Quick serve Italian eatery to shutter.
daVia, a "fast casual" Italian restaurant in the Super Target-anchored Perimeter Place near Perimeter Mall will permanently close March 16th. The restaurant, which opened in early 2014 , was part of AmRest Holdings, one of the largest independent restaurant companies in Europe. AmRest has had a bad go of it in metro Atlanta, having previously closed their two La Tagliatella locations in Midtown and at Emory Point in 2014.
The 2,400 square foot Perimeter space first opened as Doc Green's Gourmet Salads in 2006, and remained until the closing in 2013.
Originally opened as daVia Italian Market Eating, the branding and logo were later tweaked and is currently daVia "Italian fast & fresh."
One of the restaurant's signature items was a "piada," described as an Italian burrito. Although seemingly not as poular here, another restaurant chain is pushing the piada and doing quite well. Columbus, Ohio-based Piada Italian Street Food started in 2010 and has now grown to nearly 25 locations in multiple states. Piada was named a Nation's Restaurant News 2013 "Hot Concept" and has attracted investment from well known private equity firm Catterton.
Despite what appeared from the outside to be a slow restaurant, AmRest was able to sell the restaurant to franchisees Jenelle Waller and her brother Andrew.
"J&A Siblings, LLC," the holding company owned by the brother and sister duo, purchased the restaurant in July 2014 according to Jenelle's LinkedIn. Additionally, according to her LinkedIn, she was previously "Manager of Training and Culture" at AMREST, LLC for about seven and a half years before purchasing the business.
What makes this closure odd is that as recently as January 18th, the owners posted a message to daVia's facebook page seeking investors to grow the brand (beyond Atlanta).
The closure announcement was posted to the restaurant's facebook March 1st, and included news that they plan to have an "Estate Sale" March 17th and 18th during which "everything will be sold."
Did you ever patronize daVia? Are you surprised that they are closing? What would you like to see open in their place?
Please share your thoughts below.