Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Piccadilly Cafeteria will close its location on North Druid Hills Road today. The restaurant, which has been a neighborhood landmark for decades, has, like the rest of the chain, suffered from declining sales for some time. Americans' tastes have changed from the popular homestyle cafeterias of yesteryear to healthier and faster options.
The Piccadilly on North Druid Hills was first opened as a Morrison's Cafeteria, a similar restaurant, in the mid 60s. Piccadilly bought Morrison's in 1998, greatly expanding its presence in metro Atlanta and around the southeast. (The North Druid Hills location is one of the oldest converted Morrison's in metro Atlanta.)
An employee at the restaurant indicated that Children's Health Care of Atlanta (CHOA) plans to include the Piccadilly parcel into their upcoming campus expansion.
Further research into DeKalb county property records reflects that the Piccadilly property was sold to CHOA February 26th, 2014. Additionally, the adjacent church, First Metropolitan Community Church of Atlanta, sold their property to CHOA July 17th, 2015. (The chuch is currently renovating their future home nearby at 1934 Cliff Valley Way.)
Signage on the restaurant's front door invites patrons to visit the chain's other area locations including one off Northlake Parkway behind Target and another on Howell Mill Road in the Kroger anchored Howell Mill Square shopping center.
Piccadilly's closure on North Druid Hills is only the latest in a series of closures for the struggling casual buffet eatery. Piccadilly previously closed its location on Piedmont Avenue at Ansley Mall in 2009, and on North Decatur Road at Suburban Plaza in 2012.
Piccadilly has also closed locations on Peachtree (Industrial) Boulevard in Chamblee, on Atlanta Highway at Georgia Square Mall in Athens, and on Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain. Many other locations have closed in years past.
Piccadilly first opened in Baton Rouge in 1944 and while once a dominant restaurant operator across the southeast, has today dwindled to about 50 locations in seven states.
Will you miss Piccadilly on North Druid Hills? Where is your favorite place for "home cooking" in metro Atlanta? (When in the mood, I like Matthews Cafeteria on Main Street in Tucker.) Are you pleased with the planned redevelopment of the property?
Please share your thoughts below.