Attending a recent opening event at the now open Black Walnut Cafe in Alpharetta, I asked the chain's president Joe Brassard about the status of the Dunwoody location. He indicated to me that it was "shelved for now," and that the restaurant was considering a smaller format for the site as they had determined it was not large enough to house their typical concept. I subsequently confirmed that Black Walnut is in fact under contract to sell the property to SunTrust. While they are not going to be able to open where they had hoped, Brassard indicated the chain would still love to be somewhere in Dunwoody. Following the Alpharetta opening, another Black Walnut is slated to open in Peachtree Corners in February. Brassard indicated that the chain sees the opportunity for as many as five Black Walnut Cafe locations in metro Atlanta.

As for SunTrust, the new branch would serve as a replacement to their current branch at Mount Vernon Highway & Dunwoody Village Parkway. Sources indicate that the existing branch is leased by the bank whereas the new location would be bank owned. No word on what, if any, immediate replacement plans there are for the existing SunTrust, if the new branch comes to fruition.

SunTrust representatives recently presented their plans to the neighborhood at a preliminary informational meeting. ToNeTo Atlanta readers in attendance said the crowd was mixed in their support of the redevelopment. A SLUP (Special Land Use Permit) request by the bank to add parking to the site has been submitted to the city and will be heard on August 9th. Following the results of the SLUP meeting, the request would move to the city council for a public meeting on September 12th followed by the private council vote on September 26th.

Are you in favor of the SunTrust opening? If not SunTrust, what would you like to see open in place of the former Old Hickory House restaurant? In an average month, how many times to you visit a physical bank branch?

Please share your thoughts below.

The S&S on its final day

S&S offshoot planning fall debut in Tucker.
As I hinted at in my prior post announcing the closure of the S&S Cafeteria on Chamblee Tucker Road, a similar restaurant is in the works. Yesterday, the S&S closed its Embry Village location after 43 years in business. In place of the S&S, a vacant hotel nearby, and other smaller spaces, Kroger intends to build a new 113,000 square foot "Kroger Marketplace" to open in late 2017 or early 2018.

Longtime S&S patron "Mr. Louis" (as he's affectionately known by employees), a resident of nearby Northcrest, plans to open a similar restaurant later this fall in Tucker.

Mr. Louis had not originally intended to open a new restaurant. "We tried but failed to convince Dekalb Planning and Nancy Jester that closure of the S&S was a real harm to the community." He heard countless residents and customers' heartfelt pleas, like his, for the S&S to remain open. Mr. Louis sees the S&S as part of Atlanta's history, something that should be preserved, not forgotten.

With Kroger's plan approved and the S&S on borrowed time, Mr. Louis knew he had to do something. In an effort to not only save the dining experience for the many customers, but also to save the jobs of the S&S's dozens of dedicated employees, Mr. Louis began exploring options of where to open a similar restaurant.

The new establishment, "The Magnolia Room," is meant to carry on the legacy, hospitality and southern goodness of the S&S. The Magnolia Room was the beloved dining room at the Rich's flagship downtown Atlanta store. "It's a tribute to fine traditional southern cuisine that was served in the old downtown Rich's." (If anyone has the recipe for the famous Magnolia Room chicken salad, Mr. Louis wants to hear from you). The goal will be to "provide the same dining experience [as was enjoyed at the S&S.]

The would-be home of Magnolia Room

Mr. Louis has already purchased the FF&E (furniture, fixtures & equipment) from the S&S, and plans to employ as many of the former staff as possible. The restaurant will be located in "Shops at Heritage Place," a mid-sized strip center on Hugh Howell Road, home to a Moe's Southwest Grill, among other tenants.

The Magnolia Room would occupy the 5,300 square foot "anchor" space in the middle of the center. The space was previously home to DMARC Cafe, a live music venue and restaurant. Should things go well, The Magnolia Room may eventually expand into an adjacent 2,400 square foot former nail salon.

While lease negotiations are progressing, Mr. Louis stresses that "while we are optimistic, several hurdles remain to be overcome. Please understand that this is still a dream and a work in progress."

Should a lease be finalized and the dream realized, Mr. Louis envisions adding some mid-century modern charm to the new restaurant. While nothing will be as fancy as the mid- century modern focused "The Mercury," which opened earlier this year at Ponce City Market, minor updates to the restaurant's theme will be made to update it a bit.

Dean Ashley, a 19 year S&S employee and general manager of the Embry Village location, will not be making the transition. Ashley, who was previously GM at the North Augusta S&S which shutterd in 2011 after 41 years, has been "offered Knoxville," and will likely relocate there with his wife and kids to stay within the S&S family.

It's worth noting that the nearby The Greater Good BBQ was for a short time in the mid 90s a satellite location of midtown's Mary Mac's Tea Room. Mary Mac's occupied what was originally a Western Sizzlin' and later Farmer's Daughter, while more recent occupants have included Golden Dolphin, a seafood restaurant, and now The Greater Good BBQ.

While the Magnolia Room would be close to another longstanding cafeteria, Matthews, on Main Street in downtown Tucker, there seems to be a division of those who support each establishment. I visited the S&S a number of times this past month and countless patrons enumerated their reasons for preferring the S&S over other cafeterias, Piccadilly and Matthews among them. Patrons drove in from the likes of Loganville, Snellville, Stone Mountain, Norcross and elsewhere, passing similar cafeteria or southern food options, to dine at the S&S.

If all goes well, many former S&S staff members follow, and the management team is strong, there is good reason to think that Magnolia Room will be a success. Based on current progress, the Magnolia Room plans to debut in September.

Are you excited that there is hope that the S&S will live on? Does the name Magnolia Room Tucker resonate with you? What do you consider the quintessential cafeteria menu item?

Please share your thoughts below.

Salad focused eatery shutters.

Dressed, the healthy eatery started by entreprenuer Justin Smolev, has closed its midtown eatery, the lone remaining Atlanta location. The restaaurant was located on the street level of the Plaza Midtown condo building at 950 West Peachtree Street.

A sign on the door claims the restaurant is "temporarily closed for renovations and menu updates," but local sources indicate the closure is permanent.

Smolev opened the midtown location in 2007 followed soon after by locations in Buckhead and Dunwoody. The Buckhead location (Terminus) opened in January 2009, followed by Dunwoody (Perimeter Town Center, home to Uncle Julio's and Figo Pasta) in February of the same year. By December of 2009, both had closed.

Dressed described itself as "the world’s most innovative and stylish dining experience created for today’s health-conscious eaters." The quick serve restaurant offered "salads with style," sandwiches, paninis, homemade soups & smoothies. Dressed described its restaurants as providing a "a crisp, clean, contemporary environment."

According to the Dressed website, there are also Dressed locations in Hong Kong (five), Taiwan (one) and locations coming soon to Kuwait, China and Thailand. At least one of the Hong Kong locations has closed. The Dressed in Three Pacific Place has been replaced by Toss & Turn, a similar concept. Outdated facebook postings for another two Hong Kong locations provide reason to doubt either remain open.

Interestingly, "Dressed Holdings, LLC," which was created in 2007, was "dissolved" this past December. Another Dressed Holdings LLC was created this past October. Dressed Perimeter LLC, Dressed Terminus LLC and Dressed Salads Delivery LLC have all been dissolved.

Are you surprised that Dressed has closed? Do you think a renovation and "menu updates" are all the concept needs? If Dressed is in fact closed for good, what type of concept would you like to see replace it?

Please share your thoughts below.

The new PNC Bank in East Cobb at Johnson Ferry & Lower Roswell Roads is slated to open July 18th. Its opening will coincide with the closures of the Lassiter and Woodlawn branches.

The new Cheeky at Gateway in Sandy Springs is currently targeting an August 15th opening. Cheeky, a Mexican restaurant and bar, has four existing locations in Forsyth, Norcross, Suwanee and East Cobb.

A new French bakery called Cafe Vendome was planning to open today, July 14th (Bastille Day), but has pushed its opening to August 7th. The Bakery & cafe, which will sell macarons, croissants, assorted other pastries and sandwiches, is located on the back side of Belle Isle Square on Roswell Road across from Fountain Oaks shopping center. The center also includes Food 101 and Cibo e Beve, among other tenants. Cafe Vendome opens in a space that has been home to a number of failed restaurants over the years, most recently Creole Nouvelle, a Cajun eatery, and Fishmonger, a seafood restaurant before that.

Boutique Bargains Warehouse Sale is returning to Atlantic Station July 22nd and 23rd, featuring savings of 50 to 70% off retail prices. Over a dozen Atlanta area boutiques are scheduled to participate including Sandpiper, Poppy's, Kane, Bill Hallman, Range and The Bilt-House.

Bon Glaze, a gourmet doughnut shop, plans to open July 23rd at Powers Ferry Square on Roswell Road in Buckhead. The Buckhead location will also serve New Orleans-style Italian Ice. The first Bon Glaze opened in Brookeigh Marketplace on Johnson Ferry Road in Brookhaven.

Richards' Southern Fried is officially opened at Krog Street Market. The counter service restaurant features Richards' famous fried chicken as well as "hot" chicken. Todd Richards, formerly of The Cafe at The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead and The Pig & The Pearl at Atlantic Station, became executive chef at downtown's White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails last year. Richards' Southern Fried is an extension of that partnership with WOKC owners Alan & Cindy LeBlanc.

LongHorn Steakhouse at Toco Hills is slated to open August 8th. The freestanding restaurant was largely destroyed in a June 2014 fire and its reconstruction was delayed multiple times for a variety of reasons.

Romano's Macaroni Grill has closed its freestanding restaurant at The Shoppes at Webb Gin in Snellville. The restaurant chain was started by serial restaurateur Philip J. Romano (also founder of Fuddruckers and EatZi's among other concepts) in 1988 before being sold to multi-unit operator Brinker International in 1989. After a number of subsequent sales the chain is today owned by Phoenix, Arizona-based Redrock Partners, LLC. The Snellville closure follows the closure of the chain's Dunwoody restaurant in 2013. Macaroni Grill continues to operates Atlanta area restaurants in Alpharetta, Buford and West Cobb.

Calling itself the "Chastain Park" location, a new pure barre franchise is preparing to open next month at Fountain Oaks shopping center on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.

Maison Robert, a purveyor of fine chocolates and pastries which first opened in Atlanta in 1977, has closed. The business moved to Chamblee on Peachtree Road across from the Chamblee MARTA station in 2009. The following message was posted to the business' website.

TO ALL OF OUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS:

Bastille Day, Thursday, July 14th will be Maison Robert’s last day of business. We would like to thank you for supporting, following and eating good food with us over the past 39 years. We could not have survived without you all!

Please know ALL family members (Robert, Patricia, David, Katia and Nick) are doing well and are completely healthy!

As the owner responsible for running Maison Robert for the past 7 years this was mostly my (Katia, aka “The Daughter”) decision. However, my parents very much support this decision as well. When we first moved into our current location I was single and lived a mile away. It was great! 3 years ago, I got married (which is also great!) and moved to East Cobb in an effort to split a commute with my husband who works in Canton, GA. I naively did not think a 14-19 mile commute back to East Cobb every day could sometimes take up to 1 1/2 – 2 hours. Also, parking at our current location has not kept up with the needs of a retail location.

I plan on hoarding as much equipment as I can at our house with the intention of starting up again closer to home. I have been encouraged to take some time off to figure it all out. Whatever it will be, it will be smaller. I might reopen Maison Robert in East Cobb. But I might do something entirely different and it might be called: “Robert’s Daughter”.

I know how lucky I am to have had the past 7-9 years working alongside and getting to know both of my parents as an adult. We are fortunate to come out on the other side of this experience and still genuinely enjoy each other. It hasn’t been a perfect experience, but I know that I am lucky to have had it.

All of us want to thank all of you again for your patronage. You have followed us to 3 different locations. You have dealt with our menu changes. You have talked about us around town and because of that, we have rarely had the need to advertise. We have been so lucky and appreciative of the abundance that has filled our lives over these years. We have worked hard for your earned support and you have helped to take care of us. This decision was not easy and has not been taken lightly.

Lastly, I would like to thank all of the great people that have worked for us over the years. Even though you are too many to name we often enjoy reminiscing about all the great (and sometimes challenging) times we have had! We could not have done it without you all!

Merci beaucoup à vous tous! Katia, Robert and Patricia Reeb

Where would you like to see Katia reopen? Will you miss Maison Robert in Chamblee? Where is your favorite place for gourmet chocolates in Atlanta?

Please share your thoughts below.

The site of the proposed redevelopment

Nearly 80 townhomes planned for North Druid Hills Road.

Atlanta-based Oak Hall Companies, a developer of commercial, medical and residential properties, is proposing a large redevelopment on North Druid Hills Road. The company wants to build 78 townhomes in place of the Grand Slam Golf & Baseball (aka Hidden Valley Driving Range) facility at 3352 North Druid Hills Road. The development would be called "Provence Park." To begin this process, OHC is requesting that DeKalb county rezone the parcel from C-2 & M (Industrial) to RSM (Small Lot Residential).

This is not the first time the 11.5 acre parcel has been targeted for redevelopment.

As recently as 2014, John Weiland Homes planned to redevelop 59-70 townhomes on the property, but eventually abandoned its plans. Ashton Woods, another residential developer, sought to build 43 townhouses and 104 condo units in 2004, but also abandoned their plans. In both cases, the developers were put off by the cost of removing 12,000 cubic yards of dirt and slag, and then putting it all back (minus the slag). The slag, or "stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting or refining of ore" was dumped there by the E.V. Camp Steel Works, a steel foundry that operated close to the nearby railroad tracks until the 1950s.

The "Grand Slam" property consists of two parcels, one 8.8, the other 2.7 acres.

There are homeowner concerns over the construction's impact on stream and water quality, and runoff and flooding along the creek that has already been a problem for many years. Several homeowners living along the lower section of Burnt Creek Road have had to deal with wet yards and the occasional wet basement. Many feel any increase in runoff will result in even more severe flooding problems.

Representatives from OHC recently presented their plans to neighbors. Possibly the most significant revelation was that the price of the property, jointly owned by Robert C. Bowden Family Trust and North Druid Hills Properties Limited, has been reduced to a point where OHC is confident they can absorb the remediation expense.

Additionally, although none of the homes would be built in the floodplain, all purchasers would be required to purchase flood insurance. The 78 townhomes will be offered for sale in the "high $300,000s."

The siteplan indicates 82 units but only 78 are actually planned

OHC was unclear on whether a hydrology study has been completed or would be performed. There seemed to be little indication that if the study were to be or had been performed, that the information would be shared with the community.

The closing of the sale/purchase transaction is contingent on DeKalb county commissioners approving the rezoning request.

What are your thoughts on this proposed redevelopment? Do you think the area can handle or needs nearly 80 new townhomes? Do you prefer classic driving ranges like Hidden Valley or newer ones like Topgolf?

Please share your thoughts below.

New center planned for Sandy Springs.

Atlanta-based Arris Realty Partners (formerly Ben Carter Properties) is planning an approximately 27,000 square foot retail center on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.

Arris, which in architecture is "a sharp edge or ridge formed by the intersection of two curved surfaces," was established in 2012 by Steven Cadranel and Jim Woodcox, who served as President and EVP of Ben Carter Properties. Ben Carter, notorious to Buckhead area residents as the original visionary of "The Streets of Buckhead," and to Savannah residents for his current upscaling of Broughton Street, is not involved in Arris and how heads Ben Carter Enterprises.

The new Sandy Springs development, The Plaza at City Springs ~~South~~, will be comprised of three separate buildings and about 160 surface parking spaces over 3.5 acres. The center is "two blocks north of 285, on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs." The complex will span Roswell Road, between Allen Road and Cliftwood Drive. While McCullough Auto Care (A NAPA facility) at Allen Road and a Shell gas station at Cliftwood Drive will remain, everything between them will be demolished for the new development.

The former Cartunes

The former Charlie Mopps

The three former businesses slated for demolition are Charlie Mopps Public House, Cartunes (relocated a few miles north on Roswell Road to a former NTB), and American Pie. American Pie was formerly an area icon that lasted over 20 years before closing in 2007. Cocktail Cove, which opened in its place in 2009, closed in 2012.

The former American Pie / Cocktail Cove

The center's name, The Plaza at City Springs, is meant to connect it with the nearby large scale mixed-use redevelopment, City Springs. City Springs, being developed in part by Atlanta's Selig Enterprises, will include retail, residential, restaurant and civic space, replaces the former Target (Richway) and Harris Teeter (A&P), among other structures.

The Plaza will serve as the retail/restaurant companion to The Cliftwood, a 248-unit, 5-story mid-rise "luxury" apartment building under construction behind the center. A new street, to be named Cliftwood Way, will separate the two developments and will connect Allen Road to Cliftwood Drive.

The new street to be known as Cliftwood Way

According to The Cliftwood website, a 655 square foot studio apartment will start at $1,192 while a 1,103 square foot 2 bed/2 bath apartment will start at $1,632. The largest apartment, a 1,516 square foot 3/2, starts at $2,198.

The Cliftwood represents the demolition of an early 1970s office campus, and is expected to have its first move-ins before the end of the year. The residential portion is is a joint venture between ECI Group and Arris Realty Partners, LLC.

The Cliftwood apartments as seen from Cliftwood Drive

While I was able to speak to Cadranel regarding the project, he was unable to confirm much in the way of tenants, as leases are still being finalized. One tenant I know is opening is new-to-market quick serve pizza chain is Pieology. Rancho Santa Margarita, California-based Pieology opened its first Atlanta area location last month at The Atwater, on Old Milton Parkway, across from Avalon. In addition to Sandy Springs, Pieology plans to join Sprouts Farmers Market at Fuqua's Decatur Crossing center.

Another "Mediterranean-focused quick serve restaurant" with existing Atlanta area locations is reportedly also coming to the center.

Cadranel said to expect other regional and national quick serve restaurants to be part of The Plaza. Additionally, Cadranel indicated that the center's groundbreaking should happen "in the fall" with "delivery" scheduled for the second quarter of 2017.

What would you like to see open in The Plaza at City Springs? What are your thoughts on the pricing of The Cliftwood? What is your favorite memory of American Pie?

Please share your thoughts below.

New coffee shop and cafe planned for Clairmont Road.

Victor Ramirez, a native of the Dominican Republic, plans to open a new coffee shop and cafe in the former Sobban on Clairmont Road. The building was originally constructed in 1969 and operated as an Arby's for many years. Later in its life, "Athens Pizza Express" operated from the property and was the pizza of choice for my family during my childhood. Athens Pizza closed in 2010 and was replaced by "Kitsch'n 155"in 2011. Kitsch'n 155 closed in 2013 after which Sobban Korean Southern Diner opened, became popular, but closed at the end of last year.

The new shop, Golden Drops Café American & Latin Coffee bar is slated to open mid-to-late next month and will be open seven days a week.

Ramirez plans to offer specialty coffee from various countries in central and south America as well as Mexico and the Caribbean. The shop will feature assorted coffee options such as Café con leche, a popular spanish coffee drink. The cafe will also offer "quality fast food" from the same countries represented by the coffee as well as beer and wine options.

Alejandro Mendez, 2011 World Barista Champion, is scheduled to make an appearance at the cafe's grand opening. Golden Drops will feature coffee from 4 Monkeys Coffee Roasters, Mendez's El Salvador-based coffee company. Additionally, Ramirez plans to offer a curated selection of pre-bagged coffee for sale to customers who wish to make their own at home.

Ramirez also plans to install a screen on the interior side wall of the building where he plans to show culturally relevant musical performances.

Tentative hours for Golden Drops are 8am-10pm weekdays, and 9am-11pm on weekends.

Are you excited for a local coffee shop in the neighborhood? What is your favorite type of coffee? What food items would you like to see Golden Drops serve?

Please share your thoughts below.

Despite a full parking lot, Bamboo Luau's Chinatown has closed

Popular late night Chinese eatery quietly closes.

Bamboo Luau's Chinatown, a popular Chinese eatery on Cheshire Bridge Road, has closed. The restaurant, which had been in business for about 30 years, reportedly closed a few days ago. No signage on the building reflects the [permanent] closure other than a simple sign saying "closed" that on all other days would indicate a typical non-business hours closure.

Calls to the business went unanswered for the past few days, so I made a personal trip over at which point an employee confirmed the closure is permanent.

Bamboo Luau was located in the 2300 block of Cheshire Bridge Road in "Sam's Corner," a small strip center also home to Starship, Galaxy, a massage parlor, tattoo joint and body piercing business.

Information online suggests a fairly recent change in ownership of Bamboo Luau (in the past few years or so) whereby the service, quality and health standards, among other things, suffered.

One of the major appeals of the restaurant was that it was open until 3AM daily. These hours seem to have been quietly modified, although it's unclear what their most recent hours were or if they maintained them on a regular basis.

Although the restaurant reportedly most recently achieved a 99 score from the health department, the restaurant had scores of 58 and 62 in 2013 and 2014 respectively. The 2014 score prompted WSB-TV to investigate.

The inspection report indicated roaches were found in food and on the prep table in the kitchen, several dented cans of food on the shelf and a heavily soiled basket of egg rolls.

While I had only eaten at the restaurant a couple of times, and not recently, I did find some rather telling reviews from recent guest experiences.

In one TripAdvisor review from April 25th 2016, user "JH" left the following:

"Bamboo Luau used to be my favorite but really inconsistent food and jacked up service has accompanied the new owners, I don't know what happened to the original owners but they ran a first class place. The last time I walked in there was no one, I mean no one in the dinning room. The cashier was the waitress and the food was a reservice of yesterday's cook."

A Yelp review from June 19th 2016 from "Scott F." said:

"I should have turned around and left when I walked into Bamboo Luau yesterday evening and noticed only one table occupied in the restaurant. I was greeted by a nice lady that sat me right by the front door. Two booths down a couple was eating dinner, and casually cussing up a storm while I watched the panhandlers walk back and forth outside in front of the window at my table. They gather outside the door on the side of the parking lot. I ordered the egg drop soup, which was very mediocre. The usual odd cornstarch thickened yellow broth with egg strands suspended within. Along with it I received a heaping dish of VERY stale fried noodles. I mentioned it to me server who replaced it after I finished my soup with more mildly stale noodles. Then came my entree, honey walnut prawns. "Golden jumbo prawns with homemade honey walnut in a light cream sauce" The shrimp weren't golden, but rather wet and sweet with no crispness at all. Quite unappealing. I think my favorite part of the meal was the steamed rice.

I must mention tho, that their health score was very decent. A current 99, grade "A". No bad scores in the past few years. Maybe I'll try it again sometime, but not in the near future."

Will you miss Bamboo Luau's Chinatown? Where do you go casual Chinese? What would you like to see open in place of Bamboo Luau's Chinatown?

Please share your thoughts below.

The original Boogaloos boutique on West Ponce de Leon Avenue in Decatur is currently having a "Store Moving Blow-Out Sale." The store, which opened in Decatur in 2001, subsequently expanded to TOWN Brookhaven (2009) and Ponce City Market (2016). A store employee confirmed that the Decatur store will not be reopening in Decatur and is instead "moving to Ponce City Market."

Burger King has reopened its location at 1690 Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth. The restaurant now sports a slightly more contemporary look and includes the phrase "Flame Grilling Since 1954" in big bold letters on the side of the building.

Boutique retailer 310 Rosemont has closed its Virginia Highland location. The closure follows the November 2014 death of company founder, Winter Wren Hodges. Hodges also previously operated Winter Wren, another shop in Virginia Highland, which is now occupied by Callie's Hot Little Biscuit. Other 310 Rosemont and related boutiques remain in business in Tennessee and Virginia.

The proposedStarbucks on Peachtree Road in Brookwood Hills is reportedly moving in the right direction but is not yet 100% confirmed. Given its location and proximity to the BeltLine, the project's plans needed to be reviewed by the Atlanta BeltLine Design Review Committee.

A new Verizon Wireless store is opening in place of Edward's Pipe & Tobacco Shop on Roswell Road in north Buckhead. Edward's was previously located on Piedmont Road near Peachtree Road before relocating to Roswell Road a few years ago.

The Folks restaurant at 1500 Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville closed last month after 34 years in business. The roughly 5,200 square foot restaurant will soon be demolished to make way for a 11,000 square foot Golden Corral restaurant.

Moe's Original Bar B Que plans to open new location in Roswell. The new BBQ restaurant will open in place of Etris Kitchen & Bar which itself took over the former Franco’s Italian Tavern space in Roswell’s Sweet Apple Village. There is currently one Atlanta area location of the Vail, Colorado-based chain on 14th Street near Georgia Tech. Another location is expected to open soon on Bradley Street in Carrollton, not far from the University of West Georgia.

After delaying its closure a couple times, Double Zero Napoletana on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs now plans to shutter August 6th. Plans call for a similar restaurant, by the same, but with a different menu, to open in "the first week in September" in place of the former Ink & Elm in Emory Village. Castellucci Hospitality Group already operates The Iberian Pig in downtown Decatur as well as other restaurants around town.

Fuqua Development's upcoming "Kennesaw Marketplace," a new center being built near the intersection of Barrett and Cobb Parkways, has officially added a few new names to their tenant list. Aside from previously announced anchors Whole Foods Market, Hobby Lobby and Academy Sports + Outdoors, a number of new restaurants and other businesses have been confirmed. Petco has been added to the anchor roster. Restaurant tenants will include Burger 21, Freddy's Steakburgers, Menchie's, Newks Eatery, Panda Express, Pie Five Pizza, Smoothie King,Volcano Steak & Sushi, Which Wich, Starbucks and Zoës Kitchen. In addition, Sport Clips, Relax the Back, SunTrust Bank, PNC Bank, uBreakiFix, AT&T, Aspen Dental, Cactus Car Wash, Luxury Nails, Mattress Firm, Medalyn Salon and Med Spa. There will also be a separate QuikTrip gas station and convenience store on the Barrett Parkway side of the project.

"Decatur Crossing," another Fuqua Development project, has also added a few new names to its tenant list. Joining anchor tenantSprouts Farmers Market are Banfield Pet Hospital, Dunkin Donuts, Great Clips, Luxury Nails, Pacific Dental, SunTrust Bank, Verizon Wireless and Zoës Kitchen. I've heard rumors of a Chick-fil-A being in the works too...

Both Fuqua developments project "Fall 2016" as their respective estimated completions.

What are your thoughts on the announced tenants for the respective developments? Is there anything missing you would like to see? Are you as excited as I'am to have two more Luxury Nails nearby? Please share your thoughts below.

Historic shoe store to close next month.

McMahan Shoes, which traces its roots to downtown Atlanta in 1948, is closing down. Now located in North Decatur Center at the corner of North Decatur and Clairmont Roads, the store is actively liquidating. Plans call for the store to close for good August 15th.

From the McMahan Shoes website:

"In January of 1948, John McMahan began his shoe business in downtown Atlanta on the seventh floor of the old Henry Grady Office Building. A few years later, he moved to 417 Peachtree Road, then to a larger location at 429 Peachtree Road. In 1973 a big decision was made to move off Peachtree to 505 Courtland Street. Here everything was on one level, the show room, the shoe repair shop and the custom orthoses lab. It wasn’t until the early 2000’s the store was relocated to Decatur, Georgia."

Before opening at North Decatur Center about six years ago, McMahan occupied a space at 250 East Ponce de Leon Avenue in downtown Decatur.

The McMahan closure follows the recent closure of Shoe Center at nearby Toco Hills.

The early 2000s brought the bankruptcies and eventual complete closures of Birmingham, Alabama-based Just For Feet and Atlanta-based The Sport Shoe, each with many locations in metro Atlanta.

While big box competition and online retailers have challenged smaller, independent shoe retailers, some in Atlanta have thrived.

Abbadabba's, another Atlanta-based footwear retailer, has adjusted, as has Atlanta's Bennie's Shoes. Both shuttered or relocated underperforming locations to strengthen their remaining business.

In downtown Atlanta, Walter's and Friedman's both continue to be destinations for shoe lovers. Walter's, which first opened in 1952, and Friedman's which opened in 1929, have each carved out their own niches. Walter's, which also carries clothing, appeals to trendy "sneakerheads" and celebrities. Friedman's, which specializes in larger shoe sizes, appeals to athletes. Friedman's was definitely challenged by the advent of the internet, but launched LargeFeet.com to capture online sales. The evolution of Friedman's (and the fact that they played a part in the launch of Zappos) was even featured in an ESPN 30 For 30 short.

Where do you shop for shoes? What is your favorite local shoe store? What would you like to see open in place of McMahan shoes in Decatur?

Please share your thoughts below.

Highland Bakery to open new location downtown.

A new Highland Bakery is coming to 25 Park Place, near Woodruff Park, on the campus of Georgia State University. The new location, like others in the pipeline, will be owned and operated by a local franchise partner. According to Mike Lassiter, who handles franchising for the company, the new downtown restaurant is currently projected to open in early September. The restaurant will be about 3,500 square feet with an additional outdoor dining area.

Aside from his involvement with Highland Bakery, Lassiter is also president of Rising Roll, which operates about a dozen locations in metro Atlanta including one around the corner from the upcoming Highland Bakery.

Last year, Rising Roll and Highland Bakery joined forces in what they called a mutually beneficial, "strategic partnership."

The original Highland Bakery opened in 2004 on Highland Avenue in Old Fourth Ward. Since then, the restaurant has slowly grown, adding a few additional locations around metro Atlanta. Today, the campuses of Emory University and Georgia Tech each have two Highland Bakery locations. Buckhead's Atlanta Financial Center and Midtown's 1180 Peachtree are also both home to Highland Bakery cafes.

This past January, Highland Bakery founder Stacey Eames opened a new concept, Press & Grind, in Virginia-Highland. Press & Grind specializes in coffee, smoothies and other healthy fare.

According to Lassiter, a heavily delayed downtown Decatur location of Highland Bakery is currently on track for a mid- August opening. Additionally, Lassiter indicated that there are a number of other Highland Bakery locations in the works for "strategic trade areas around Atlanta." This would seem to suggest cities like Dunwoody and Alpharetta or the Cumberland area may be on the short list.

Where would you like to see Highland Bakery open next? What is your favorite breakfast spot in Atlanta? Do you think franchising will be good or bad for the Highland Bakery brand?

Please share your thoughts below.

Fledgling pizza chain continues to shrink in metro Atlanta.

The Edgewood Retail District location of Atlanta-based Uncle Maddio's Pizza Joint closed yesterday. The restaurant, which opened in early 2013 in a former Caribou Coffee, was reportedly owned by a single unit franchisee.

The restaurant explained their closure on their Facebook page saying:

"What happened was we ran out of money like ten other locations, not just the ones you mentioned [Toco/Druid Hills location closed, Ansley location closed, now Edgewood location closed]. A franchise cannot survive if it consistently is in the red. The entire time that we were open, we lost money. Think about that the next time the subject of small business comes up."

The Edgewood location received 38 reviews with a cumulative rating of three stars on Yelp.com with the following being my personal favorite:

5/12/2016 - Lauren H.

"Horrible customer service. Food isn't impressive either. We used to eat here on Thursdays because kids eat free with each adult meal. Now today they would only give us one kids meal even though we had 2 paying adults. No one is ever in here when we come at meal times either. Its obvious why. Don't waste your time at this place."

Comment from Chris F. of Uncle Maddios Pizza Joint Edgewood [Business Owner] 6/5/2016

"Thank you for your feedback. It is an honor to be your 48th one-star review. In the future, we will try to improve our "horrible customer service" by giving you more free food."

Uncle Maddio's was started in 2009 by Matt Andrew, former President of Moe's Southwest Grill. Andrew attempted to apply the same quick serve formula found in Moe's to Uncle Maddio's. Pizza is of course different than burritos and the brand has had stumbles in metro Atlanta and beyond.

Over the past twenty-four months, Uncle Maddio's locations have closed in midtown (Ansley Mall), Toco Hills (original), Alpharetta (Windward Parkway) Austin, Texas and Louisville, Kentucky.

The Buford location of Uncle Maddio's was recently sold by The Shumacher Group while the Kennesaw and Cumberland locations are currently being marketed for sale.

The troubles facing Uncle Maddio's come at a time when competition is mounting. The Colony, Texas-based Pie Five Pizza and Rancho Santa Margarita, California-based Pieology have both opened locations in metro Atlanta, each with more in the pipeline. Pasadena, California-based Blaze Pizza is also reportedly scouting the metro Atlanta area for new locations.

What is your favorite quick serve pizza eatery? Have you tried any of the new-to-market restaurants? What would you like to see open in place of Uncle Maddio's in the Edgewood Retail District?

Please share your thoughts below

Neighborhood favorite "swiftly" shutters.

4th & Swift, the local restaurant opened by chef and restaurateur Jay Swift, has closed.

The following message was posted to the restaurant's official facebook page a few minutes ago:

"After much consideration, 4th & Swift has closed as of Sunday, July 24. We are beyond grateful for our loyal guests and the Old Fourth Ward community for their support which made us a success for more than eight years. This was a difficult decision and we thank you for your patronage over the years."

Strangely, a separate message on the restaurant's website hints at the closure having happened perhaps earlier than planned.

"4th & Swift will be closed Sunday, July 3rd and Monday, July 4th in observation of the holiday. We will also be closed the first week of August (Monday, Aug. 1st-Sunday, Aug.7th) due to restaurant maintenance."

The stated first week in August closure "for maintenance" seems to me to suggest the closure was intended to take place ahead of that week but seemingly not as soon as it did.

Swift opened 4th & Swift in 2008, long before Ponce City Market was even a public concept. In the years since, the neighborhood has flourished and Ponce City Market has become a magnet for locals and tourists. The rise in popularity of the neighborhood has surely had an affect on rent for Swift, and other businesses around him. The closure of 4th & Swift is surely to sting even more to area residents who still miss Repast, a restaurant on nearby Glen Iris, that abruptly closed in 2010.

Swift and his son Jeb Aldrich will now focus their talents and efforts on growing Noble Fin, their new Peachtree Corners restaurant. Delayed for months, the new "steak and seafood house" opened in late May in an outparcel of an Earth Fare-anchored center on Peachtree Parkway near The Forum. In the suburbs of Peachtree Corners (or Norcross, as some might call it,) Noble Fin faces far less competition and if it's as good as 4th & Swift, it should perform well.

Will you miss 4th & Swift? Do you think Noble Fin is as good as 4th & Swift? What would you like to see open in place of 4th & Swift?

Please share your thoughts below.

Bonus Bits

Rosati's to Bring Chicago-Style Pizza to Chastain Park

North DeKalb Mall Continues to Lose National Names, Costco Still "In The Works"

Colbeh Has Closed, Truman Taking its Place

Bits & Bites

Dave & Buster's to "Play" in Alpharetta

SunTrust Hoping "Anything Here But a Bank" Did Not Apply to Them

Longtime S&S Patron to Open Similar Concept in Tucker

Midtown un-Dressed Following Closure

Bits & Bites

Beloved Local Sweet Shop Bids Au Revoir to Chamblee

Developer Hoping For a "Grand Slam" in Redeveloping Driving Range

Bye Bye American Pie, New Center to Take Slice of Sandy Springs

Entrepreneur Sees "Golden" Opportunity to Open New Coffee Shop

The Year of the Monkey Brings Bamboo Luau's Closure

Bits & Bites

McMahan Shoes to Shutter in Decatur

Highland Bakery Destined for Downtown Atlanta, Decatur to Open Next Month

Uncle Maddio's Suffers Another Store Closure

4th & Swift Quietly Shuttered Sunday Night