Similar issues have reportedly also plagued the new Buffalo Wild Wings on Peachtree Road in south Buckhead, as well as the new NaanStop on Piedmont Road near Lenox Road in Buckhead.
Cook-Out started their construction process with the city of Atlanta October 3, 2013. On that day, Cook-Out filed permits for "Commercial Land Development," "Commercial Demolition," and "Commercial Quality Control Review." Since then, Cook-Out has filed for eight additional permits, most recently on April 14th, when they filed for a "Commercial New."
As of today, the former Wachovia bank branch has been demolished and the site has been cleared, but little else has been done. A representative at the North Carolina-based restaurant told me in April that the Northside location would open "late summer," but that clearly won't happen. Last week, a Cook-Out representative informed me that that the restaurant was scheduled to open September 12th. This opening date is essentially impossible, given the fact that construction has not yet begun.
Buffalo Wild Wings, which closed their restaurant at Lenox Marketplace across from Phipps Plaza in late April, has also faced setbacks in their new location. With a lease signed, work began converting the former Justin's restaurant in south Buckhead soon after. For over a month now, neither exterior work nor construction-type activity has been observed at the property.
As far as NaanStop goes, it took a personal visit by co-founder Neal Idnani (and a refusal to leave until things were corrected / progressed) to get things moving in a positive direction. Neal and brother Samir signed a lease last December on the former We Buy Gold shop on Piedmont Road across from Atlanta Tech Village. The plan had been to open in late May or early June. Today the plan is just to open!
5 comments:
The lack of progress on Cook Out gives me sad face. I am chomping at the bit to be able to stop by there for lunch. C'mon Atlanta, let's stop the hold up!
Working with all three of these and then some through their construction process. i can say for a fact, City of Atlanta Permitting Office has been a huge thorn for any business looking to complete their projects, bring jobs and create additional tax revenues. I tell all all my customers to extend their construction timeline by a minimum 2 months due to the city.
The quagmire that is the City of Atlanta permit process does nothing but slow down development and cost new business owners money. Some small, under funded businesses are guaranteed bankruptcy due to cost the delays. I know of one situation where an inspector threatened to shut down a construction site unless the on-site manager "bought him lunch".
I know Atlanta is a large city, but give me a break. Why on earth would they make it harder for companies to build and expand?! These projects create new jobs, not only during construction, but after, and clean up blighted areas and empty parcels. Sad, sad, sad...
So Novare gets the go ahead and build the same thing all over town and these guys can't open up restaurants?
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