Just days after reducing its hours to lunch only, and a couple of weeks after being listed for sale, Primo Hoagies has permanently closed its lone Atlanta area franchise. Located near the corner of Peachtree Dunwoody Road and Hammond Drive at Perimeter Town Center in Sandy Springs, the restaurant opened May 16, 2019 and closed as of March 6, 2020.
The restaurant's roughly ten month run is sad, and unfortunate for franchisee Brian Ottaviano and his employees, but is not all that surprising given the poor location and reportedly hit-or-miss service.
When ToNeTo Atlanta first reported on Ottaviano's planned opening last January, we suggested that the chosen location was less than ideal for an unproven and little known concept in Atlanta. Our site is meant to serve as a resource for residents and would-be business owners alike. While we never like to see closures, this one seemed inevitable.
Discounted gift cards for Primo Hoagies (and other restaurants that have closed most or all of their Atlanta area locations) remain available at Sam's Club. Following the Sandy Springs closure, the next closest location to make use of already purchased gift cards would likely be in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
South Philadelphia-born and now Westville, New Jersey-based, Primo Hoagies operates dozens of locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey where the brand, and hoagies themselves, are more well-known and sought after.
Ottaviano's franchisee agreement was for a total of three locations, but given the Sandy Springs closure, those plans seem unlikely to proceed.
The lease offering from Shumacher Group indicates that the 1,750 square foot space is available for $5,600 per month (all in) and that there are eight years remaining on the existing lease, with a ten year renewal option.
A reported $350,000 was spent converting the space from its prior use as a Gigi's Cupcakes franchise. According to the lease offering, "due diligence will not include seller books and records and key money of $95,000 gets all furniture, fixtures, equipment, and rights to assign the lease with landlord approval."
Did you ever eat at Primo Hoagies? Are you surprised that Primo Hoagies failed in their Atlanta debut? What quick-serve restaurant not yet in the market do you think would do best in Atlanta?
Please share your thoughts below.