Bits & Bites

Birmingham based Steel City Pops will mark their brick and mortar debut today, September 30th, when they open at 312 Church Street near the square in Decatur.  ToNeTo Atlanta was first to report on the brand's metro Atlanta expansion this past May, and has followed along as the company introduced themselves to the Atlanta market with "pop carts" at both Atlantic Station and The Shops Buckhead Atlanta.  The two carts will remain in operation with plans to open additional brick and mortar shops in Atlanta next year. 

Mid-Century Themed "The American" to Debut Next Month in Downtown Atlanta

Downtown Atlanta will soon welcome back an old friend.  The Americana Motor Hotel, which brothers Dr. Marvin and Irving Goldstein first opened at 160 Spring Street in 1962, is Atlanta’s longest continuously operating hotel.   The hotel will celebrate its Grand Reopening next month as The American, a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel.  

The American is still under wraps, literally

Mercedes-Benz Rolling into Lenox Square Next Month

Now that metro Atlanta is home to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the North American headquarters of Mercedes-Benz and six Mercedes-Benz dealerships, the company figured Atlanta needed one more Mercedes-Benz experience.  Coming this fall to Lenox Square will be a Mercedes-Benz showroom.  Located in the former Bebe space on the mall's main level, Mercedes-Benz will open what mall representatives are calling a temporary "pop-up" store.

Inside the Mercedes me showroom in Canada's CF Markville mall

Starbucks Bringing Condensed Coffee Shop to Buckhead

Starbucks Coffee is planning to open a new location on Northside Parkway in Buckhead.  The new coffee shop, which planning materials show will be approximately 700 square feet, will function exclusively as a drive-thru business and will replace a four lane Bank of America ATM facility at 3370 Northside Parkway near its intersection with West Paces Ferry Road.

The new Starbucks will likely look similar to this but with a largely brick exterior

In A Flash, Former Camera Doctor Space Available Once More

Owners of a Mexican restaurant that had leased the former The Camera Doctor space in Decatur have apparently had second thoughts. Following the closure last fall of The Camera Doctor at North Decatur Plaza, sources confirmed that a Mexican restaurant would open in its place.  Months later, with no visible construction having been started, ToNeTo Atlanta has learned that the restaurant, Fernando's Fresh Mex, is no longer opening.  

The Camera Doctor ahead of their fall 2016 closure

"Dixie Q," A New Barbecue Eatery From Scott Serpas is Coming Soon to Brookhaven

Chef Scott Serpas will in fact be opening a new barbecue restaurant in Brookhaven.  Dixie Q, described as "traditional southern BBQ with New Orleans roots," is opening in the former Slice of Brookhaven restaurant at 2524 Caldwell Road, just off Dresden Drive.  Dixie Q is located in a small freestanding building behind Savi Provisions and across the street from Kaleidoscope.  

Kroger Closing Two Local Stores Next Month

Kroger recently confirmed that it plans to close at least two local stores next month.  The stores are located in DeKalb and Fulton counties and will not immediately be replaced by other stores. 

Inside the Kroger at Northridge shopping center

Taco Cantina Opening in Former Baked in Old Fourth Ward

A new location of Taco Cantina is coming soon to the Old Fourth Ward.  The Mexican eatery from "acclaimed chef" Adolfo Gonzales will open in place of Baked Comfort Foods, which closed this past January at the Tribute Lofts near the intersection of John Wesley Dobbs Avenue and Boulevard.

McDonald's Looks to Bring "Modern" Restaurant to Chamblee

McDonald's recently submitted plans to the City of Chamblee to construct a new restaurant on Clairmont Road in Chamblee.  The "new" restaurant would actually replace an existing location, but would be rebuilt larger.  The Oakbrook, Illinois-based burger chain wants to demolish their existing 2,331 square foot restaurant at Clairmont Road and 1-85 and replace it with a new 3,800 square foot restaurant.  

The new McDonald's will likely look similar to this 

Former 120 Tavern to Reopen as Hoyle's This Fall

A new restaurant called Hoyle's Kitchen + Bar is to open next month in Marietta.  The restaurant, located at 1440 Roswell Road, not far from The Big Chicken, will be familiar to some as having most recently been known as the 120 Tavern & Music Hall.  

Bits & Bites

Newk's Eatery will open their newest Atlanta area location next week in Tucker.  The new restaurant will open Monday September 24, at the new Tucker Meridian shopping center at the corner of Northlake Parkway and LaVista Road.   

[REPORT] Toys "R" Us May Soon Become Toys Were Us

Wayne, New Jersey-based Toys "R" Us filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy late this past Monday night.  The retailer, which has been hit hard by both Amazon.com and Walmart, hopes to restructure about $5 billion in long term debt so that it can continue as a going concern. 

Arby's Thinking Snellville Needs More Meats

Atlanta based Arby's is planning to build a new restaurant at 1679 Scenic Highway in Snellville.  The restaurant, which would occupy an outparcel of the new Scenic Promenade shopping center, will be about 2,200 square feet and feature a drive-thru.

Space Shop Scores Space in Chamblee for Self Storage

Christmas may come early to the residents of Chamblee as ToNeTo Atlanta has uncovered plans for a new self-storage facility in the city!  Atlanta-based The Space Shop plans to construct a new, nearly 100,000 square foot climate- controlled self-storage facility on Clairmont Road at Bragg Street, just north of Dresden Drive.  

[SMOKIN!] City Barbeque Secures Site in Suwanee

City Barbeque, the Dublin, Ohio-based barbeque restaurant that officially opens its first Atlanta area location today in Decatur, has signed a lease on its second metro location.  Joining the newly constructed freestanding restaurant in Decatur Crossing will be a location in Johns Creek Town Center on Peachtree Parkway in Johns Creek/Suwanee.  

The new City Barbeque in Decatur

Mimi's Cafe Quietly Bids Adieu to Dunwoody

Mimi's Cafe at Perimeter Place in Dunwoody has closed.  The restaurant, part of Dallas based LeDuff America, opened at the SuperTarget anchored center in 2006.  Sources say the restaurant abruptly shuttered this past Friday.  Signage at the restaurant indicated that "free items" were left at the rear of the restaurant (in a dumpster).  It's unclear what was originally available, but a reader observed that as of Sunday afternoon, limited racks, chairs and tables were still available. 

Bits & Bites

After a couple of permit and weather delays, Willy's Mexican Grill will officially debut their new Northlake/Tucker location on LaVista Road this coming Monday September 18th.  The new restaurant is located on the site of a former bank that was redeveloped to welcome not only Willy's, but a relocated drive-thru Starbucks and Aspen Dental office as well.  The Northlake Willy's marks the Atlanta-based chain's 32nd location, with sources telling ToNeTo Atlanta that more are in the pipeline.  

Two Big Businesses Go Bust in Buckhead

Buckhead's Lenox Marketplace shopping center will lose two of its anchors in the coming months.  Pirch, an award winning, interactive kitchen and bath appliance showroom, which opened in the center in late 2014, will close its 27,243 square foot Buckhead store effective September 30th.  The store, while cool and different, never really caught on in the Atlanta market the way it has in the chain's home territory of southern California.  Store sources indicate that the showroom will cease operations September 30th but that the store will continue to accept and deliver orders from its regional distribution center through November 30.  As of now, there is no word on if/when there will be any sale of the showroom's demo appliances and fixtures. 

Blaze Pizza and Zaxby's Headline Eateries Planned For New Northside Development

Site work is underway for the new Fuqua Development project at Northside Drive and 17th Street adjacent to IKEA. While it is already known that a large format Kroger will anchor the project, ToNeTo Atlanta has uncovered a number of additional tenants planned for the project.

A view of the progress (and the midtown skyline) from Northside Drive 

Culver's Bringing ButterBurgers to Braselton

Earlier today, ToNeTo Atlanta revealed that Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin-based Culver's is planning a new restaurant in Kennesaw.  Now comes word they are coming to Braselton, in Gwinnett, too!  The new burger restaurant will be located just off State Route 211 (Old Winder Highway) in an out-parcel of the new High Point Medical mixed-use development.

Bonus Bits & Bites

Steel City Pops opened their Austin, Texas location this past Wednesday and plans to open their new Atlanta area brick & mortar location, in downtown Decatur, by the end of the month.  The new shop is in addition to the Birmingham-based company's pop cart locations at Atlantic Station and at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta.  Sources say that the company has plans for as many as two additional Atlanta area locations in the coming years.  

[BREAKING NEWS] Whole Foods Market in Kennesaw to Open October 6

Credible sources with knowledge of the grocer's plans say that Whole Foods Market, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Amazon.com, will open their highly anticipated new store in Kennesaw next month.  The store, which will co-anchor the Kennesaw Marketplace shopping center, is expected to open Friday, October 6, at the corner of Ernest Barrett and Cobb Parkways, not far from Kennesaw Mountain.  

Home2 Suites Plans to Check-In to Midtown Atlanta In 2018

The Regency Suites hotel in midtown will soon be re-flagged as a Home2 Suites by Hilton.  Plans call for the existing eight story, 96 room hotel to be completely renovated to become the extended-stay Hilton brand.  The hotel, which sits on just over a third of an acre, was built in 1965.  

Culver's Coming to Kennesaw

Culver's, the Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin-based quick serve burger restaurant has plans to open at least one more location in metro Atlanta.  The new restaurant will be located just off Cobb Parkway at 2454 Kennesaw Due West Road in Kennesaw.

[UPDATE] The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead to be Reflagged as "The Whitley"

ToNeTo Atlanta has been your only source for news concerning the rebranding of The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead since May, and as of today, we can confirm that the hotel will officially end its 30+ year run as the oldest continuous Ritz property in the world on November 14.  On November 15, The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead will be rebranded as "The Whitley" and as ToNeTo Atlanta reported in July, the new hotel will be under Marriott's "The Luxury Collection" umbrella. 

Bits & Bites [Atlanta Commercial Real Estate News]

With a new look and a new location, Ponko Chicken will reportedly reopen "very soon" on Chamblee Tucker Road, just off I-85.  The eatery, which now looks "franchiseable," features Japanese + Western fusion cuisine and is known for their panko breaded chicken.  Previously known as Food Ease, the restaurant was once located on Stone Mountain Highway (US 78) in Stone Mountain.  

Ay Dios Mio! Ray's Rio Bravo Real Estate on the Market

Restaurateur Ray Schoenbaum has placed his former Ray's Rio Bravo property on the market.  The property, located on Powers Ferry Road in Sandy Springs, sits on about 3.5 acres according to the sales listing by Steve Josovitz of  The Shumacher Group.  The acreage includes a .94 acre pond.   

FIGO Pasta Down To Four Following Decatur Departure

FIGO Pasta, the Atlanta-based pasta chain, has closed their location on East College Avenue in Decatur.  Local sources indicate the restaurant quietly closed earlier this week with no advance notice to patrons.  A sign on the restaurant's door confirms that the restaurant is permanently closed and directs patrons to the company's location off Moreland Avenue in the Edgewood Retail District.  

Like Biscuits In Their Oven, Hardee's to "Rise" in Tucker

A new Hardee's is planned for 1727 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, just off US 78 (Stone Mountain Freeway) in Tucker.   The new, approximately 3,000 square foot restaurant would be built on currently vacant land, adjacent to Stars & Strikes.  

The new Hardee's should look similar to this 

 

Timberland Stepping Into Lenox Square This Fall

Timberland plans to open a new store at Lenox Square in Buckhead next month.  Known for their durable boots and outdoor apparel, Timberland will open on the mall's second level, between LOFT and Gap Kids, in the approximately 3,000 square foot former Crocs space.  

Bonus Bits & Bites

In wake of the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, ME Restaurant Group and its Red Pepper Taqueria locations in Buckhead and near Emory University are having a fundraiser next week to support the Houston Food Bank. The "Tacos for Texas" fundraiser will be held this Tuesday, September 5, with the restaurants donating 50% of all taco sales that day directly to the food bank to help provide meals to Houston residents.  The restaurant added a beer component to the fundraiser, "Hops for Houston. Red Pepper partnered with Southern Barrel Brewing Company, Hi-Wire Brewing & Oconee Brewing Company, to raise funds for the Houston Food Bank.  The restaurant will donate $1 per pint sold from these breweries, also on September 5.

Something Fishy in Chastain Park as Filo's Greek Grill Slated for Poke Conversion

Filo's Greek Grill in Buckhead's Chastain Square has been sold.  The Greek eatery will reportedly be replaced by a new poke joint.  The Greek eatery opened this past August and has reportedly been profitable during its one year in business. The restaurant was reportedly sold due to "documented medical reasons" of owner Harry Panagopoulos and not because of poor performance.