Thursday, April 19, 2012

Cinco Founder Bringing Mexican to Decatur Diner Space

Mike Brosius, who many in Atlanta will know as the man behind multiple successful linen businesses, is getting back into the restaurant business.  Brosius, who in 1992 started Omni Linen, later sold it and started Blockbuster Linen which he in turn sold and started Go! Hospitality which he in turn sold, which he sold this  past fall.  As the name Go! Hospitality suggests, the business caters to thehospitality industry.  Clearly Brosius has a knack for the linen business, but he and his wife Lauri also opened a total of four Cinco Mexican Cantina eateries before selling them. All four of the Cinco eateries were rather far out in locales such as Alpharetta, Cumming, Suwanee and in Smyrna at Akers Mill.

Now, with interest in returning to the restaurant business,  Brosius has purchased the Decatur Diner space in Decatur and plans to open a "full service hi quality hi energy Mexican restaurant and bar with a street food twist and exciting patio service."  I have never been to a Cinco Cantina, but this description sounds very similar to what I'd heard about it.   Prior to being the Decatur Diner, the restaurant was an Atlanta Bread Co. After taking forever to open, the Decatur Diner only lasted a few months before being sold last fall to an absentee owner with no full service restaurant experience who immediately put the restaurant back on the market.

With all the wonderful eateries in Decatur I'm hopeful this dynamic location will finally get a concept deserving of the space.  I learned of this deal a couple weeks ago, but it was just this week that Decatur Diner closed as a result of the finalized deal.  Expect for the new, as yet unnamed eatery, to open later this summer or early fall.

Did you ever dine in Decatur Diner?  What is your favorite Decatur eatery?  What are your thoughts on the space becoming a Mexican eatery?  Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.  

7 comments:

DenKon said...

I think a Mexican restaurant at the corner will be a great fit, particularly if the patio is renovated to give the space more curb appeal. I hope the new decor uses garish southwestern colors and motif, just to tick off all the Decaturites.

Lance McCord said...

I went to DD with my wife and 5-yr-old daughter a few months ago. Our waitress was either really, really high or was recovering from some traumatic brain injury. The service was awful (like it was the kind of service you'd expect as the setup for a comedy sketch about bad restaurant service) and the food was merely competent. We had time to kill and the whole thing was pretty funny. But when my daughter (who had fallen in love with the big bakery case at the front of the store) asked when we would be coming back, my wife and I answered in unison and without hesitation: "Never."

Anonymous said...

To clarify, because many may not know where DD was, you're talking about the location at the intersection of E. Ponce and Church street, across Church from Leons.

Scotty said...

I'm so happy to see the Decatur Diner leaving. I only ate there once, but that was enough. Horrible service - the poster who said their waitress was probably high wasn't exaggerating. Not a huge fan of Mexican cuisine myself - I'll probably check out the new restaurant though - but I'm just glad the Decatur Diner is done.

rox731 said...

I ate breakfast at the DD once. Took home a piece of Lime Pie that was so bad, I threw half of it down the disposal. And I love Key Lime Pie. Can't wait for Mexican Food at that corner. A great add to the area. Other burrito restaurants are great in the area too, but they are not what I call a Mexican restaurant. Love having a choice.

Anonymous said...

I was horrified/amused (sorry!) by how often the wait staff would go out the side door to smoke cigarettes in between waiting tables... I am ALL for employing folks trying to get back on their feet, but the wait staff their were SCARY. No one's posted re: price, but I always thought they were overpriced, too. Good riddance!

Anonymous said...

Not big fan of Mexican but I think it is already represented nicely with 'The Raging Burrito'. High class or not, I'd prefer some other cuisine. I live in the neighborhood, and I dine out daily so I'm disappointed.

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