Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Coco Loco Calls It Quits But Hints at Reopening...

Coco Loco, a mainstay in the Lindbergh area since 1988 closed this past weekend. A family operation that had become a favorite amongst locals, served Cuban and Caribbean cuisine in a comfortable atmosphere. I'm told that a substantial increase in rent at the Marshall's / Office Depot anchored shopping center was the main reasoning for the closure. A restaurant representative reached for comment this week informed me that they plan to reopen elsewhere in the future but made it sound like it would be no time soon.

Last month, Fatburger, a few doors down from Coco Loco closed its doors as well. The reasoning for their closure was more dismal sales than a would be increase in rent from what I'm told.

Some may recall Havana Sandwich Shop, another family owned Cuban establishment, that burned down in 2008 and was reopened by two separate family members in two separate locations in 2009 and 2010. Havana Restaurant opened in Crossroads Village at Clairmont Road and Buford Highway in late 2009 and The Havana Grill opened in Northeast Plaza on Buford Highway in early 2010.

What's your favorite Cuban eatery?

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14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am really surprised you haven't been all over the closure of Saskatoon since they were on your deathwatch. They haven't been open for almost a month now.

Atlantan99 said...

@Anon,

I basically called them done in the DeathWatch last month. I don't know when the official last day was but am tracking what's coming to the space next.

Thanks for following-up and for reading the blog!

Anonymous said...

Loved Las Palmeras when I lived on 5th street, it was less than a block away from me.. and I could take my own bottle of wine. I like Kool Korner, I never ate there when it was in Atlanta but I go at least once a week here in Birmingham.

Anonymous said...

Wow I loved Coco Loco, its really sad to see it go. Hate when successful restaurants are forced out by rent being too high-- I bet now there will be a string of 5 failed restaurants in that exact location.

Anonymous said...

This is really sad. Nice local business with good food. Does the landlord want to chain-i-fy that whole shopping center? What a disgrace. Couldn't the landlord have worked with Coco Loco for them to stay there or is the stupid landlord so excited to bring in another CVS?

Atlantan99 said...

@Anon,

I hope you're just guessing CVS and that's not really what's coming. Say it aint so!

Anonymous said...

Not surprised at all. Their food has sucked for the past ten years.

Bryan Marquardt said...

I was just there last week. I loved picking up a Cuban Sandwich for lunch. Special memories there too. I hope they find a new location.

Anonymous said...

Finally... what a dump. Let's hope Salsa Havana on Howell Mill follows in their footsteps.

Anonymous said...

Wow, this place had a great palomillo steak. It will be missed, but folks are right that the quality had been going downhill.

You referenced the other two Cuban restaurants on Buford Highway. The Havana Grill is great and run by the former owner's son. The other, Havana Restaurant is a few blocks down and is not even run by Cubans. The woman who owns it is Greek and not even Latin. She bailed on Atlanta and tried in Woodstock but didn't make it there either. My advice, go to Havana Grill. Better food, by Cubans and a lot nicer.

Anonymous said...

I have been eating there since 1988 when they first opened. I think they had the best Jerk chicken dinner in town. The Natilla and Tres Leches cake were also terrific. Top it off with one of their frozen sangrias (not on the menu) and you had a memorable Latin dinner. I know the property values in the area are escalating but it seems dumb for a landlord to run this place and Fatburgers, a great hamburger joint, out of business in hopes of making more money in a down ecomonmy. I won't be visiting that shopping center tomorrow or lunch as planned

Anonymous said...

Bye bye Jerk Chicken and 3 leches desert. Those were my favorites. Good memories as i went there since the early 90's. Good memories.

Anonymous said...

Anyone know if Coco Loco re-opened somewhere else. It was my favorite place for over 15 years!

Anonymous said...

Anyone know if Coco Loco re-opened somewhere else. It was my favorite place for over 15 years!

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