Mountain Biscuits, a Kennesaw favorite for breakfast and lunch, is relocating to Dallas, citing high rent as a leading factor in their decision to relocate. The restaurant, located at 1718 Old 41 Highway at the foot of Kennesaw Mountain, first opened in 2009 before expanding - nearly tripling in size - in 2016.
Owner Debbie Ingram opened Mountain Biscuits in what was once a backwoods filling station, breathing new life into what had for years been an abandoned eyesore. Ingram, a 20 year veteran of Waffle House, did not start a biscuit pro. “My son’s best friend’s mother gave me the low down, and I practiced until the day we opened” she told Cobb Life magazine in 2015.
Mountain Biscuits owner Deborah Ingram said of her decision to relocate, "I'm older now and I have no time to see my grandchildren and I also do horse rescue and I have no time to spend at my farm all I do is work."
Mountain Biscuits owner Deborah Ingram said of her decision to relocate, "I'm older now and I have no time to see my grandchildren and I also do horse rescue and I have no time to spend at my farm all I do is work."
Mountain Biscuits was reportedly originally slated to close April 5, but has since delayed their closure until Saturday, April 28. The new location, about 15 miles away in a former Huddle House at 210 Merchants Square, is expected to open about 45 days after the Kennesaw closure. The new location will retain the Mountain Biscuits name.
Mountain Biscuits' departure from Kennesaw follows last June's closure of The Ugly Biscuit on South Main Street, about four miles away. Like Mountain Biscuits, the owners of The Ugly Biscuit cited rent as a contributing factor in their decision to close, saying: "Due to increasing rent cost and the amount of competition it is no longer feasible to continue operations."
Creative Loafing's Brad Kaplan published an interesting piece in 2016 in which he described what he called the "Marietta-Kennesaw Biscuit Triangle." The Triangle, or square, as it turns out, was made up of Mountain Biscuits, The Ugly Biscuit, Stilesboro Biscuits and The Red Eyed Mule.
Stilesboro Biscuits, which Lynn Herndon opened in 1994 in a building that dates to 1897, was itself on the verge of closing last year amidst a significant infrastructure improvement project that severely impacted access to her restaurant. Herndon told WSB-TV last year that the project, which she said reduced her sales 78% in its first week, would put her out of business. Luckily, the community rallied and the work was curtailed during the restaurant's peak hours and Stilesboro remains in business today.
Are you sad to see Mountain Biscuits leave Kennesaw? Will you travel to Dallas? What is your favorite biscuit joint in town?
Please share your thoughts below.
UPDATE: This article has been updated to include comment from Ingram and also clarification that she has decided to retain the Mountain Biscuits name in the new location.
UPDATE: This article has been updated to include comment from Ingram and also clarification that she has decided to retain the Mountain Biscuits name in the new location.