It appears that the Tavern at Phipps will not be reopening at Phipps Plaza in Buckhead. The restaurant, a mainstay at the posh Buckhead mall for nearly 30 years, closed as of March 23 due the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite sibling Atlanta area CentraArchy restaurants Joey D's Oak Room and New York Prime reopening, the Tavern has remain closed, with their patio furniture now in use by their steakhouse sibling. Sources close to the restaurant and others in the restaurant community tell ToNeTo Atlanta that a lease dispute with landlord Simon Property Group (SPG) is what led to the closure.
If in fact the Tavern does not reopen - a deal with Simon could happen - it would mark the second Atlanta area COVID-related CentraArchy closure following that of California Dreaming in Duluth. The Tavern would also be one of the first restaurants in metro Atlanta to close during the pandemic and because of the pandemic, rather than having already been struggling and the pandemic merely being the final nail in the coffin.
ToNeTo Atlanta made inquiries with representatives of Phipps Plaza management, none of which were fruitful. [SPG discontinued their contract with an Atlanta-based PR firm earlier this year after more than two decades and in the months since, has been far less responsive/available.] Multiple employees at CentrArchy who spoke to ToNeTo Atlanta on condition of anonymity indicated the company "currently has no plans to reopen the Tavern."
SPG, owner of both Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square as well as dozens of other malls around the country, has also (for now) halted development of One Phipps Plaza, a redevelopment of the former Belk at the mall, which was set to add a new Nobu Hotel and restaurant, Life Time Athletic, Pinstripes, office building and more to the mall property.
The pandemic has caused many Buckhead area workplaces to remain closed. The lack of office workers has caused a steep decline in foot traffic, especially at lunch, with Tavern just one of several restaurants that has remained closed. Grand Lux Cafe, a sibling eatery of The Cheesecake Factory, as well as Davio's, a Boston-based Italian steakhouse, both remain closed, but sources close to each indicate there are plans to reopen.
Davio's has in recent months shuttered locations in Irvine, California and New York City, but owner Steve DiFillippo reportedly has a good relationship with Simon Property Group CEO David Simon and has plans to reopen at Phipps Plaza in October, according to a source familiar with the restaurateur's plans. Grand Lux, which opened at Phipps in August 2018, also reportedly has plans to reopen. Herbert Simon is the Chairman Emeritus of the board at Simon Property Group, Inc., but also sits on the board of The Cheesecake Factory. It is believed that these relationships may be providing greater flexibility for the aforementioned restaurants than for local concepts like Tavern.
That said, it's worth mentioning that Agency Socialthèque has reopened at the mall, and a third location of popular Atlanta bakery cafe Alon's is under construction, too. The Peachtree facing space adjacent to Agency that housed Genuine Pizza until their January 2019 closure remains vacant.
Are you surprised to hear about the closure of The Tavern at Phipps? What is your favorite Buckhead area restaurant? If The Tavern does not reopen at Phipps Plaza, what would you like to see open in its place?
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