Matt Hinton of Bell Street Burritos finally has his long awaited second location. I spoke with Hinton this week and he recently signed a lease for the former Social House eatery on Howell Mill Road, and will open Bell Street Burritos there in the coming months. He was hesitant to give an exact timeline, as you never know these days, with all the shenanigans the City of Atlanta pulls.
Hinton opened the first Bell Street in the Sweet Auburn Curb Market last year, and had been looking for a second location for months. It was originally reported by not one, but two ill-informed websites that he would open in East Atlanta Village in an old Wachovia bank but that is not the case.
Bell Street Burritos is an attempt by Hinton to recreate the flavor and experience of the much loved Tortillas, a restaurant that had a cult-like following at its Ponce de Leon location. Tortillas was open 19 years before closing in 2003. At the time, Tortillas co-owner Charlie Kearns blamed the closure on the opening of a Moe's Southwest Grill just a few blocks away. That said, there is not a Moe's anywhere near the upcoming Bell Street, but there is a Willy's Mexicana Grill just six tenths of a mile away, in a converted Hardee's restaurant.
Recently Grindhouse Killer Burgers creator Alex Brounstein recently sold his first location in the Sweet Auburn Curb Market to focus on his new location on Piedmont Avenue and further expansion. The same could be possible for Hinton, but for now we'll all just have to wait and see and ready ourselves for another stellar addition to the Westside.
What is your favorite burrito in town? Were you a fan of Tortillas? Is Chipotle your one and only? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
1 comment:
Bell St. Burritos rules! For the serious burrito lover, there is no other game in town.
Post a Comment