Friday, March 31, 2017

Sage Looks to Score a Home Run With New Restaurant Near SunTrust Park

New restaurant to open later this year.

The former Houston's restaurant at the corner of Powers Ferry and Windy Hill Roads near the Wildwood office park will reopen as Sage Woodfire Tavern.  The owners of the Orient Express Chinese restaurant in Vinings purchased the property this past fall with the intention of opening a Chinese eatery in its place.  Later the owners changed their plans, opting instead as landlords of the space to lease the restaurant to James D. Liakakos of Infinite Dining Group.

The restaurant, located at 3050 Windy Hill Road, is 7,780 square feet and sits on an approximately two acre parcel. 

One of the main reasons that reportedly led to Houston's decision to close the restaurant was that daytime business is great, but evening business was nearly non-existent.  Will a local operator and the opening of SunTrust Park now make make this location a home run for Sage? 

Infinite Dining Group consists of a number of restaurants around Atlanta, all of which have replaced other restaurants.  

Last year, Sage Social Kitchen & Bar opened in the Target anchored Merchants Festival shopping center in East Cobb.  Sage opened in place of Chequers Seafood + Steak which had itself replaced sibling brand Houlihan's.  Later this year, Sage Social Kitchen & Bar is expected to open in the former Morton's The Steakhouse on Peachtree Road in Buckhead.  

Infinite also currently operates Sage Woodfire Tavern locations in Alpharetta and Dunwoody as well as Spice Brick Oven Kitchen - Tapas Bar in Alpharetta.  The Sage in Dunwoody at Park Place across from Perimeter Mall occupies a former Houlihan's.  The Sage in Alpharetta occupies what I believe was built as Canyon Cafe, and later renovated into Stockyard Prime.  The Spice Brick Oven Kitchen - Tapas Bar in Alpharetta occupies a former Joe's Crab Shack. 

Sources indicate that plans call for the Windy Hill restaurant to open "in about three months" and for the Peachtree Road restaurant to open some time after that.  

As I reported earlier this month, well placed industry sources indicate that Infinite was having "financing issues" related to their Peachtree Road restaurant that may have caused it to be delayed and or abandoned.  

Do you think Sage Woodfire Tavern will do well in the former Houston's and Morton's spaces?  What is your favorite local casual restaurant?  Are you, like me, wondering how all the restaurants opening in and around The Battery Atlanta will find the employees to staff their establishments?

Please share your thoughts below  

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear that Sage is moving into that long vacant space. The Battery won't likely have much direct impact on them or other Wildwood businesses in the near term, given the distance between them. But, hopefully investor interest in SE Cobb/Cumberland reaches the northeast side of I-75 and these businesses will benefit over time. The corridor along Powers Ferry from Windy Hill through Terrell Mill and Delk has lots of potential for mixed-use growth, vibrancy, and even walkability. Here's hoping that Sage is an early recognizer of this potential and that they can hang on while others follow.

Carol said...

Please! Not another tavern. We desperately need a higher quality dining experience. All we have is trashy fast food and tavern like places. Couldn't you please give us a place with an inspired chef and a more sophisticated menu like Seed or Canoe. Many of us are weary of having to trek to Buckhead to get a decent meal. There are several "tavern" like established restaurants just a stones throw from your intended location. We are a well educated, well traveled, affluent group out here. We deserve some recognition. Thank-you

Anonymous said...

@Carol - Sage is a tavern in name only, it's an upscale restaurant. Try the Dunwoody location for examples. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

I had heard that Houston's wanted to stay but wasn't offered a lease renewal as the owners of the property wanted to sell. Wonder which story is true...

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