Monday, April 13, 2015

Edens Reportedly Prices Pizza Place Out at Toco Hills

The original Uncle Maddio's Pizza Joint has closed 

The Uncle Maddio's Pizza Joint at Toco Hills Promenade has closed.  The Toco Hills location was the Atlanta-based pizza chain's first ever location, opening in 2009.  Local franchisee Yogi Patel had most recently been the owner / operator of the location, but is "moving" it to Loganville.  Aside from operating Uncle Maddio's Pizza Joint units, Patel also operates Tin Drum Asiacafe franchises, as well as his own concept Bezoria, a fast casual Mediterranean eatery in midtown.

The 3,551 square foot Toco Hills space was previously home to Mama Fu's Asian House, a failed quick serve Asian concept from Moe's Southwest Grill founder Martin Sprock. (Mama Fu's is completely gone from the Atlanta market, but still exists, largely in Texas.)  

(I grew up going to Toco Hills and had many meals at Gyro Wraps (now Great Wraps) in the now former Uncle Maddio's space.)

Sources say that property owner Edens sought to raise the restaurant's rent by nearly 30%, leading to the closure, or "move," as they put it.  I'd heard chatter for over a year that Edens wanted to replace Uncle Maddio's (and Menchie's, for that matter), but the closure is still somewhat of a surprise.

An email sent to an Edens representative seeking comment on the situation went unanswered over the weekend.  

A representative for Uncle Maddio's  told me the chain is "actively looking for a replacement location."  The representative invited guests to visit Uncle Maddio's at the Edgewood  Retail District and near Northlake Mall.  Both of these locations, while not super close to Toco Hills, are far more realistic for area residents than going to Loganville. 

This mark's the chain's second closure in metro Atlanta, following its closure in Alpharetta last year.   

As I've detailed previously, Uncle Maddio's faces growing competition in the quick serve pizza category.  Athens-based Your Pie is quickly expanding its metro Atlanta presence, while newcomers continue to enter the market.  

Pasadena, California-based Blaze Pizza, started by Richard Wetzel of Wetzel's Pretzels, is planning to enter the Atlanta market in the coming months.  

Fort Worth, Texas-based Pie Five Pizza Co. has secured its first lease, a new 2,400 square foot space in Newnan Festival, a new center being built in Newnan.  

What would you like to see replace Uncle Maddio's at Toco Hills?  Which quick serve pizza chain is your favorite?  Is fast casual pizza the next frozen yogurt? 

Please share your thoughts below. 

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I didn't like Maddio's Anyway!

Anonymous said...

There were too many pizza places there already. One was bound to die off.

You already have Chris Pizza and Johnny's pizza right there. And there's Shorty's pizza right across the street.

Anonymous said...

I'm actually a pizza snob, but still made great use of Maddios' for their gluten free options, and their great salads. If you selected the good toppings, you could make a very good pie too.

Sadly, the Toco location went downhill fast when it was sold. Horrible service from school kids who didn't care and couldn't commuicate with adults in a professional way.

Northlake Maddios service and food is AWFUL, even compared to Toco. So heads up, N'lake managers: your employees are taking money away from you. I won't there anymore.

jeff a. taylor said...

Maddio's is a concept that really depends on execution. And even then the crusts are a weak spot, especially the whole wheat.

ImAndy said...

The whole concept has to get "Fresher" or all of them will fail. It's all out of the can and frozen stuff, all of them!

The only one I've found palatable is Custom Fuel Pizza that has a few locations in DC that is the same concept.

Anonymous said...

Shame, but at least the parking situation may improve for the short run. There is not enough parking for all the restaurants. I have started shopping at Kroger

Anonymous said...

A UM is going into the Sprouts development on the corner of E/W Connector & South Cobb Drive in Smyrna. They have a location on Akers Mill, so it seems rather close to that.

Anonymous said...

We will especially miss the gluten free options. Three of five members of our family cannot eat wheat, so Uncle Maddio's meant we could all have pizza -- and exactly what we want / need. Unfortunately, that's still hard to find, even with more business trying to offer some options.

Anonymous said...

I think Your Pie is much better than Maddio's but the parking at the Buckhead location is horrendous, I don't know why anyone would ever choose that spot for a restaurant!! I know Johnny Rockets survived for a long time, but I don't know how!

Anonymous said...

I vote to bring back Gyro Wrap! I'm a Toco Hills native and miss some of the old places. We used to go to the McDonald's there after we won baseball games, bought our equipment at Hickok's Sporting Goods, our shoes at Uncle Albert's and sometimes would get a treat at Ben Franklin's!

Anonymous said...

I'd love a WITCH WHICH--sandwich place. Emory Pointe is too far to dry and parking is tedious.

Anonymous said...

Maddio's did a couple salads really well. I, for one, will miss them.

Victor Moldovan said...

I agree, Northlake location has terrible service. Love there gluten-free pies, but not willing to put up with bad attitude from the pizza makers for it.

Anonymous said...

I agree, Northlake location has terrible service. Love there gluten-free pies, but not willing to put up with bad attitude from the pizza makers for it.

Unknown said...

I'm in shock!
Today I found out Uncle Maddos is closed at Toco Hills!
I love that place! They are the reason that I have started back eating pizza!
I live less then 5 minutes from a Pizza Hut and a Pizza Pizza. But I would drive all the way to Toco Hills to get a UM goat cheese pizza with the buttermilk sauce on whole wheat crust and a chocolate chip cookie!
Loganville!?!
"Where the Hell is Loganville!"

Anonymous said...

I'm in shock!
Today I found out Uncle Maddos is closed at Toco Hills!
I love that place! They are the reason that I have started back eating pizza!
I live less then 5 minutes from a Pizza Hut and a Pizza Pizza. But I would drive all the way to Toco Hills to get a UM goat cheese pizza with the buttermilk sauce on whole wheat crust and a chocolate chip cookie!
Loganville!?!
"Where the Hell is Loganville!"

Unknown said...

I'm in shock!
Today I found out Uncle Maddos is closed at Toco Hills!
I love that place! They are the reason that I have started back eating pizza!
I live less then 5 minutes from a Pizza Hut and a Pizza Pizza. But I would drive all the way to Toco Hills to get a UM goat cheese pizza with the buttermilk sauce on whole wheat crust and a chocolate chip cookie!
Loganville!?!
"Where the Hell is Loganville!"

Anonymous said...

Apparently the Edgewood restaurant has also just closed. Does anyone know anything about that?

Unknown said...

Went to two locations in Omaha. Both closed. One has new tenants already.
The other looks like they were days away from opening and then nothing....

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