Joella's Hot Chicken has closed its locations in Newnan and Kennesaw. The restaurants, both of which were converted former Pollo Tropical locations, closed as of December 22 and December 26, respectively. The pair of restaurants represented half of the Louisville, Kentucky-based chain's Atlanta-area presence. Two locations remain open in Akers Mill Square near Cumberland Mall and on Molly Lane, just off Highway 92 in Woodstock.
Joella's, which features a menu largely focused on Nashville-style hot chicken, currently operates fourteen locations across five states.
The company temporarily closed a location in Seminole, Florida shortly after the start of the pandemic in 2020 and reopened in September of the same year. By the end of 2021 however, the restaurant, a former Pollo Tropical, had closed for good. This past June Joella's closed in Melbourne, Florida, another location where it occupied a former Pollo Tropical.
October 2021 Joella's closed its location at The Banks, a mixed-use development along the Cincinnati riverfront.
Real estate sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta that there has been intense interest from several existing and new-to-market operators to take over the Joella's properties in metro Atlanta. That said, it's likely the chain will make a complete exit from metro Atlanta in the near term.
Are you surprised to see Joella's close in Kennesaw and Newnan? What is your favorite place for hot chicken? What would you like to see open in place of Joella's in Kennesaw and Newnan?
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