Sunday, December 29, 2019

[CLOSURE ALERT] Galaxy Diner Has Closed, Hopes to Reopen Not Far Far Away

Earlier today, Galaxy Diner on Henderson Mill Road in Embry Hills closed.  The restaurant at 3320 Henderson Mill Road was situated in an outparcel of Embry Village shopping center, where anchor Kroger is currently undergoing a significant expansion.  On a sandwich board inside the restaurant, ownership thanked patrons for 15 great years.
The diner, renamed Roy's Galaxy Diner shortly after Roy Jones purchased it in 2006, occupied a onetime Hardee's and was popular for their Eggs Benedict, among other breakfast fare.  Following Roy's passing in 2014, the restaurant was run primarily by his two daughters and son-in-law, Maria and Fabiel Dominguez, and Christina Lee.  

The restaurant suffered a small kitchen fire in January 2017, but just days later reopened, and a mere two weeks later was the filming location for a scene from the feature film, "I, Tonya," staring Margot Robbie as disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding.  [Portions of the film were also shot at Gwinnett Place Mall, among other area locales.]

ToNeTo Atlanta has thus far been unable to obtain official comment regarding the cause of the closure.  Local chatter, however, indicates that the center's landlord, Kimco Realty, did not offer the restaurant a lease renewal, likely in an effort to get a higher paying tenant to join the center.  
The freestanding 3,400 square foot space is not yet marked as "available" on Kimco's Embry Village page, but that is likely to change in the new year.  

The owners of Galaxy Diner hope to reopen nearby sometime early next year, but don't have a lease signed or even a location identified.  One possible relocation space is the former O'Charley's on Northlake Parkway in Tucker, which closed this past June.  

Where is your favorite "diner" in metro Atlanta?  What would you like to see open in place of Galaxy Diner?  Where do you think Galaxy Diner should reopen?

Please share your thoughts below.  

17 comments:

Disneypal said...

I am sad to hear of the closing of Galaxy Diner. Their food is so good and the staff is always so nice and friendly. I do hope they decide to re-open nearby.

Anon said...

I always went to eat there with my parents when i lived nearby. Nice people. and I, Tonya also filmed at Golden Buddha on Clairmont! So funny!

Anonymous said...

I do hope they find a new location and reopen soon! I loved the Galaxy for their extensive breakfast menu, which was available all day. Service could be an issue, though - there were times I almost went and got my own drink refills because no server would offer to do so.

Anonymous said...

What a sad stretch of road Chamblee-Tucker is, there is nothing there. Nothing.

Gina said...

My Goddaughter & I were very disappointed today when we went for Lunch & found it closed. At least fix the website to let people know.

Anonymous said...

Tucker needs a restaurant like Galaxy Diner. Would love for them to open at the O’Charley’s

jshipleyj said...

I hope the owners let us all know if they open in a new location.

Unknown said...

Well sadly, after Roy died the place rapidly went into a tailspin of dilapidation inside and especially outside and the obvious health violations were rampant. Used to be a great place to eat long ago and we loved it. But Roy took pride in the place and once Maria had sole control it really became a place where the employees were miserable and the place was a dump. It was time. The property management made a good decision if they ran them out. Either way...win win.

Alan White said...

I thought Maria did a wonderful job running the Galaxy and my friend, Roy, would have been very proud of her. I will miss this place and I hope she finds a new location and reopens soon. Kroger, which has control of the real estate, has killed that whole shopping center with their construction of some stupid Mega Kroger Store.

Paul Codling said...

We always enjoyed going there but I could always tell Maria was stressed out and not happy. Knowing alot about the restaurant business and my GF owning one back in 2016, you are married to it for as long as your doors are open.

I pity and respect anyone that stays in business 15+ Years even through a bad economy. That's incredibly hard work. I wish them all the best!

Anonymous said...

I'd just moved into the neighborhood last year and found the Galaxy Diner. I've always gravitated toward "Mom & Pop" restaurants and other business, so I tried it, and I loved it. Not one about keeping up with current events, I was surprised when one day, I drove up, & it was closed! I was going to be a "regular". I hope, that they open up somewhere nearby, but I went by there today & didn't see any sign posted giving the address of a new location as might be expected.
...Where am I to get a non-corporate steak and a beer?

Steve H. said...

I - and our car club - had been regulars at the Galaxy, since long before Roy's passing. I thought that Maria did a commendable job of keeping things going, but it was obvious that she was stressing.
I always enjoyed the atmosphere AND the food - the quality never suffered and I NEVER saw anything worthy of a health code violation - but I sort of got the idea that this was an issue with landlords/owners, or Dekalb County, that made things "questionable" (and apparently untenable) in the end. I wish Maria and her friends and employees well. I hope she and the Galaxy reopen.

Georgia Water Tanks said...

Now the building is gone. Remember that dryer button in the Men's room that had the spring hanging out?? I wish I had grabbed that. It was older than the Galaxy Diner, and I think older than the Indian place that preceded it!

Anonymous said...

Roy liked to greet patrons by name. He gave you the feeling that he cared and would ask about you. That seemed to disappear -

Anonymous said...

What planet do you live on?

Anonymous said...

Now THESE are facts. Long live Galaxy!

Anonymous said...

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. Facts

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