Cheeky, a Mexican taqueria and sports bar, has closed its restaurant on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs after about two years in business. ToNeTo Atlanta tipsters report the restaurant closed after dinner service Sunday night and that by Monday, a moving crew was on location moving stuff out. The restaurant opened in September 2016 as part of the Sprouts Farmers Market-anchored Gateway Sandy Springs development, just north of Wieuca Road and not far from Chastain Park. Cheeky's opening at Gateway in Sandy Springs followed its closure at the Avenue East Cobb.
Interestingly, Cheeky and Verde, another Mexican restaurant in Gateway, teamed up for a joint "Grand Opening" in early 2017. Many readers thought from the start that the center, with the inclusion of Chipotle Mexican Grill, simply had too many Mexican restaurants, especially given the half dozen plus other options within a mile of the center. ToNeTo Atlanta readers will recall that Verde abruptly closed in late July with plans for a portion of the restaurant to be replaced by a new Cafe Posh location.
Two Cheeky locations remain open, one on Peachtree Parkway in Cumming, the other on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Suwanee. Cheeky founder Jose Hevia was an original partner in Taco Mac, and in 2007 founded DraftServ Technologies a self-serve beer program. Hevia has since expanded DraftServe to MLB stadiums, cruise lines, NASCAR venues and other food-service partners. It seems as though DraftServe is getting most of Hevia's attention these days.
Cheeky's Sandy Springs location was located in an endcap across from Tupelo Honey Cafe with great visibility from Roswell Road.
The former Cheeky in East Cobb today operates as a Tin Lizzy's Cantina, while its location at The Forum on Peachtree Parkway, which closed last July, is now known as Mojitos, a Cuban/American restaurant.
Did you ever dine at Cheeky? What would you like to see open in place of Cheeky at Gateway in Sandy Springs? What is your favorite restaurant at Gateway?
Please share your thoughts below.