Thursday, April 5, 2012

Don't Be Saddio, Here Comes Uncle Maddio... to Buckhead!

Atlanta-based Uncle Maddio's Pizza Joint is coming to Buckhead.  Joining Panera Bread in a currently under-construction outparcel in Powers Ferry Square shopping center, Uncle Maddio's will open its long rumored Buckhead location..  As I first announced in 2010, Panera will open in the
center and I'm told Maddio's will follow soon after.  Panera will be located in space 35, a nearly 4,000 square-foot space while Uncle Maddio's will be to its left in space 34, roughly 2,500-square-feet.    Maddio's was started by Matt Andrew, co-founder of Moe's Southwest Grill, and Tony Lewis, a current Moe's franchisee, and Maddios' growth was modeled on the fast casual Southwestern chain.  This center is home to Moe's, and also recently welcomed Atlanta's first  RoadRUNNER Sports

Uncle Maddio's first location opened at Toco Hills shopping center in 2009 and they have recently expanded to new markets via franchising.  A new location opened this past January in Akers Mill in Cobb county, and before that locations opened in Woodstock and suburban Kentucky.

When the Buckhead Uncle Maddio's opens later this year, it will join an ever increasing number of pizza eateries in Buckhead.  Already home to contemporary Italian Pricci from Buckhead Life, Nancy's Pizza and Buckhead Pizza Company, a crop of new artisanal pizzerias have opened over the past few years. Most notably, Varasano's Pizzeria opened in 2009 on the lobby level of the Mezzo condos in south Buckhead.  STG Trattoria from Brian Lewis of Bocado will open in the coming days adjacent to the St. Regis on West Paces Ferry Road.  STG will feature classic Italian dishes such as gourmet pasta and artisan pizza.

This past September, Smyrna-based Blue Moon Pizza opened their third location at 325 East Paces Ferry Road, on the street level of the 325 condos. Not long after, the guys that brought Buckhead La Fourchette, opened Tartufo Italian Pizzeria in the former Edward's Pipe shop in La Fourchette's adjoining space on Piedmont Road. Additionally, Fuoco de Napoli opened late last year on Pharr Road helmed by Enrico Liberato.  It's my understanding that Liberato has had some legal troubles and is currently on a leave of absence from the restaurant. 

Though not to the caliber of any of the aforementioned pizza joints, it's worth mentioning that Piu Bello, another pizzeria, is located within the Disco Kroger shopping Center at 3330 Piedmont, and Pizzeria Venti is located in Lenox Village on Lenox Road. Also, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) has a location within Lenox Square and casual pizzeria Fellini's has two locations in Buckhead, one on Peachtree Road, the other on Roswell Road, not far from the new Uncle Maddio's. Of course, I can't omit the Pizza Hut on Piedmont Road near the Lindbergh MARTA station.

I'm told a host of additional locations are on the books or are in negotiation for metro Atlanta as well as other southern cities.

Pigtails & Crewcuts, Full Cup Bread and Blue Corset Co. have all relocated to the center in the past twelve months or so, and sources tell me each is doing better in the new center than in their previous locations. 

Uncle Maddio's is probably one of the more kid-friendly pizza eateries, aside from Stevie B's, the fledgling Atlanta-based pizza buffet similar to CiCi's Pizza. The fact that Maddio's offers a family-friendly product at an economical price should be a welcome addition to the north Buckhead communities in and around Chastain Park.  

Where do you go for pizza in Buckhead?  Are you a fan of fast casual pizza offerings like Uncle Maddio's or do you prefer to dine at the more upscale pizza eateries?  With all the aforementioned pizza in Buckhead, what type of cuisine or restaurant would you like to see open in Buckhead?  Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.  

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great investment considering there are only 4,000 other locations in the neighborhood to get pizza.

TheJohnP said...

Of the Buckhead area eateries Fuoco de Napoli is my fave, and fingers crossed that Enrico is back at the ovens soon!

Been to Uncle Maddio's in Toco Hills. Not bad, not great. I like the customization and the personal sizes, but not a restaurant I'd make an effort to seek out.

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