Wednesday, July 24, 2013

ROXX Tavern Rolls into Tucker for Second Location

ROXX Tavern is coming to Northlake.

ROXX Tavern, a popular eatery on Cheshire Bridge Road, is opening a second location.  ROXX will replace what was most recently "Northlake Idol" a failed karaoke restaurant & bar on Northlake Parkway, just outside I-285.  The space was originally built as a Chili's Bar & Grill but closed a number of years ago.  The space was later converted into a Twisted Taco, before its latest incarnation as the ill-conceived and short-lived karaoke concept. 

ROXX Tavern opened its first location on Cheshire Bridge Road in 2000, replacing a since relocated McDonald's restaurant.  The restaurant seems not to have its own website but has at least one seriously devoted fan who took it upon himself to create a ROXX fan page that provides plenty of useful information and reviews on the restaurant.  

ROXX Cheshire Bridge serves lunch and dinner weekly and brunch on Sunday. 

ROXX plans to open their their new Northlake location in mid September. 

The Northlake area has seen a resurgence of interest, especially by restaurants. 

A few years back, Marlow's Tavern opened with the renovated and reflagged DoubleTree hotel and one source claims this is the most successful location for the Atlanta-based restaurant. 

In 2011, Chick-fil-A built a new location in place of a shuttered Taco Bell, and soon after, Chipotle Mexican Grill built a new location in place of a relocated Pizza Hut

Panda Express joined in the crowd with a new freestanding location in the Michael's-anchored center across the street from Chipotle. 

Making use of former restaurant space, Resurgens Bank relocated their branch to a former Fuddrucker's restaurant at Northlake Festival last year. 

A couple months ago, Uncle Maddio's Pizza Joint opened a new location on LaVista Road, adjacent to Starbucks. 

Last week, I broke news that both Popeyes and Bojangles' are planning new Northlake area locations.  Popeyes plans to open on LaVista Road near existing McDonald's and Wendy's, and Bojangles' will open on Lawrenceville Highway at Northlake Parkway, next to the new RaceTrac

There are, however, other opportunities for restaurants in the area. 

A former Steak and Ale at Northlake Parkway, just off LaVista Road, remains vacant. The over 9000 square foot restaurant chain was popular in the 80s and 90s but its Northlake location has been closed for over five years.  Once owned by Pillsbury, the company, along with its then sister concept Bennigan's, were spun off in 1982.  With eroding market share and after a couple of other owners, the restaurant filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2008, and closed all of its remaining locations. 

Not as large as ROXX or as well located, a former Schlotzsky's Deli remains vacant on LaVista, just north of Northlake Parkway.  The aging restaurant space housed Schlotzsky's for many years, but closed over a year ago.  Schlotzsky's, owned by Atlanta-based FOCUS Brands, has been refocusing on the Atlanta market but is being far more selective in their locations.  In most cases they are opting to avoid in-line locations and instead build (or in some cases, convert) freestanding restaurants with space to allow for co-branding with fellow FOCUS Brands concepts like Cinnabon and Carvel.

What would you like to see open in the former Steak & Ale or the former Schlotzsky's?  What is your favorite Northlake area restaurant?  Will you frequent ROXX at their new location? Share your thoughts below.  

17 comments:

SPG said...

I grew up in the Northlake area and my parents still live there. It is sad that there aren't really any "real" dining choices in the area. I would love to see a Houston's open in there. Good, reliable food. There are so many offices around the area and I think Houston's would be packed for lunch and dinner! There used to be so many good restaurants in that area in the 70's and 80's. Young couples are buying up every house that comes on the market because of the school district. We need a good restaurant, instead of going into Buckhead. Of course, there are the old standbys like Blue Ribbon and Petite Auberge...

mindspringyahoo said...

Robert Irvine would probably tell them to pare down the menu and focus on some things that they're particularly good at. Surprisingly, they get mostly solid reviews on yelp.

The menu has a bit of everything, nothing that excites me that much. I think that this stretch of Nlake parkway has been a wasteland for so long that they'll have a tough time making a go of it.

As a sidenote, I noticed that the Arby's on Savoy Dr closed, probably within the last 2-3 months. I think it had been there quite a while.

Unknown said...

I personally am excited to learn Roxx will be opening in my neighborhood. They are a great restaurant. They take great pride in their food and service. Now if we could just get a Little Azio to open in this area as well, I would never have to venture outside Tucker. :)

Unknown said...

I personally am excited to learn Roxx will be opening in my neighborhood. They are a great restaurant. They take great pride in their food and service. Now if we could just get a Little Azio to open in this area as well, I would never have to venture outside Tucker. :)

Unknown said...

I personally am excited to learn Roxx will be opening in my neighborhood. They are a great restaurant. They take great pride in their food and service. Now if we could just get a Little Azio to open in this area as well, I would never have to venture outside Tucker. :)

Unknown said...

I personally am excited to learn Roxx will be opening in my neighborhood. They are a great restaurant. They take great pride in their food and service. Now if we could just get a Little Azio to open in this area as well, I would never have to venture outside Tucker. :)

Atlantan99 said...

@mindspringyahoo,

LOL, I noticed that too! I think I musta seen than about two or three weeks ago but did not know when it happened so had nothing to really say. It is easily one of the older locations around but at the same time is not in the greatest of locations logistically or visibility wise.

I still miss the cool old location on LaVista with the GIANT ten-gallon hat signage. (It sat next to where McDonald's later rebuilt there location, across from the upcoming Popeyes)

On a related side note... I tried the new Kings Hawaiian roast beef sandwich from Arby's and was very pleased.

Thanks as always for your comments and readership!

mindspringyahoo said...

I remember the Arby's well. Growing up, my dad, brother, and I would eat at McD's, but my mom and sister would walk next door to the more 'high brow' Arby's. That Arby's only had room for about 10 or so people to sit and eat, so it was great when it expanded the seating in mid 80s or so. I actually think that Arby's has been kind of interestingly innovative in recent years (using the KH buns, adding turkey, etc).

For whatever reason, we never ate at the Steak and Ale, but ate at the Chili's quite a bit. Dyer's is so high on Roxx's that I guess I'll try it at some point.

Muffin said...

i was thrilled to see Roxx is moving to Tucker! I have been to brunch at Roxx a few times and it has always been reliably good with great, friendly service. I think what killed Twisted Taco was the service issues. EVeryone i know loved their food but always complained the service was horrible.

Why are all the Arby's closing down? There was on Chamblee Tucker that shut down a couple of years ago and they put a stupid Wendy's in its place. I miss the giant hat on LaVista as well. I used to go there a lot when i was younger.

Atlantan99 said...

@Muffin,

Thanks for the comments. I wanted to clear up a few things.

ROXX is not moving to Tucker but is opening a second location in Tucker, their first on Cheshire Bridge will remain open.

A number of older Arby's have closed, most because of either changing demographics or the unwillingness or high cost for a franchisee to perform mandated updates and renovations.

The Chamblee-Tucker location was to be one of the first co-branded Arby's / Wendy's. This plan got derailed when the two companies who merged in 2008, split from each other in 2011. Wendy's retained this location for its brand.

Thanks for your interest in this post and for reading the site.

Anonymous said...

I drove by the old Northlake Idol yesterday and noticed they were doing work on it. I'm glad the ROXX is opening there. I've lived in the area for 13 years and am very surprised there are so few good restaurants.

debalew said...

SPG - what about Napolean's, Sprig and Taqueria al Vecino? Not to mention Shorty's. Lots of good options outside of the mall area that are still fairly close.

Anonymous said...

This is interesting. Good food at an affordable price. I frequent Roxx on Cheshire and I hope they do not over-extend their resources... human and financial. The current Roxx serves and overwhelmingly gay clientele. I wonder if they will go after the same demographic?

Anonymous said...

If Roxx is opening at Northlake, we will definitely eat there at least once a week. It would be a great addition to the area. Have eaten at the one on Cheshire Bridge numerous times, and have never been disappointed.

Anonymous said...

Its somewhat surprising with the announcement of a new location that there hasn't been much mentioned about the recent failing health score at the existing location. As a Roxx regular, the failing health score is a terrible disappointment. As mentioned above, I hope they are not spreading themselves too thin.

Disneypal said...

This is fantastic news. I love Roxx!! It will be nice to have one closer to my home.

Currently my fave restaurant in the Northlake are is The Blue Ribbon Grill. I would love to see an Outback, Longhorn or Stoney River take the place of the old Steak & Ale - there is a need for a good steakhouse around there.

Wouldn't mind a Jersey Mike's going up in the old Scholosky's

Anonymous said...

Don't forget the landmark, Old Hickory House!

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