Once popular "breastaurant"Tilted Kilt has closed its last remaining Atlanta area location. Situated along Cobb Parkway across from Akers Mill Square, Tilted Kilt closed as of December 31, according to several social media posts. The restaurant had chains around its front doors on Sunday when a ToNeTo Atlanta reader visited, but surprisingly there was no notice of the closure onsite. At its height, the Tempe, Arizona-based chain had seven locations in metro Atlanta, including outposts in Kennesaw, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Buford and Suwanee.
Fellow breastaurant operators Dallas-based Twin Peaks and Atlanta-based Hooters both continue to operate multiple locations in metro Atlanta. Hooters has a location in an outparcel of Akers Mill Square across the street from the now shuttered Tilted Kilt, as well as in Downtown, Kennesaw, Roswell and Buford, among others. Twin Peaks operates locally in Buckhead and Kennesaw in addition to a unit in Augusta.
For its part, Tilted Kilt has always been a distant third: RC Cola in a Coke & Pepsi world. Tilted Kilt had 80 locations at the end of 2017. In recent years, franchisees have closed dozens of units and the chain itself sold for $10 in 2018. The corporate Tilted Kilt website is seemingly down for the time being, so it's difficult to confirm, but online research and posts to the Tilted Kilt facebook page suggest that there are as few as a dozen units still in operation.
There are sure to be plenty of second generation restaurants becoming available in the coming months and while the former Tilted Kilt could draw interest from restaurant operators, it could also be viewed as a good addition to the Barnes & Noble parcel next door. ToNeTo Atlanta reported in November that the 2.4 acre Barnes & Noble site was being marketed as a redevelopment opportunity. The nearly one acre Tilted Kilt, while not essential to any would-be redevelopment, could be an intriguing addition. (There are also unconfirmed reports that the restaurant could be reopened as a new concept from the same owners - Crooked Kilt anyone?)
Are you surprised to see Tilted Kilt close near Cumberland Mall? What is your favorite Cumberland/Vinings area restaurant? What would you like to see open in place of Tilted Kilt?
Please share your thoughts below.
