Taco Mac quietly closed its restaurant at CNN Center in Downtown Atlanta after ten years in business. The 10,000 square foot two story restaurant, which opened in May 2008, was located on Georgia Dome Drive, adjacent to Philips Arena and CNN Center and across the street from the Georgia World Congress Center. The restaurant closed on April 30, reportedly without warning.
A restaurant representative supplied ToNeTo Atlanta with the following statement with regard to the closure.
"After careful review, we have made the decision to not renew our lease and to close our Philips Arena location as of April 30. With Philips Arena closing for over six months for remodeling, we decided that it did not make sense for us to renew our lease and remain open during this extended period of time. Like all Atlanta sports fans, we remain huge fans of the Atlanta Hawks and look forward to seeing their new home. In the meantime, we will focus on growing our presence in Atlanta and will work to relocate every Philips Arena team member to a nearby Taco Mac. We encourage all of our guests and Brewniversity members to visit our nearby Metropolis, Virginia-Highland, Lindbergh or Decatur Taco Mac restaurants to continue to enjoy our award-winning wings and the most craft beer on draft in Atlanta."
A sign posted to the restaurant's window directed would-be patrons to their Metropolis location on Peachtree Street, about three miles away.
The CNN Center Taco Mac had not been reviewed on Yelp.com since September 11, 2017 when Juan V left a one star review that began with "Horrible Service." and ended with "I am never coming back." Overall, the restaurant had a cumulative two star rating out of 45 reviews.
Dantanna's Downtown had opened in place of the former Jocks & Jills at CNN Center in early 2009 and remains in business there and at their original location in Buckhead but closed in Sandy Springs earlier this year.
ToNeTo Atlanta reported in early March that Taco Mac had been purchased by a group of businessmen, all of whom are partners in Fresh Hospitality, a Nashville-based restaurant investment company. Last month, ToNeTo shared news that Taco Mac was returning to Marietta and Woodstock after a four month hiatus. Both Taco Mac restaurants originally opened in 1998, and in January 2018 converted to "Morgan’s Sports Grill," a similar concept created by franchisee Rick Lindsay. This past Wednesday May 30, the two restaurants reopened as Taco Mac.
Are you surprised that Taco Mac decided to close at CNN Center? What would you like to see open in place of the former Taco Mac at CNN Center? Have you noticed any changes (good or bad) since Taco Mac was purchased?
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