Mystery Buckhead Restaurant Clue #3

Casual eats for one and all,
You won't find me in any mall.

Anthropologie Adding a Third Atlanta Location

Philadelphia-based Urban Outfitters must like the Atlanta market! Just weeks after opening a third Atlanta location of its flagship line at Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody, they announced today that they will open a third Anthropoligie. Located within the redeveloped Westside Urban Market project on Howell Mill Road in West Midtown, the store will be 9000 sf and is due to debut next spring. For those unfamiliar, Westside Urban Market is

Mystery Buckhead Restaurant Clue #2

Traffic can get bad, kinda like a zoo,
I'm located in zip code 30342.

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Athens Restaurateurs Enter Buckhead With "the IVY"

A pair of Athens businessmen are nearing completion of their new Atlanta eatery. "The IVY" will soon open at 3717 Roswell Road in the old Carbo's Cafe and Piano Bar space. Carbo's was open for over 25 years before closing and becoming Chastain's Neighborhood Sushi Bar & Tavern in 2008. Just a few months later, the structure was damaged in a November 2008 fire, and never reopened. Gardner Dominick, owner of General Beauregard's and City Bar in Athens, has partnered with Daniel Simmons to open the IVY. The concept is said to be

Mystery Restaurant Coming to Buckhead

So, here's the deal.... I know of a new restaurant which intends to come to Buckhead. They have selected a great space... and it's a great location with plenty of parking and plenty of hungry people. The one thing that threw me is how desolate the site is and how unkempt the property is. Starting today, and until next week, I will post a different picture of the site. The goal here is to guess where it is first, and then to correctly guess the planned restaurant...

Some information, breaking news and industry scoop is only disseminated via my Twitter and Facebook accounts so "follow" and "like" me so is not to miss a beat!

Zoës Kitchen and More Join Tuxedo Festival

Mediterranean Fast Casual chain Zoës Kitchen will be adding a second Atlanta location. Having opened their first Atlanta location last Spring in Peachtree Battle, Birmingham-based Zoës Kitchen will open a second area location later this fall in the redeveloped Tuxedo Festival shopping center at the corner of Piedmont and Roswell Roads. The restaurant is taking end cap space on the Roswell Road side, where Imelda's Fine Shoes was once located. Jennifer Mims, Director of Development for Zoës, said the new location will be slightly larger in size than the Peachtree Battle location, plus additional outdoor dining.

In addition to Zoës Kitchen, the redeveloped Tuxedo Festival will also be home to Atlanta's second Gigi's Cupcakes. Gigi's, a Nashville based chain, had its first Atlanta location opened by franchisee Gil Lyons in

Auburn Jake's 86'd Before Opening?

I reported last month that the Sweet Auburn Bistro had closed for what were said to be renovations, but had remained closed. A few days after my post, signs were posted promoting "Auburn Jake's Great Steaks and Seafood" Coming Soon. I recently placed Auburn Jake's on the latest edition of the DeathWatch and it seems not a moment too soon. I dropped by there yesterday and all Auburn Jack's signs have been removed, as well as all TVs , artwork and other restaurant equipment from the interior of the business. Call me crazy, but it would seem it was all for naught. I think we can consider the business over and out. ToNeTo Atlanta

Some information, breaking news and industry scoop is only disseminated via my Twitter and Facebook accounts so "follow" and "like" me so is not to miss a beat!

ToNeTo Atlanta DeathWatch Update : Third Quarter

With so many comments on my post in April, the second DeathWatch of 2010, it seems that it's still a popular feature of this blog. Thus far in 2010, my closure predictions of Aquaknox, Pizza Fusion, Urban Flats, Martin + Osa , Ixtlan Ultra Lounge and Harlem Bar all came to fruition. While I not happy to see this happen, there's no denying the accuracy of my predictions. Don't for a minute think that I arbitrarily add businesses to the Deathwatch. I examine the business and appraise the likelihood of them remaining viable and if not, for how long they will last. D.B.A. Barbecue and La Paz were re-evaluated and removed from the list. La Paz improved their Yelp rating and regained their liquor license. In the case of D.B.A., I had received some information I now know to be untrue. With this in mind, please find the new list after the jump

Deckard's Kitchen & Kegs On Tap In Midtown

Matthew Deckard, Corporate Chef at Taco Mac, is getting a new restaurant named in his honor. Chef Deckard has been with Taco Mac since 2005, before which he spent 5 years at Metrotainment's Garrison's Broiler & Tap as its executive chef. With the original Taco Mac not far away in Virginia Highlands, Deckard's Kitchen & Kegs will be the second concept launched by the same owners. Operated by the Tappan Street Restaurant Group, the parent company of Taco Mac, Deckard's Kitchen & Kegs is to open in early September, although I know little about their menu or concept as yet. According to

The Real Chow Baby All Grown Up, Now, Big Chow Grill

Local restaurateur Mike Blum, founder of The Real Chow Baby on Howell Mill, is getting back to the basics and re-branding his restaurant. Quick history being this... he opened The Real Chow Baby on Howell Mill Road in West Midtown in April 2005 with 3500 square feet. Seeing the huge demand for his concept and the distance customers were traveling to dine with him, he thought bigger, and took over what had been a Ruby Tuesday restaurant at the Galleria in Cobb county. With close to 10,000 square feet, two stir fry lines and private dining, Chow Baby at the Galleria opened in August 2008. In August

Al's Cafe Agora Grows Up, Expanding

Al's Cafe Agora at 262 E. Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead is finally expanding! Owner Al Ozelci plans to take over a portion (about a third) of neighboring Park Bench (red awning at left). The new addition will more than triple the size of the popular "hole-in-the-wall" restaurant. With a small dining room in its current location, people at times have had to wait outside before being seated. For now, all that's been done is sealing off the portion of Park Bench earmarked for Agora's expansion. I'm told that the landlord is the one pushing for the expansion. Hopes are that all will be completed by

Twisted Taco Setting Up Shop in Smyrna

Following the closure of the Twisted Taco on George Busbee Parkway in Kennesaw about a month ago, the chain will again grow, not far away, in Smyrna. Located in Highland Station near South Cobb Drive and the East West Connector, the new Twisted Taco is to open by October. I'm hesitant to believe

La Fourchette Stakes Its Claim in Buckhead

La Fourchette, "the fork" in French, will be the name of a new restaurant to open at 3135 Piedmont Road. Opening in a space that has not been the best of luck for restaurants as of late, the new concept will be a "Bistro & Lounge" according to its still under construction website. The space was originally home to

Merchant's Walk Adds Two New Dining Options With More to Come

Merchant's Walk in East Cobb will soon be home to a number of new eateries. Denver-based Chipotle Mexican Grill will open their 13th Atlanta area location there on August 3rd. Additionally, Los Angeles-based Pinkberry will open a second Atlanta location next to Chipotle. Local Pinkberry franchisee David Beall opened the first Atlanta area Pinkberry last month in Akers Mill shopping center on Cobb Parkway, not far from Cumberland Mall. In that location, he faced little

Local Pizza Man Gets In on Yogurt Craze

It seems that Clay Harper of La Fonda Latina and Fellini's Pizza fame could not resist getting in on the Fro-Yo craze. Alongside his La Fonda and Fellini's eateries at Wieuca and Roswell roads in Buckhead, Harper will soon open "Three on the Tree" in the former Wolf Camera retail space. I was a little perplexed by the name, as it doesn't seem to hint at what's being sold. "Three on the Tree" is the nickname for a 3-speed column shifter, which became common in American cars in the 1940s and 1950s.

Summer School Special

As some of you may know, aside from being the creator of ToNeTo Atlanta, I'm a full time student at Georgia State University. Currently enrolled in summer classes, I've been asked to poll you, my readers, regarding an Atlanta landmark. As part of my Strategic Planning course, my class has been tasked with developing a strategic plan for The Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum, located at 800 Cherokee Avenue, next to Zoo Atlanta. The goal of the survey at right is to gauge the interest and awareness of this Atlanta attraction. Please take this single question survey and use the comment section of this post for any other relevant comments you care to make.

Rio Neuvo Rolls Into Formerly-Famous Dave's

Rio Nuevo, (new river in Spanish) a new Mexican eatery, will soon open not far from North Point Mall. After extensive interior work, it will be hard to tell the joint was a failed Famous Dave's BBQ. Located at 6400 North Point Parkway, the shopping center in which it will be located also features a Marshall's and a Dick's Sporting Goods, as well as one of the very few remaining Atlanta area locations of Fuddrucker's, and on the opposite end of the spectrum, one of a growing number of Five Guys'. I can find no evidence that the restaurant is part of any chain or restaurant group, so I'm a little worried about the success of this joint. Being an independent in this economy can be really good, or really bad. I will say that the association some will make of their name with longtime local favorite Nuevo Laredo will be a positive for them as there are bound to be those that just assume they are related. ToNeTo Atlanta

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Sprig Restaurant Starts To Sprout In Decatur

Adding to the Decatur restaurant mix, Sprig Restaurant will open this September in Vista Grove shopping center on LaVista Road. Opening on the far left side of the shopping center in the now defunct Quinnie's BBQ, Sprig is being opened by Daniel Morrison, former dining room manager and bartender at the James Beard award winning Watershed Restaurant in downtown Decatur. Construction began this past week but the place is being completely gutted- hence the September opening may be optimistic-I'm inclined to think it may be October. No menu is available, but I'm told that the fare will be higher end than that of upcoming neighboring eatery Napoleon's. Sprig does already have a website and Facebook page, so check them out. For now, do as they say ... "Eat Fresh, Eat Local." ToNeTo Atlanta

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Napoleon's Out to Conquer Decatur

After months of speculation, it seems that half the story is correct. While Front Page News is not opening a third location in Vista Grove Plaza on LaVista Road, one of the FPN partners is opening a restaurant in the shopping center. Taking the far left end space, what's left of the short lived Village Market, Napoleon's will open in mid-August. Located at 2836 LaVista Road in Decatur, the restaurant joins the original Limetree, Workout Anytime 24/7 Fitness, Vista Yoga, a liquor store and a variety of other small businesses in the Vista Grove shopping center.

Repicci's Real Italian Ice Sweetening Midtown Shortly

It's happened again, this time in Midtown. Following a growing trend of new businesses opening in spaces vacated by failed businesses, in a space that was home to Smoothie King a week ago, Repicci's Real Italian Ice is already at work on the space and plans to open in the coming weeks. A sharp-eyed ToNeTo Atlanta reader snapped the picture to the right showing the "Coming Soon" signage. According to Chattanooga Tennessee-based Repicci's Real Italian Ice website, this will be their first retail location in Georgia although they have a number of distributors across the state. Through further research, I learned that Daryl Dollinger, President & Co-Founder of Atlanta-based Raving Brands, is behind the upcoming location. I'm inclined to believe that he plans to expand the chain locally. According to the signage that just recently went up, the midtown location

Don't Adjust Your Screen, Tilted Kilt Opening in Sandy Springs

Tempe Arizona-based Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery will open their fourth Atlanta area location in the coming weeks. A ToNeTo Atlanta reader alerted me to the progress being made on the existing building as a sign recently went up. This latest Tilted Kilt will open in the shuttered Max & Erma's restaurant at the intersection of Perimeter Center West and Mount Vernon Highway in Sandy Springs. 

 Essentially a Scottish take on Atlanta-based Hooters, the waitstaff is basically all female: young, attractive and scantily clad in "mini-kilts". Other Tilted Kilts have also opened in Kennesaw on Cobb Place Boulevard. Smyrna on Cobb Parkway and in Johns Creek on Medlock Bridge. Another location was rumored to be opening in the shuttered Loafing Leprechaun off Sugarloaf Parkway near the Arena at Gwinnett Center, but nothing has been finalized. With all of the offices in the Perimeter area (with plenty of middle-age men), this location could do quite well. ToNeTo Atlanta

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Vetted to Replace Shuttered Lexie + Jane in Buckhead

Continuing a recent trend in Atlanta, a new concept and new management team is taking over a recently shuttered Atlanta business. Following last week's news that Barcelona Wine Bar & Restaurant would be opening in the just closed Zaya in Inman Park and the news that Local Three will be opening in the

H2S Kicks It Up A Notch With Third Noche

Here to Serve Restaurants (H2S), whose current concepts include Goldfish at Perimeter Mall and Cantina in Buckhead, is opening a third location of their successful Noche Tequila and Tapas Bar concept. Already open in Virgina Highlands and with the addition of a Vinings location last year, a new location will open late in the first quarter of next year at Sembler's TOWN Brookhaven development. Located in a corner space in the street level of The GoodWynn apartments, it's got a far better