[EXCLUSIVE] Flower Child Heading to the Westside

A new Atlanta area location of Flower Child is expected to open in the coming months on the Westside.  The new restaurant, the Phoenix, Arizona-based concept's third in metro Atlanta, is reportedly planned for the former J.Crew at 1170 Howell Mill Road in the Westside Provisions District.  The 3,200 square foot Westside J.Crew, along with four other metro locations of the troubled retailer, closed last January.

Flower Child entered the Atlanta market this past June with a location at the Shops Around Lenox in Buckhead followed by a second location last October at the new City Springs development in Sandy Springs.

The restaurant, which features a variety of salads, bowls, toasts and other vegetables, among other offerings, was created by serial restaurateur Sam Fox and his Fox Restaurants, who also created True Food Kitchen, with one location at Lenox Square and a second planned for Avalon, and Zinburger, with locations at Lenox Square and in Dunwoody, among other concepts.

The new Westside Flower Child will put it in direct competition with Atlanta upstart, Upbeet, located across the street at 1071 Howell Mill Road.  

Another healthy eatery, New York-based Chopt, is expected to open its third Atlanta area outpost in late July at Ansley Mall in Midtown and joins existing locations at Toco Hills shopping center and at Tuxedo Festival in north Buckhead.

The Cheesecake Factory already owns a stake in Flower Child and has been funding its recent expansion.  The publicly traded restaurant company (NASDAQ: CAKE) reportedly plans to acquire a controlling stake in Flower Child in 2021.  Cheesecake also has a stake in another Fox concept, North Italia, a full-service Italian restaurant.  North Italia was previously expected to join Flower Child in Sandy Springs, but their plans changed, and while the concept is still expected to open in metro Atlanta, the exact location is reportedly still being finalized.

Are you excited for the planned expansion of Flower Child on the Westside?  What is your favorite healthy fast casual restaurant in metro Atlanta?  Where would you like to see Flower Child open next?

Please share your thoughts below