Monday, September 18, 2017

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. 
Mimi's Cafe was open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and served French and American food, with "French" decor and themes.  Arthur J. Simms, his son Thomas Simms, Brian Taylor, and Paul Kurz opened the first Mimi's Cafe in December 1978 in Anaheim, California.  Arther, who was stationed in France during World War II, named the restaurant after a French woman he met at a party after the liberation of the country. 

Bob Evans Farms, Inc. purchased Mimi's Cafe in July 2004 for $182 million. In February 2013, Mimi’s Cafe was sold to LeDuff America, the US arm of French conglomerate Groupe Le Duff, which also owns the La Madeleine and Bruegger's Bagels restaurants. 

The 6,700 square foot Mimi's at Perimeter Place is the latest eatery to close in the development.  Applebee's closed its roughly 5,300 square foot restaurant there this past April.  The roughly 7,000 square foot former Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant remains vacant despite a number of false starts by would-be replacement restaurants.  

A number of area residents are reportedly afraid that Outback Steakhouse, also in Perimeter Place, could be the next to close. 

Mimi's Cafe's other Atlanta area restaurant off Buford Drive near Mall of Georgia in Buford remains open.

Are you surprised that Mimi's Cafe closed?  What would you like to see replace Mimi's Cafe?  Do you think Outback will be next to close?

Please share your thoughts below. 

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

More surprised that it stayed open this long as it was always fairly empty when I'd eat there on Friday or Saturday nights. I assumed it must have gotten a good lunch crowd.

They used to have a very good pot pie that took a good 15-20 minutes to make because of the excellent crust on the pie. But they took it off the menu, likely because of the time it took to make. Since then, I hadn't dined there much.

Anonymous said...

The least shocking news we'll hear this week.
I always thought this should have been a breakfast/lunch only place. Whenever I would walk by it on Friday night there would literally be one or two tables of diners in the entire restaurant. The handful of times I had dinner there, it was just meh. They used to have a really good breakfast/brunch, but the last time we ate there the service was terrible and the food was just okay.

I'm having a hard time coming up with something that I think would do well there that doesn't have a direct competitor very nearby.

Anonymous said...

Been going to that center for years, didnt even know it was there. Where was it in relation to the Target or the Taco Mac?

Indi said...

@ 9:50 am

Dude it was literally right across from Taco Mac. As in 15 steps across the street.

Anonymous said...

@Anon 9:50AM:

LOL - it is directly across the driveway from Taco Mac about 30' from the front door. It sits on the corner opposite Taco Mac on one side and Outback on the other.

CloseOTP said...

@Anon 9/18 @ 9:50AM - Literally across the street from Taco Mac

Mimi's was great when it opened. Last time I went which was a few years ago, quality of food and cleanliness of the restaurant were definitely issues for me.

Anonymous said...

Cute restaurant. Maybe a Red Robbin? Outback sucks ... Bye Felisha!

Anonymous said...

If Outback goes under there, I would like to see a Texas Roadhouse replace it. It think it is a much better restaurant and the area would have a void for an inexpensive steakhouse.

Anonymous said...

I would like to see something like a Big Chow Grill however Genghis Grill didn't too well at the shopping center cattycorner to this one. We need more vegetarian options in this area.

Anonymous said...

The Perimeter Mall area has had profound changing demographics in the past few years. Regarding the majority of surrounding restaurants, we cannot ignore that the quality of food preparation and service has seriously declined in tandem. Remember the awesome glory years of that area with all restauarants packed nightly, basically zero crime, and a happy- energetic vibe? Let's quit being naive and figure out how to fix it before it further deteriorates....

Anonymous said...

The last time I went in there, it had carpet. Carpet and chain restaurants are a disaster waiting to happen.

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