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[That's A Wrap!] Willy's to Shutter Across From Ponce City Market Sunday

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This Sunday, October 28, Willy's Mexicana Grill will close their restaurant at Midtown Place, the Whole Foods Market anchored center across from Ponce City Market in Midtown.  The 1,363 square foot restaurant opened in early 2012 in place of a failed Qdoba, a similar restaurant, then owned by fast food chain Jack in the Box.  The Ponce Willy's was smaller than typical locations and never did as well as the company had hoped, according to sources close to the Atlanta based chain.  
Parking at Midtown Place is also challenging, especially in the out-parcel where Willy's was located.  The opening of Tacos & Tequilas Mexican Grill, a full-service restaurant offering similar fare to Willy's, directly above the quick serve restaurant was also likely not good news for the burrito joint.  

The Ponce closure is only the fourth in the company's 23 year history.  Willy's previously closed a corporately owned restaurant at The Mall of Georgia in Buford and along Roswell Road in north Sandy Springs.  The one and only ever franchised Willy's, a location in Gainesville, Florida, closed in 2014.  

Willy's distributed an email to patrons announcing the Ponce closure:
"Thank you for being a loyal guest of Willy's on Ponce de Leon Road Avenue. We have made a decision to close this location on Sunday Oct. 28 at 4 p.m.  We take great pride in the food we serve and being a part of the community. We are humbled and grateful for all the support and relationships that have been built and have been honored to serve burritos here for the last 6 years."     
Just up Ponce, near The Bookhouse Pub, Chipotle Mexican Grill operates a freestanding location. Just a little further up the road is a Moe's Southwest Grill.  In the middle lies the building that formerly housed Tortillas, the burrito joint with a cult-like popularity upon which Bell St. Burritos is modeled. Tortillas closed in 2003, with co-owner Charlie Kearns saying "The burrito war has been fought and won. We didn't win it."

Willy's continues to operate a pair of nearby locations, one at 1071 Piedmont Avenue adjacent to Piedmont Park (2.2 miles away) and another at 1230 Caroline Street in the Edgewood Retail District, also 2.2. miles away.  

ToNeTo Atlanta reported October 17 that the Moe's Southwest Grill in Ansley Mall was closing and would be replaced by Atlanta's third Chopt Creative Salad Co.  Sources say Moe's is actively scouting for a replacement location nearby, but there is no indication that Willy's plans to do the same for their Ponce outpost, at least not anytime soon. 

Following the closure, Willy's will operate 30 restaurants in Georgia, mostly in metro Atlanta, but with outposts in Athens, Columbus, Cartersville, and Peachtree City as well.    

Are you sad to see Willy's close at Midtown Place?  What is your favorite quick serve burrito joint?  What would you like to see open in place of Willy's at Midtown Place?  

Please share your thoughts below.     

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