Bits & Bites

After a number of delays, New York-based Shake Shack plans to open September 30th at Buckhead Atlanta.  The popular burger and shake restaurant will also feature a second level deck overlooking Peachtree Road.  Following last month's announcement that Shake Shack would ditching their not-so-popular fresh-cut fries in favor of frozen crinkle fries, Shake Shack  at Buckhead Atlanta will only serve crinkle cut fries.   Sources say that at least one additional Shake Shack restaurant is likely to open in metro Atlanta in the coming months.  

Additionally, ski and snow apparel retailer Moncler is slated to open "this week" at Buckhead Atlanta.  Sunglass retailer Warby Parker is supposedly on track to open this coming Sunday, despite their store's lack of a floor and with what looked like at least a week's worth of work to do as of last night.  Lastly, Corso Coffee, the first of thee concepts opening in Buckhead Atlanta from New York-based LDV, is reportedly on track to open October 10th.  

A new Genghis Grill is coming to Bowman Road in Macon. The quick serve Pan Asian eatery struggled in metro Atlanta closing its south Buckhead location about a year after opening.  With locations once planned in numerous metro areas such as East Point and Alpharetta, it seems the chain is targeting area further OTP with less comparable competition. Today, the chain operates in Augusta, Buford and Sandy Springs.  

Newnan Hotel Partners, LLC plans to construct a new Holiday Inn Express on Herring Road in Newnan.  The new Holiday Inn Express will be built behind an existing Motel 6, not instead of it, via either renovation or demolition as speculated previously. The Holiday Inn Express will be comprised of 81 rooms over four floors.  An IHG (parent company of Holiday Inn Express) spokesperson indicated the new hotel is scheduled to open January 2016.  

Ron Eyester's new restaurant, Diner, has again pushed its opening timetable at Atlantic Station.  Originally slated to open this past February, the opening has been pushed repeatedly since then.  Most recently scheduled to open "the first week in October," the opening likely won't occur until later in October according to an Atlantic Station representative. A PR blurb of Diner is available on its website:  "Diner will thrive in Atlantic Station because of the property's diverse demographic, thus allowing the concept to evolve into Atlantic Station's most reliable eatery and social gathering spot." Good luck with that. 

A new store called Popcult has opened in the former It's About Time space near Urban Outfitters at Lenox Square. The small shop sells stuffed animals, toys and gadgets for the kids and collectors who manage to find the store.   Simon sources say the store is only temporary and is a "holiday retailer."  

The Gateway Newstand has closed at Lenox Square and will soon become the new home of Chicago-based Garrett Popcorn. 

A new freestanding Applebees will soon begin construction in an outparcel of The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta in Woodstock.  

Orlando, Florida-based Everything But Water has purchased Atlanta Beach.  Atlanta Beach has been a fixture on Peachtree Road in the Buckhead Commons shopping center for many years but with the purchase, it has closed to rebrand and become part of the Everything But Water family. Everything But Water currently operates locations in the Westside Provisions District and in Phipps Plaza.  A third location is slated to open later this year in the new Avalon project in Alpharetta.  The former Atlanta Beach store will reportedly reopen under the Everything But Water branding in "late October."