Avra Bites The Dust and Few Notice

While this site is meant to provide its readers with Tomorrow's News Today, a friend's request that I secure them a reservation led me to learn that Avra Greek Tavern at 794 Juniper Street closed earlier this month. Although I was recently in the neighborhood myself, I had no idea they had closed. Other than a brief statement on their now defunct website saying they had closed after 5 years and asking guests to visit their sister restaurant, not much was or has been said. While the same owners do operate Taverna Plaka not too far away on Cheshire Bridge Road, my favorites for Mediterranean are Zaya in Inman Park and Kyma in Buckhead. Additionally, this past week, the Old Spaghetti Factory on Ponce de Leon Avenue closed. Part of a chain that started in Portland, Oregon, the Atlanta location had been open in since 1987. ToNeTo Atlanta

The Dump Wants To Furnish Your Buckhead Condo

While the announcement of its opening came last year, I have received questions from a number of readers about what is happening at the former Home Depot on Sidney Marcus, so here goes...

The Dump, a division of Virginia-Based Haynes Furniture, will open a new location in the former Home Depot on Sidney Marcus Boulevard in the coming weeks. Although the property was originally on the market for $30 million, the recent real estate collapse resulted in Home Depot seeking alternatives to letting such a valuable piece of land sit idle. The Dump is not only leasing the entire site but added approx 30,000 additional s/f to the right side of the building. I stopped by this week to have a closer look. While the exterior is still in the midst if its transformation, much of the interior changes have already been made, carpet laid, tile set. The Dump was described by a contractor on site as being "a high end outlet store for designer furniture", with merchandise priced 30-70% off retail. Thus far the on-site warehouse has been stocked with mainly Broyhill merchandise (not high-end to my mother, former furniture buyer for Davison's) but more is on the way. A soft opening is set for my birthday, February 19th, and they hope for a Grand Opening no later than March 1st. I'm not such a fan of the name, but this store definitely has potential. A special thing abut this retailer: they are only open Friday-Sunday "When you really want to shop," a move that will clearly keep labor and overhead to a minimum. It will be interesting to see how they fare with Rooms to Go not 2 miles away. ToNeTo Atlanta

One Café Blanc and Yoeshi Opening Soon (So They Say)

Renaissance Walk, a condo project at the corner of Piedmont and Auburn Avenues filed for foreclosure and is nowhere near full, but hey, why not open two eateries in their street level retail space? One Café Blanc and Yoeshi, both owned by the same restaurateur are said to be opening by mid-February. Despite the fact that other local media reported that both were already open, that is simply not the case, nor do I see it anytime soon. Having seen “Opening Soon” signs displayed on the building for what seems like

Twisted Taco Opening In Tucker, Emory Location in Question

Locally based Twisted Taco will grow to six locations when they open in Tucker next month. Located in the former Chili's across from the LA Fitness and Target on Northlake Parkway, they will start serving dinner February 1st and work their way up to lunch service. Work had been going on for many months and only recently had things started to fall into place for them to open. This past year Twisted Taco opened a number of new locations, most recently, on Wieuca Road in north Buckhead. A seventh location is rumored to opening in the old Emory University Bookstore this Spring but that seems unlikely based on current conditions. I stopped by to have a look and as you can see from the picture below, there is still a "space for lease" sign on the building and it appears to have no work done or in progress. The location on Oxford Road, just off North Decatur, is ridiculously close to Emory University and surely Twisted Taco could make a go of it. Without a liquor license applied for and no activity at the site, an opening seems months, if not a year off. For now, check out Sprouts Green Cafe, (they just added made-in-house frozen yogurt!) ToNeTo Atlanta

AquaKnox Closure Imminent, Blame It on Haiti?

As I predicted on my Deathwatch earlier this month, multiple sources in Buckhead have confirmed AquaKnox restaurant at Terminus will be closed inside of three weeks, maybe less. Though they would not confirm they were closing, staff advised me not to make reservations for Valentine's Day as they could not guarantee they would be able to accommodate me on that date. Given a recent review left on Google, it would not be surprising to see them close this week.

"We were told by the waiter that they ran out of chicken, fish, and the wine that we ordered. I immediately looked around to see if we were being filmed by a hidden camera!!! EVERYTHING we ordered was not available. They blamed it on the crisis that is currently going on in Haiti."

For the staff to blame their food shortage on the crisis in Haiti seems far-fetched at a minimum and insensitive as well. Rather than blame their shortages on a disaster that has killed so many, why not just admit the fact that you have stopped ordering in anticipation of your closure? For Buckhead residents seeking fresh seafood, check out two of my favorites the Atlanta Fish Market or C&S Seafood and Oyster Bar. ToNeTo Atlanta

((Update)) Earlier this afternoon I received word from AquaKnox that have ceased operations effective immediately.

Taco Stand in Buckhead Closes After Nine Years

Thanks to a ToNeTo Atlanta reader for the following tip...

The Taco Stand in Buckhead closed this past week. A franchise location of the original in Athens, Georgia, the Buckhead location had been open for nine years. Located just north of Peachtree on Roswell Rd, the place seemed to be in a bad location and the fact that Rio Grande was a few doors down can't have helped. Set in the endcap of an old strip center, it may have done better in a more prominent location on Piedmont or Peachtree. For now, all that is left are three locations in Athens and one in Watkinsville. While they did last much longer than the ill-fated Harry Bissett's, its sad to see it close. With Rio Grande still open, Cantina a new addition in Terminus and word that the former Agnes & Muriel's on Piedmont may become a taqueria as well, Buckhead residents need not travel far for a good taco or burrito. ToNeTo Atlanta

Pollo To The People! Pollo Campero Opening Soon ITP

My sources indicate that Pollo Campero will open in the former Popeye's in Northeast Plaza. Located on the corner of Buford Highway and Briarwood Road, this should be an ideal location for the expanding chain. Based in Guatemala City, Pollo Campero  offers its customers Latin cuisine in a fast food environment. With locations across South and Central America, Spain, China and India, the chain is entering a growing number of new markets, already with three locations in Atlanta. When I first heard months back that Pollo Campero was expanding, I knew this site would be ideal but kinda didn't want it to happen given the proximity to my favorite El Pollo Loco, about a mile away. The Popeye's closed almost a year ago after going through the new store makeover, (basically an entirely new store). Unknown is how much work will be done on the space, but an employee at an existing location tells me they hope to have it open by late April. Pollo Tropical failed years back, and from my recent trip to Florida I remembered why. Hopefully Pollo Campero is better prepared to please all tastes. With both grilled and fried chicken offerings, it will be interesting to see how they perform with Taco Bell next door and El Pollo Loco and KFC about a mile down the road. ToNeTo Atlanta

Urban Outfitters Ventures OTP For New Location(s)

Urban Outfitters, currently with stores in Buckhead at Lenox Square and in Midtown on Ponce, is in serious talks for at least one additional location. In a move that would strengthen Perimeter Mall's retail offerings, Urban Outfitters may take the vacant Z Gallerie on the Ashford-Dunwoody side of the mall. While not the chains preferred "urban" location, neighbors such as Maggiano's, The Cheesecake Factory and Goldfish along with Chico's would provide great immediate foot traffic. The malls location on the DeKalb/Fulton county line presents a unique opportunity for retailers to reach a large number of consumers. While not as popular as Lenox Square, Perimeter Mall is the second largest mall in the state with approx. 1,600,000 s.f. of leasable space. (Mall of Georgia is the largest mall in the state with total leasable area totaling approx. 1,786,000 s.f.) With an Anthropologie already at Perimeter, Urban Outfitters should be in a better position to bargain for the prime space on the front of the mall. Apparently, Urban Outfitters has been looking at Perimeter for quite some time but highly placed sources within the chain indicate the Perimeter Mall deal should be done within in the next couple of months with hopes of having the store open in time for holiday 2010 shopping. While this store will be the largest Urban's in Atlanta, they are also said to be interested in opening a "small scale" outpost in Athens. I mean, where else are all those "Dawgettes" gonna get those delightful sundresses every season? ToNeTo Atlanta

Havana [Sandwich Shop] Grill Updated Opening

After a year's absence from the Atlanta restaurant scene, we will soon have not just one, but two Havana restaurants serving authentic Cuban cuisine. Havana Restaurant was opened by Debbie Benedit this past November in the Crossroads Village Shopping Center at the corner of Buford Hwy. and Clairmont Rd. Late this month, William Bendit will open Havana Grill, in what was originally a Long John Silver's on Buford Hwy. in an out-parcel of Northeast Plaza. [Just to be clear, William Benedit is the brother of the late Eddie Benedit. Both brothers, along with their father, Guido Benedit, originally opened Havana Sandwich Shop on February 9, 1976. Debbie is Eddie's widow.] Originally scheduled to open January 1st, the opening is now scheduled for the 30th. I stopped by to see the progress for myself and the place is basically a shell with plenty on interior work yet to be done. Should be interesting to see how each restaurant performs in the coming months. ToNeTo Atlanta

Miracle is Over, Illuminations Gone, Rockport Coming Back

Illuminations, a specialty candle store owned by Yankee Candle Co., opened and closed twice in the same second-level location at Lenox Square; now Rockport shoes will be opening in the space. Rockport itself will be giving Lenox Square a second try, as they previously had a store on the upper level where Standard is now. During the time that store was open, Rockport was owned by Reebok, though since its closure, Reebok was purchased by Adidas. With a new owner, Rockport has undergone a re-branding effort of sorts to make the brand more a lifestyle brand than a niche line, popular with larger and wider demographics. A new ad campaign builds off the "Live in Rockport" tagline and has been seen across the city, with a large presence in MARTA trains. Rockport is not the only shoes retailer to give Lenox Square a second go, taf (The Athlete's Foot) opened late last year near CPK after closing a store on the upper level near Corner Bakery last decade. With a fresh look and an extended line of footwear offerings, I think Rockport is a great addition to Lenox Square. ToNeTo Atlanta

Parish Market Cajun Kitchen, Opens, Closes, Opens, Closes...Done?

With little foot traffic and no PR, Parish Market Cajun Kitchen seemed troubled even before it opened. With offerings ranging from fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts to canned groceries to fast-casual dining, this place was doing too much, too soon. You have to establish the business, gain a following and THEN introduce more variety and add services; to do it from the onset is ill-advised and may very well have led to their seemingly imminent closure. Located along Luckie Street not close enough to GSU for student traffic and not close enough to the Dome / GWCC / Philips to benefit from their traffic, Parish Market should have selected their site a little more carefully. While Ted's Montana Grill and the New Era flagship are a few doors down, neither really lends much to the success of such a strange business. Parish Market originally opened last September and had closed sporadically over the past few months. As of now, the business is closed to "add a bar", so I'm told , but with paper covering the main door's window, blinded shut and their phone "temporarily disconnected", I think we can consider this a closure. In a strange twist there was talk earlier this week that the other Parish in town was closed...the other Parish being Concentrics Parish Foods & Goods in Inman Park. According to my contact at Concentrics, not only is Parish not closed but it is actually growing and is continuing to see improvement in business in the ever-growing Inman Park neighborhood. While the restaurant did recently announce it would be closed on Mondays, chef Nick Melvin's culinary creations keep creole connoisseurs coming back. ToNeTo Atlanta

I Spy With My Little Eye, Scoutmob!

In a city with an ever growing number of new sites, blogs and sources of information, one new site will be your new source for all things Atlanta. From the creators of SkyBlox, Scoutmob will be your new source for all the cool tidbits that make Atlanta such a unique city. Officially launching tomorrow, Scoutmob is taking "group-buying" in a different direction, special offers will be sent to readers mobile devices for great deals at local businesses. Adding to the fun, "scouts" will share hidden gems and new favorites with readers on a daily basis, along with the aforementioned offers. Best of all, there is no upfront buying and the site is free for all. I myself will contribute to their site with "word on the street" commentary and gossip from Atlanta's retail, restaurant and hotel industries.

Thanks for all the support as I deliver Tomorrow's News Today! Speaking of tomorrow, tomorrow's deal on Scoutmob will be at Murphy's in Virginia Highlands.

Watch Out! Grindhouse Killer Burgers on the Hunt For Seconds

A former lawyer, Alex Brounstein seems to have found his calling in the restaurant industry. Grindhouse Killer Burgers in the Sweet Auburn Curb Market has become a neighborhood favorite since opening this past September and has breathed new life into the whole market. My personal favorite, the turkey burger, is probably the best turkey burger I've ever had! Now, with a new year started, Mr. Brounstein is poised to grow to at least two locations by year's end. A second site is currently being scouted and will most likely be inside the perimeter (ITP) Personally I'd love to see him put one near Emory, after all he's a grad and I live nearby. Other possibilities are Buckhead (though Richard Blais's FLIP Burger Boutique is also looking), Dunwoody, or or maybe even midtown. Heavy lunch traffic is a must, and judging from the number of Grady employees that frequent the existing location, perhaps one of the spots available across from Piedmont Hospital would be ideal. Nothing definite yet, but rest assured, I'll keep you informed of any developments. ToNeTo Atlanta

Piola Peach Finally Progressing at 1010 Midtown

Piola Peach is finally making progress at 1010 Midtown. On the 11th Street side of the mega development, Piola Peach is scheduled to open later this month, next door to RA Sushi. (Judging from the picture at the right, taken last week, as well as the constant delays in opening, pies probably will not start to fly till early February) Piola, an Italian chain based in Treviso, Italy, will serve up classic Italian pizza along with pastas and other Italian offerings. With so many pizza joints in the city, Piola will try to distinguish itself by hosting cultural events and art shows at the restaurant. Adding "Peach" to their name is a nice touch. Additionally, the restaurant will feature live music on select days and similar to Pie 950, will have multiple TV's for patrons to watch soccer games. With a number of diverse locations from Argentina to Turkey, Piola is expanding in the U.S. already with four locations in Florida. I was recently in south Florida myself and while I did not have the chance to eat there, I checked out the menu and the layout. The restaurant seems positioned in a peculiar place, prices just above what many would consider "fast casual" but above below "fine dining". Piola Peach will feature entrees from about 10 to around 20 bucks. ToNeTo Atlanta

Obama's Fav Burger, Five Guys Opening In Perimeter Place

Five Guys Burgers and Fries is adding to its growing number of Atlanta stores, opening in Dunwoody. Taking a 2,500 s/f space in Sembler's Perimeter Place that originally opened as a Caribou Coffee, this location will be the chain's 38^th in Georgia and first in Dunwoody. While I have heard the rent was originally pretty outrageous as both Chipotle Mexican Grill and Robek’s outbid Moe’s Southwest Grill and Planet Smoothie respectively for space. Perhaps the rent has come down. Other fast casual offerings such as Panera Bread, Tin Drum Asia Cafe and Doc Green’s Gourmet Salads & Grill do very well at lunch as should Five Guys when it opens early in the second quarter of the year. ToNeTo Atlanta

Meehan's Downtown Opening Soon, But When?

Meehan's Public House was scheduled to open in November: clearly that did not happen. Checking out the space last week, it appears the pub and restaurant will not open till at least mid February. The front facade is complete, but that's about all that is. The interior is barely started and the space is not small. The space seems to be rather spacious for downtown, maybe too big. With the draw to this particular establishment being alcohol more so than food, I wonder what kind of traffic they will get from businesspeople in the area. With any luck, 2010 will turn out better for convention business and Meehan's will be just the right place to quench the thirst of many a conventioneer. Have any news on the Meehan's opening? Heard anything else going into the 180 Peachtree development? Leave a comment and share, after all, in this industry, tipping is customary. ToNeTo Atlanta

Walking The Plank : DeathWatch 2010

The following is a list of eateries, retailers and in some cases hotels, that are either good as dead or should quit while they’re still solvent and stop construction now! Have someone in mind you think should be added or have an opinion on my predictions? Leave a comment and let me know.