Sunday, September 9, 2018

Bits & Bites

Chick-fil-A celebrated the grand re-opening of its freestanding restaurant on South Cobb Drive in Smyrna Thursday, September 6.  The restaurant, originally built in 1988, was completely demolished and rebuilt.
Chick-fil-A Woodlawn on Johnson Ferry Road in East Cobb had same treatment as the South Cobb location and is slated to reopen in November.  Like South Cobb, the operator in East Cobb is not calling the opening an "opening," but instead, a renovation, and as such, will not be participating in the company's popular "First 100" promotion.  On the other hand, the freestanding Chick-fil-A on North Druid Hills which reopened this past January, did have a "First 100" promotion to celebrate its re-opening after being completely rebuilt.  

The McDonald's on Peachtree Road in Buckhead plans to reopen October 2 after a significant renovation of its interior and exterior.  

Work is finally underway at the upcoming Starbucks on Piedmont Avenue near Grindhouse Killer Burgers in Piedmont Heights.  ToNeTo Atlanta first reported on the planned Starbucks in 2016, after which there had been little to no action at the site.  With permits filed last year, discernable work has finally started to convert the onetime First Federal Savings bank to the coffee shop.  As observant ToNeTo Atlanta readers will recall, the coffee chain previously occupied a nearly identical former bank building on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs which they vacated earlier this year in favor of a new, two story location within the Plaza at City Springs, a restaurant heavy development on the site of the former American Pie bar and restaurant.  As of now, their former Sandy Springs location remains vacant and we hope that another tenant will come along to make use of the building rather than it be demolished.  

Near the upcoming Starbucks, Ford Fry is also opening in a former bank.  ToNeTo Atlanta announced last August that Fry planned to open a new Tex-Mex restaurant in the former bank, but there has been little said of the project in the year plus since then, save for a name: Little Rey.   A "Commercial Conversion" permit was filed with the City of Atlanta June 6 indicating that $1.2 million will be spent to convert the building that was most recently a tattoo parlor, into the trendy restaurant.  It's  unclear when serious work will begin or when the restaurant may actually open. 

Existing Phipps Plaza boutique Valentino plans to relocate to an adjacent space in the coming months.  The new Valentino will be a bit smaller than the current store.  The current Valentino is 2,330 square feet, whereas the new store is expected to be 1,659 square feet.  Henig Furs, which currently occupies the onetime Elie Tahari space into which Valentino is moving is expected to leave the mall.  A permit filed with the City of Atlanta indicates that Valentino will spend $750,000 on the conversion.  

Sotolero Comida Mexicana Restaurant & Bar in Emory Walk shopping center on Clairmont Road has been listed for sale.  The longtime Mexican restaurant has gone through a number of ownership, management and name changes in recent years.  The restaurant was for many years known as Los Loros before becoming T'Kilas in late 2014, and Sotolero in late 2016.  The 3,000 square foot restaurant is being offered at $120,000 with 25% down.  

Nearly six months after opening, Sandy Springs eatery Crafthall Kitchen is tweaking its concept to speed up the ordering process and simplify the experience.  Gone are the separate menus for the business's four separate concepts.  Also gone are the self-ordering kiosks which many patrons lamented slowed down the ordering process.  The renovations were made over the weekend and the restaurant was expected to return to normal business hours and debut their new look Monday September 10.  

Regional News

Cookout, the North Carolina-based burger joint which has expanded significantly in metro Atlanta in recent years, is now growing its Alabama presence as well.  Having recently opened in Montgomery and with another six locations spread across the state, the chain plans next to open in Birmingham/Homewood.  The new Cookout will open in an outparcel of the Wildwood shopping center off Lakeshore Parkway.  Cookout will occupy a new building to be constructed on a portion of a onetime Outback Steakhouse parcel.  The center, currently anchored by a Hobby Lobby and a Sears Outlet, is undergoing a $30 million renovation that will see the addition of new restaurants and retailers. 

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Chick-fil-A Woodlawn on Johnson Ferry Road in East Cobb - no first 100 = CHEAP ASS X 2!!

SHAMEFUL!!

ImAndy said...

So thankful the failed experiment of germ and influenza infested self ordering kiosks in a restaurant has failed. Just as I never (knowingly) drink from Freestyle machines I had no intention of ever visiting this restaurant

Unknown said...

That makes no sense. Freestyle coke machines self clean and do not have miles of dirty syrup lines. I also love self check out I get to make sure my order is correct.

Anonymous said...

"Freestyle coke machines self clean and do not have miles of dirty syrup lines."

No wonder the "soda" coming from Freestyle machines tastes and smells likes cleaning chemicals.
Soda is already toxic!

Anonymous said...

@I'm Andy - I'm not trying to be a smarta$$, but what about touching actual menus? I would think a smooth surfaced ipad like device would hold less germs than a paper menu.

Anonymous said...

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/03/23/your-iphones-dirtier-than-toilet-and-so-these-other-everyday-items/99530570/

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