Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Bits & Bites

Yogli Mogli has been sold and lots more news after the jump.

Atlanta-based Yogli Mogli has been sold.  The frozen yogurt franchise, along with CherryBerry, another similar yogurt shop based in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, were both acquired last week by U-Swirl.  U-Swirl is a majority-owned subsidiary of  Durango, Colorado-based Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.  The acquisitions of the CherryBerry and Yogli Mogli Frozen Yogurt chains reportedly added 182 self serve cafés in 27 states and three foreign countries. Yogli Mogli was started by Roi Shlomo in 2009 with one location at the corner of Abernathy and Roswell Roads in Sandy Springs.  Today, the chain operates 21 locations in Georgia and 26 locations overall.  It remains unclear whether the two acquired brands will re-flag under the U-Swirl name.

Jacksonville, Florida-based Firehouse Subs will open a new location on Cobb Parkway near Cumberland Mall in the coming months.  The sub shop is renovating the former Johnny's Rockets turned Mykonos Grill, across the street from the relatively new Corner Bakery Cafe in Akers Mill.  The Cobb Parkway location will mark the chain's 75th location in Georgia.  You wouldn't know the chain has such a strong presence in Georgia, as the chain is heavily concentrated OTP, but we are actually their second largest market. Firehouse Subs' home state of  Florida is home to over 150 locations...and counting.  Firehouse Subs started in 1994, and today has a presence in 39 states plus Puerto Rico.

St. Louis Missouri-based Hardee's will soon begin construction on a new location in Kennesaw.  The chain is one part of the two headed monster that is CKE restaurants, the west coast portion being Carl's Jr.  Atlanta-based private equity firm Roark Capital bought the company last year.  The new restaurant will open at the corner of Jiles Road and ITT Tech Way, across the street from a new-ish McDonald's.  The chain started in Greenville, North Carolina in 1960, and once had locations throughout metro Atlanta.  Reggie's Salon on North Druid Hills, and Willy's Mexicana Grill on Howell Mill, are both former Hardee's, and there are many more such conversions in the Atlanta area.  Today, the chain is concentrated heavily in the outer burbs.   In a previous post dedicated to another restaurant of years past, Donatos, I featured a Hardee's which opened in place of the pizza chain in nearby Woodstock

Guitar Center has opened an outlet store on Cobb Parkway, just north of Cumberland Mall.  The store opened earlier this month, and occupies a portion of a former Lenscrafters.  Sources say the store is only temporary and is meant to liquidate older and outdated merchandise.  The store is due to remain open for three to six months, after which there are no immediate plans for it to reopen elsewhere.  Guitar Center operates ten stores in Georgia.

Atlanta-based Mellow Mushroom is opening a new location in Cartersville.  Mellow Mushroom replaces Antonino's Italian Grotto on S. Wall Street in downtown Cartersville.  The restaurant is scheduled to be open this spring.  The pizza franchise also has locations coming soon to Acworth, St. Simons Island and Valdosta.  Mellow Mushroom started in Atlanta in 1974 and today has over 150 locations nationwide.

Gap will reportedly close at Arbor Place Mall on January 25th.  The retailer recently closed its North Point Mall store (soon to be replaced by Sur La Table) and is reportedly planning to reopen later this year in Avalon.

South Buckhead's Black Bear Tavern has reportedly been sold to out of state owners.  According to information given to employees at a recent employee meeting, there are no immediate changes planned.  

4 comments:

J Leeds said...

I drove by the new Stars and Strikes on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs yesterday. It's open.

Not sure about the other two "upscale bowling" emporiums that are supposed to be coming to North Fulton. Neither site shows any signs of work being done, although both have gotten Alpharetta approval, and the one has job openings posted on their website.

Anonymous said...

Firehouse Subs just opened a new location in Peachtree Center last week in what used to be a newspaper/gift shop. It appears to be hopping with activity.

Anonymous said...

Vine and Tap on Lenox has made significant progress but is still not yet open.

Anonymous said...

I work next to this new location for Firehouse, this will be a great addition to the area. This is kind of a tricky spot to get in and out of, but I welcome another lunch option!

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