Thursday, September 22, 2016

Mad Italian On The Move, Burger Joint Coming Soon

Savoy Drive to see new options

Tom Brown, owner of Chamblee's The Mad Italian plans to soon relocate the restaurant to the former Olde Mill Steakhouse nearby and convert the current space to a new concept.  The Mad Italian has been in business since 1973.  At its height, the concept included nine locations.  The Buckhead restaurant, located at 2245 Peachtree Road, was demolished years ago and is now home to the Aramore Condo building.  Three Mad Italian restaurants closed in 2009, leaving just the Chamblee location,.   

The Chamblee location of The Mad Italian, which opened in 1981, is a converted Dairy Queen.  The space is about 4,000 square feet and will be transformed into Duke's Burgers & Brews, a new burger concept.  The Mad Italian will relocate down Savoy Drive to the former Olde Mill Steakhouse, which had most recently operated as Allure Lounge.  Brown, who purchased the building and property, plans to completely renovate the approximately 6,200 square foot building.  The new Mad Italian will feature a full bar and is expected to open this coming spring.   

Brown promises that the new Mad Italian will not lose its charm, "it's still gonna be a hole in the wall."  


Duke's will be "new and different" with plans to offer a variety of bun options, gluten free to whole wheat and everything in between.  Everything in the casual restaurant will be scratch made included a house-blend meat, hand cut fries, house-made tater tots (hallelujah) and hand dipped onion rings.  Brown's description of the menu made me think of the good ole days of how Fuddrucker's used to be (Northlake, Perimeter, Gwinnett Place, and INSIDE the Buckhead Home Depot.) 

In addition to an "enhanced burger experience," Duke's will also feature 16 taps with a focus on local beers and also craft wine offerings.  

Given that Brown plans to move and open the new Mad Italian before starting on Duke's, he anticipates it will be a good 18 months before the burger concept debuts.  

The Shumacher Group, Inc. and Steve Josovitz represented both the buyer and seller in the transaction.

Are you excited for a bigger, better Mad Italian in Chamblee? Do you remember when Mad Italian has locations across Atlanta, and if so, which location was your favorite?  Does the idea of a "better burger" concept in the area appeal to you?

Please share your thoughts below.  

38 comments:

Ham said...

I do remember the Mad Italian having multiple locations, but don’t remember it being anything all that special. Obviously this location has a loyal following, but will they support an upgraded facility which may mean upgraded menu prices. As for the new burger joint is 18 months too long to catch the current “burger craze”.

Anonymous said...

As a Philly native, the Mad Italian does make one of the better cheesesteak outside of Philadelphia/South Jersey.

Anonymous said...

The area is desperate for good, family friendly choices. That is why Mad Italian is so popular. I would expect any good casual restaurant to do well in that space.

There is a new large residential development being built nearby as well as lots of young families in the area.

Anonymous said...

Wishing you all the best on your new endeavor. We loved Mad Italian and visited almost weekly before we moved to CA last year. I grew up in NJ right outside of Philadelphia and Mad Italian had the best authentic Philly cheese steak - it was all about the roll.

Anonymous said...

For me and my family when you think of atlanta food, you think of Varsity and Mad Italian! New place is welcomed cause the food will be the same, great! And I will be trying Mr. Browns burger place as well!

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know/remember what the Indian restaurant that burned down (on Savoy) was when it first opened?

Unknown said...

Steak & Ale I do believe.

Anonymous said...

The Indian restaurant on Savoy used to be a Steak and Ale...

Anonymous said...

Another Philly native - when I lived in Atlanta this was my go-to spot for a cheesesteak.

Unknown said...

I think it was a Steak N Ale....hhmmmm?

n_fort said...

Steak and ale

Anonymous said...

I agree! They have really good salads as well.

Unknown said...

I used to live very close to there, and wnet to Chamblee High School ! I have been to that Mad Italian several times, and also the one that used to be in Marietta in the shopping center at Windy Hill Rd. and Cobb Pkwy (HWy 41) !

Unknown said...

It was a Steak and Ale

Anonymous said...

I grew up near there. I went there when it was a Dairy Queen. I met my wife to be there, and we just celebrated out 30th anniversary. RIP Mad Italian, you have served us well.

Anonymous said...

Yep - best cheese steak in Atlanta!!!

June said...

All the best on the new location! Mad Italian is THE cheesesteak in Atlanta.. All of us who have moved away still make it a point to get a Mad-I cheesesteak when we're in town. And post about it on Facebook to make all our friends envious. I remember in ''79 when my family was about to spend the summer in California and I wouldn't be able to get a Mad Italian cheesesteak for 3 months. I ate 3 in one sitting (I was about 100lbs at the time.) They are always just as delicious now as they were then. And I still have as many cravings for the creamy Italian dressing... on my salad or to dip my chips in.

Anonymous said...

I believe MadI has a better chance than Dukes; but I hope both are successful. Now if we can get Tom Brown to reduce the amount of mayo in the tuna salad about 30%.

Anonymous said...

Mad Italian on Windy Hill in Marietta - best damn cheesesteak ever !!! sure do miss those yummies

Anonymous said...

I've eaten at Mad Italian for as long as they have been in business.
Used to go to the one on Peachtree years ago, but have eaten at
the Savoy location many times. Still love their cheese steaks,but
the current king of cheese steaks is Big Daves on Winter Chapel.
It's part of the Shell station across from the mini Walmart.

Anonymous said...

I have never been to Philly, but I can tell you that Mad Italian is the only place in Atlanta that I will go for Philly Cheesesteak. I'm glad they are only moving and not closing!!!

Anonymous said...

@ Anonymous 12:53am:

Absolutely on Big Daves! Their Italian water ice is the best as well.

Anonymous said...

The Indian restaurant was Steak & Ale then opened as Bombay.

Anonymous said...

is this where Malone's used to be?

Anonymous said...

I think it was a Malones. And maybe a Billys before that?

Anonymous said...

We love you, Mad Italian!! We must eat/drink with you 2-3 times a week. Thanks for staying in the neighborhood!

Unknown said...

Bombay Cafe

Anonymous said...

As a vegan, Italian and burger joints are not usually optimal for me. I am hoping the burger place will include a vegan black bean burger together with the gluten free buns.

RayAtL said...

The current Mad Italian building has got to on its last legs... The food is good but the place is a disaster... If someone cleaned the caked on dust off the ceiling fans they may work better and the bathrooms are atrocious... Customers deserve a bit better imho

Anonymous said...

New site was Malone's before and Olde Mill before that.
Indian was Bombay originally that shut down for years and reopened in 2015 and then burnt down same year.

badboy said...

Hope the food and prices stay the same. Love MI. Used to eat at the one just south of Peachtree Battle for years.Still miss the awesome carrot cake they had at that location. Been going to the Savoy Drive store for years now. Best Cheesesteak in Atlanta IMO.

Anonymous said...

The Mad Italian on Peachtree Street was a frequent "date night" with my now husband of 28 years when we were poor Georgia Tech students. They had wine after all! The Chamblee location is our go to the night before the Peachtree Road race. The house creamy Italian dressing is the best!

Unknown said...

The mad Italian on Peachtree was a staple to Tech students in the day. Always a hole-in-the-wall, but great cheesesteaks. Current location retains some of the old charm and same great menu three decades later.

Anonymous said...

how's the renovation of (formerly) allure building going? not much happening on the outside, it seems.

Vanilla said...

Loved the Peachtree Rd location when I lived in Atlanta from 1974-1981. Can still see it in memory, sorry it’s gone now like so many other great places.

Anonymous said...

COBB
LASAGNA
NUFF SAID

KDonegan said...

I’ve been eating at this location since I was a kid in the late 70’s. We’d always come chow down after our football/baseball games at Murphy Candler Park. The food and folks here have always been incredible, including friends working here back in the early 90’s(Dunwoody High days). This new location on Savoy was previously Allure, and before that it was Malones for a long time. The Indian place that mysteriously burned down was on the property next to new location and was Steak and Ale before. I know this new location will be great for the Mad-I and wish nothing but the best for Mr. Brown. Thank you for all the great meals I’ve eaten here including my cheesesteak I had today.

Anonymous said...

Use to eat at the one on Peachtree when I worked at the Colorado Mining Co. The guy that owned it or was the manager was super nice.

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