Bits & Bites

American Pasta Factory plans to make its long awaited debut in Roswell next week.  The quick serve Italian eatery is located on Alpharetta Street in Roswell in a heavily renovated onetime Burger Chef restaurant.  

Ciao! Bar Americano & Bar Crema Belly Up in Buckhead

Less than six months after opening, Bar Americano and Bar Crema have closed.  The sibling Italian concepts, a restaurant and coffee, gelato & panini cafe, were located at 56 East Andrews Drive in the recently renovated Andrews Square center in Buckhead's West Village.  The two restaurants opened shortly before Thanksgiving in space previously occupied by bars & restaurants in the East Andrews Entertainment District.  

[UPDATE] Residents Looking Forward to North DeKalb Costco, Less Enthusiastic About Apartments, Traffic

The first of what will likely be many community meetings was held last night to discuss upcoming redevelopment plans at North DeKalb Mall.  The new development, dubbed "Decatur Landing," is set to include the long awaited Costco store, along with a few relocated existing tenants as well as new retailers and restaurants plus apartments, townhomes and a hotel.  

Click to enlarge 

[EXCLUSIVE] RHOA's Kandi Burruss Bringing Old Lady Gang to East Point

Just over a year after the opening of the original Old Lady Gang on Peters Street in Castleberry Hill, owners Kandi Burruss-Tucker and husband Todd Tucker have inked a deal to open a second location.  The new Old Lady Gang will open in a 2,800 square foot space in Camp Creek Marketplace on Camp Creek Parkway in East Point.  The new restaurant will replace the short-lived Boneheads which lasted less than two years in business.  

The Shops Buckhead Atlanta Lands Upscale Workspace Business No18

The Shops Buckhead Atlanta has secured a lease with No18, a new-to-market flexible workspace business.  Slated to open later this fall, No18 will be located at 3017 Bolling Way and will occupy nearly 32,000 square feet of retail space.  The location at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta will be the Swedish firm's first in the United States and according to its website just its third overall.  

Interior of an existing No18 location 

Irby's Tavern's Goal is to Become THE Atlanta Sports Bar

In place of Meehan's Public House which closed its Buckhead location on East Paces Ferry Road Friday evening after nearly four years in business, a group of business partners plan to open Irby's Tavern.  Sources close to the situation indicate that Meehan's sudden closure [without warning to their employees or patrons] was brought about by the fact the the offer to assume the restaurant's lease was "now or never," and that 101 Concepts took the opportunity to dedicate their resources to their other concepts/locations.  

Meehan's Buckhead Saturday night 

Meehan's Pulls an Irish Goodbye in Buckhead, Now Closed

The Buckhead location of Meehan's Public House abruptly closed last night after about four years in business.  Atlanta based 101 Concepts opened the restaurant on East Paces Ferry Road in summer 2014.  Meehan's opened adjacent to the then recently enlarged and relocated Al's Cafe Agora, and within close proximity of Fado Irish Pub, the incumbent pub of choice for Irish fare in Buckhead.  

Local Firm Planning Significant Sandy Springs Redevelopment

Sandy Springs-based developer Heritage Capitol Partners is proposing a huge mixed-use development on Roswell and Pitts Roads in Sandy Springs.  The roughly 40 acre development would cover three existing properties: the Dunwoody Pointe apartments at 7901 Roswell; the Stockholders Place office complex at 8097 Roswell; and a wooded area home to a historic cemetery, which runs alongside the Addison apartments at 7889 Roswell.  The proposed new development, dubbed “Heritage on Roswell,” would include 600 apartments, 150 town-homes, about 50,000 square feet of retail & restaurant space and a 125,000 square foot "Community Kroger."

The general area of the redevelopment in red and the general location of the Power cemetery in yellow

DeKalb Plans for Cross Keys to Cross Buford Highway, Relocate to Former Briarcliff High Site

According to Reporter Newspapers, The DeKalb Board of Education earlier this week approved building a new Cross Keys High School at the former Briarcliff High School site on North Druid Hills Road.  The site was approved despite opposition from Marshall Orson, Stan Jester and James McMahan, the three board members closest to the site, who said traffic in the area would make it inaccessible for many on Buford Highway. 

Briarcliff High School in its heyday

Starbucks Scores Space in Buckhead Target Store

The Target at Lenox Marketplace will soon undergo a renovation that will see the additon of a Starbucks to its store.  The two level, 163,000+ square foot Target, opened in 1999, and currently has a Pizza Hut Express and self branded cafe as its food offerings.  The cafe is located on the store's second level, close to the entrance.  

An example of a Starbucks within a Target store 

Bits & Bites

The new Starbucks at The Plaza at City Springs plans to open this Friday April 20. An existing Starbucks in a former First Federal Savings bank closed in advance of the new opening.  The new Starbucks features mezzanine seating on its second floor.   There is no word on the future of the former building, but despite its parking challenges, we hope its unique architectural elements save it from the wrecking ball.  

Self Storage Facility Proposed on Site of Former Seafood Spot in Brookhaven

TD Self Storage Enterpise, LLC is proposing a new self-storage facility on Buford Highway in Brookhaven.  The 85,000 square foot climate-controlled facility would open at 2991 Buford Highway,  just off North Druid Hills Road.  The new facility would open in place of a what was once a Captain D's restaurant that had more recently been operating as a used car lot.  A Denny's franchise group announced plans in 2014 to open a new Denny's at the location, but those plans failed to materialize.  

[UPDATE] The Marietta Local to Open in Place of Mountain Biscuits in Kennesaw

Sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta that Marietta's The Marietta Local will be opening in place of Kennesaw's Mountain Biscuits.  As we reported earlier today, Mountain Biscuits is relocating to Dallas later this summer.  Mountain Biscuits owner Deborah Ingram tell us that the current location has "just grown so big and so busy" and that she had no time for her grandchildren or her horse rescue.  The new location should provide her more family time.       

Lemonis Sours on Sweet Pete's, Goes With Outdoors Retailers Erehwon & Overton's Instead

Marcus Lemonis has now apparently abandoned plans not only for Farrell's at The Battery Atlanta, but for Sweet Pete's, as well.  The large two-story space at The Battery that previously displayed signage for Sweet Pete's and Farrell's was quietly taken down over the weekend and replaced by signage for erehwon mountain outfitter and Overton's.  

Leaving Kennesaw, Mountain Biscuits to Rise in Dallas

Mountain Biscuits, a Kennesaw favorite for breakfast and lunch, is relocating to Dallas, citing high rent as a leading factor in their decision to relocate.  The restaurant, located at 1718 Old 41 Highway at the foot of Kennesaw Mountain, first opened in 2009 before expanding - nearly tripling in size - in 2016.  

Chase Cashes in on Former Alpharetta Chicken Chain Location

The short-lived Pollo Tropical on Haynes Bridge Road near North Point Mall in Alpharetta will soon reopen as a Chase Bank.  The freestanding restaurant opened in 2013 and was the 100th company owned store.  The Alpharetta location, 10900 Haynes Bridge Road, along with a few others in metro Atlanta and other markets, closed last year, as the restaurant's parent company, Fiesta Brands, pulled back on their aggressive expansion.  

[SOURCE] The Ritz-Carlton to Return to Buckhead

A well placed source indicates that plans are being finalized to turn the former Houston's restaurant parcel and the adjacent former Ruby Tuesday restaurant property into a new The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Buckhead.  The Ruby Tuesday property is currently occupied by Katana, a Japanese restaurant.  Combined, the two properties are about 1.54 acres, according to Fulton County property records.

Jonathan Adler to Shutter Store at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta

Home decor and gift retailer Jonathan Adler is closing its lone store in Atlanta. The store, located on the Peachtree Road facing portion of The Shops Buckhead Atlanta in Buckhead, opened in June 2015 and is slated to close by mid May.  The store is currently offering 30% off all in-stock merchandise, 50-70% off floor models, and an extra 30% off sale and clearance merchandise.  

Inside the Jonathan Adler store at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta

[UPDATE] Costco CONFIRMED at North DeKalb Mall

According to Decaturish, the Costco store at North DeKalb Mall is approaching initial site work .  Readers of both ToNeTo Atlanta and Decaturish reached out Friday with news that they had received a flyer in the mail of a "community [rezoning] meeting" regarding a proposed rezoning of the North DeKalb Mall property.  The meeting, planned for Thursday April 26, will take place in the former ROSS Dress For Less in the mall and will last from 7 to 8 pm.

[ACTION!] Battery Atlanta Secures Lease With Premium Theater Operator Silverspot

The Braves Development Company (BDC) earlier today confirmed a lease has been signed with premium movie theater operator Silverspot Cinema.   ToNeTo Atlanta was first tipped off to its upcoming opening last month, but at that time the lease was reportedly not yet signed.  The new theater will span 38,000 square feet with eleven screens, offering a wide range of film, programming and events as well as a full bar and in-theater dining.  

[UPDATE] Grub Burger Bar to Debut in Sandy Springs Early May

After a series of delays, the new Grub Burger Bar in Sandy Springs is nearly finished.  College Station, Texas-based Grub Burger Bar plans to open its fourth metro Atlanta location in early May (potentially as soon as Tuesday May 1) at the corner of Peachtree Dunwoody Road and Hammond Drive in the street level retail of the new Hanover Perimeter apartment complex.  

Bits & Bites

The next area location of Chicken Salad Chick will be in Cumming.   After opening its latest chopped chicken shop in Vinings last month, Chicken Salad Chick is expanding to The Collection at Forsyth in Cumming.  The new shop will open Tuesday May 1 and is the 10th unit owned by Atlanta-based Origin Development Group.   

[UPDATE] City Springs Reveals Restaurant & Retail Lineup

This past fall, ToNeTo Atlanta uncovered the first few tenants planned for the massive new City Springs development in Sandy Springs.  We honored the request of Selig Enterprises in not releasing those names at that time as some leases were not yet finalized.  While it has it has been tough sitting on such exciting news, we are pleased to say the ink is dry and the City officially announced today that a number of new restaurants will be opening in the mixed-use development. 

    

Developer Proposing Huge New Residential Project Near North DeKalb Mall

Arrowhead Investors, LLC has submitted a rezoning request to DeKalb County to have about 13 acres rezoned to allow for the construction of over 100 single-family and town home units near Decatur.  The developer seeks to have the assemblage rezoned from R-75 (Residential Medium Lot-75) to RSM (Residential Small Lot Mix).  As proposed, the new residential development would consist of 26 single-family residential lots and 76 attached town home units at a density of 7.9 units per acre.

Having Sold Out to CHOA, Unitarian Universalist Congregation Hoping to Relocate to "Holy" Site

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta is seeking a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) for what it hopes will be its new home on North Druid Hills Road in unincorporated DeKalb county.  The Congregation, which is currently located at 1911 Cliff Valley Way, sold its property to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta this past May.  The Congregation is hoping to relocate to 2650 North Druid Hills Road, a site most recently home to Still Waters United Methodist Church.

An aerial view of the Still Waters property as shown in marketing materials 

[REPORT] Antico Pizza Planning to Take Slice of Sandy Springs

Antico Pizza Napoletana plans to open a new location in Sandy Springs according to a report from Reporter Newspapers.  The popular Neapolitan pizzeria with existing locations in Home Park near Georgia Tech, The Battery Atlanta at SunTrust Park, Avalon in Alpharetta and at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, plans to open its latest restaurant just off Roswell Road in place of a pottery business.   

The 4 Seasons Pottery site as seen from Boylston Drive in a Google Earth image

Bits & Bites

Wellspring Treasures is closing its thrift store at Toco Hills shopping center Saturday April 21.  The organization provides coaching and community integration for survivors of sexual exploitation.  The group's other locations in Duluth and Peachtree City will remain open.  Wellspring is the second thrift store to close in the center following last year's closure of The Nearly New Shop, a service of the Junior League of Atlanta.  The two thrift stores are among about a dozen longtime Toco Hills tenants that have closed in the past couple of years, following the center's acquisition by Edens and their revamping of the historic complex.  

[EXCLUSIVE] Greater Good Bringing Its BBQ to The Westside

The owners of Fellini's and La Fonda plan to bring their third concept, The Greater Good BBQ to Atlanta's Westside later this year.  The restaurant, to be located at 1021 Howell Mill Road, will open alongside La Fonda at the corner of 11th Street & Howell Mill Road. 

[Expansion Alert] Indian Fast Casual Curry Up Now Signs Atlanta Franchise Agreement

Earlier today it was revealed that Curry Up Now, a San Francisco-based Indian fast casual eatery, finalized franchise agreements to bring the growing concept to Atlanta, in addition to Sacramento, Cakifornia. Both franchisees are reportedly in the early stages of scouting real estate options in their respective cities and hope to open their first locations by the end of the year.

[OPENING ALERT] Crafthall Kitchen to Soft Open Thursday

A new food concept in Sandy Springs called Crafthall Kitchen, about which we first reported in November, plans to "soft open" Thursday April 5 .  The restaurant, a collection of four concepts in one space, allows customers to choose from menus across the four concepts from a single counter.  

The self-service ordering stations at Crafthall Kitchen 

[UPDATE] La Fonda to Reopen on Peachtree Road in Buckhead!

After receiving a number of inquiries from eager patrons, ToNeTo Atlanta is pleased to report that well-placed sources close to the Fellini's Pizza group indicate that they plan to reopen their La Fonda Latina restaurant on Peachtree Road later this spring.  

Refreshed exterior of the La Fonda on Peachtree in Buckhead 

[UPDATE] DeKalb Pumps The Brakes on Proposed RaceTrac & Wendy's Development

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners met March 27 to discuss the proposed redevelopment of the southwest corner of Clairmont and Briarcliff Roads. As proposed, the development, would include a RaceTrac fuel center  & convenience store, Wendy's with a drive-thru, and a relocated Express Oil Change.  Brookhaven resident and real estate developer Jay Gipson of The Gipson Company has the roughly 3.85 acre parcel under contract, but needs  approval of his requested SLUPs (Special Land Use Permits) for the project to go forward.

[EXCLUSIVE] Atlantic Station Boneheads to Shutter and Make Way For Pho 24, Fo Real

Boneheads will soon close its restaurant at Atlantic Station.  The restaurant, which is being replaced by Pho 24, was one the last few remaining Boneheads in business in metro Atlanta.  Boneheads, which offered "fresh" seafood in a quick serve setting, was originally launched in 2006 by Moe's Southwest Grill creator Raving Brands.  The Atlantic Station Boenheads was for a time known as Fish Hook Grille, essentially the same concept with a different name, but it eventually reverted back to the Boneheads moniker.