[OPA!] Chick-fil-A Venture Aims to Bring Fun Back to Buckhead Center

Red Wagon Ventures, created in 2017 as an affiliate of Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, is planning to open the first ever location of "Kefi", a new venture conceptualized by the business unit.  Kefi, which invites visitors to "rearrange play," will open in Buckhead Triangle, the Selig Enterprises owned shopping center at Peachtree and Wieuca Roads in the heart of Buckhead.  According to assorted brand materials, "Kefi family hangouts" are likely to offer a host of services and activities for children and parents including childcare and educational activities as well as co-working and meeting space, among other amenities.

[Attention, Attention] Ecco to Open November 13 at Phipps Plaza in Buckhead

Atlanta-based Fifth Group plans to open the highly anticipated third outpost of its popular Ecco restaurant Tuesday November 13 at Phipps Plaza in Buckhead.  The new restaurant was constructed on a tiny piece of vacant land adjacent to Nordstrom at Phipps Plaza, at the corner of Wieuca and Peachtree Roads.  The restaurant opens alongside the AC Hotel by Marriott Atlanta Buckhead at Phipps Plaza hotel which opened during the summer of 2016.   

Bits & Bites

The franchised location of Moe's Southwest Grill at Ansley Mall in Midtown will close tonight after not being offered a lease renewal.  ToNeTo Atlanta was first to report October 17 that Ansley Mall owner Selig Enterprises signed a lease with New York based Chopt Creative Salad Co. to open in place of the burrito joint.   

[CLOSURE ALERT] Goin' Coastal to Close November 3 in Virginia Highland

Goin' Coastal announced Monday afternoon via their Facebook page that they plan to close their restaurant on Virginia Avenue in Virginia Highland this Saturday, November 3.  The restaurant, which replaced Figo when it opened in 2010, was the sibling of the original Goin' Coastal in downtown Canton which opened in 2006.  The upscale casual seafood restaurant prided itself on offering only sustainable seafood.  

Bits & Bites

This past Friday, October 26, Pita Street Food celebrated the opening of their newest location in metro Atlanta in Alpharetta on Windward Parkway. The Peachtree City-based quick-serve Mediterranean restaurant now has over a dozen restaurants open around Georgia, one open in Greenville, South Carolina, and upcoming locations in both Montgomery and Auburn, Alabama.  In metro Atlanta, Pita Mediterranean Street Food will also open adjacent to Blaze Pizza in Emory Commons at the corner of Clairmont and North Decatur Roads.  Pita will open in the 1,550 square foot space left from the former Evans Fine Foods.  The space was originally expected to open as a Starbucks.  

[That's A Wrap!] Willy's to Shutter Across From Ponce City Market Sunday

This Sunday, October 28, Willy's Mexicana Grill will close their restaurant at Midtown Place, the Whole Foods Market anchored center across from Ponce City Market in Midtown.  The 1,363 square foot restaurant opened in early 2012 in place of a failed Qdoba, a similar restaurant, then owned by fast food chain Jack in the Box.  The Ponce Willy's was smaller than typical locations and never did as well as the company had hoped, according to sources close to the Atlanta based chain.  

[UPDATE] ToNeTo Atlanta Confirms First Tenants Coming to New Sandy Plains Development

ToNeTo Atlanta has learned the first group of tenants that will occupy the upcoming Publix GreenWise-anchored shopping center [Sandy Plains Marketplace] being developed on the site of the former Mountain View elementary school in East Cobb.

[UPDATE] Chick-fil-A Stone Mountain to Reopen November 1

The Chick-fil-A on Stone Mountain Highway (U.S. 78) in Stone Mountain will reopen Thursday November 1 after being completely demolished and rebuilt.  Owner/Operator Cliff Daniels has operated the Stone Mountain restaurant, originally built in 1996, since 2013.  ToNeTo Atlanta first reported on the planned "scrape & rebuild" last November with the restaurant officially closing July 21, 2018.   The nearly 5,000 square foot restaurant is larger than its predecessor and includes the Atlanta-based chain's updated interior as well as an expanded kitchen, indoor two-story playground and reconfigured parking lot. 

[CLOSURE ALERT] Planet Smoothie to Pull Out of Popular Peachtree Road Center

The Planet Smoothie in The Peach shopping center will close this Sunday, October 28.  The 1,200 square foot smoothie shop has been a tenant in the Publix anchored Buckhead center for many years and is closing due to "rent issues" and is reportedly looking to reopen elsewhere in the area.  The franchise owned location was a corporate store at a time when the chain, founded in Atlanta in 1995, was still based in Atlanta.  The Peach location has gone through a number of changes over the years, including at least one name change when it was rebranded as "Planet Living," with a slightly tweaked menu. 

[EXCLUSIVE] Moe's Southwest Grill Debuts Boring New Look, Higher Prices and Tortas in Sandy Springs

Atlanta-based Moe's Southwest Grill Friday debuted the latest iteration of its restaurant and logo.  The "new" restaurant actually opened in place of an existing Moe's that had been closed for the past month or so to undergo the transformation.  The restaurant at 6090 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, is in a freestanding building a few blocks north of I-285 between Hammond Drive and Mount Vernon Highway.  The restaurant, which is corporately owned, first opened in 2012.

[UPDATE] The Mad Italian to Reopen October 24 in Bigger New Space in Chamblee

ToNeTo Atlanta first announced plans for The Mad Italian to expand and relocate back in the fall of 2016.  In the years since, things have moved far more slowly than patrons or restaurant owner Tom Brown might have liked. Finally, though, the time has come.  The Mad Italian location at 2197 Savoy Drive closed Sunday night.  Brown tells ToNeTo Atlanta that he plans to reopen for lunch Wednesday the 24th in the new location, 2089 Savoy Drive.  

[UPDATE] Mattress Firm Closes Three More Stores in Georgia, Including Comical One on Moreland Avenue

On the heels of Mattress Firm's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing earlier this month and closure last week of 209 stores, the company now plans to close an additional 196 stores including three more in Georgia.  At its height a few years ago, the Houston-based retailer had about 3,500 stores across the country.  Ahead of their bankruptcy filing, industry estimates indicated they operated just shy of 3,300 stores. 

[EXCLUSIVE] Chopt Planning November Debut in Buckhead, Scores Third Atlanta Location

Chopt Creative Salad Co. plans to open in Buckhead's Tuxedo Festival shopping center Monday, November 15, according to sources familiar with the restaurant's plans. (The restaurant's opening is subject to change but current plans are for the 15th.)  The new healthy eatery will open in a corner unit in the center located at the corner of Roswell and Piedmont Roads near Chastain Park.  The Buckhead outpost replaces a former Regions Bank and joins fellow food offerings Zoës Kitchen, Marcello's, Duck Donuts and Menchies in the busy center. 

A City of Atlanta inspector vehicle on site at Chopt last week 

Bits & Bites

Beachwood, Ohio-based DDR Corp., a major owner and manager of open-air shopping centers, last week changed its name to SITE Centers Corp.  In a related move, the company, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange, (NYSE) changed its ticker symbol to SITC from DDR.  "Our new brand reflects our mission to drive sustainable growth by owning and investing in high quality communities and locations," said David R. Lukes, President and Chief Executive Officer of SITE Centers.  "We are focused on maximizing the value of our centers by utilizing our company’s creativity, vision and operating capabilities to generate compelling returns."  The new color scheme is quite a bit "louder" than before with a magenta-centric color scheme.  The company owns a number of centers around metro Atlanta including Brookhaven Plaza in Brookhaven, Cofer Crossing in Tucker and the multi-phase Camp Creek Marketplace in East Point.  The SITE website indicates that the company owns nearly 30 properties in Georgia, making it one of their largest markets by center count.

[SCOOP] Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams Bound for Buckhead In 2019

Well placed sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta that Atlanta will get a fifth location of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, this time in Buckhead.  The new "scoop shop" is slated to occupy a portion of the recently shuttered The North Face store in Buckhead Market Place along West Paces Ferry Road. (The North Face consolidated their Atlanta operations into a single store at Lenox Square.)  

Photo from Morgan Farmer via IG

[UPDATE] The Mercury and The Pinewood Have Gone Off The Deep End

The Mercury in Ponce City Market and The Pinewood, a downtown Decatur favorite – have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  The Mercury in Ponce City Market is a "cocktail focused, classic American eatery" that began serving customers in early 2016 at the popular mixed-use project. The Mid-Century themed restaurant featured plenty of 60s decor and charm and was no doubt an expensive endeavor to launch.  The Pinewood opened on West Ponce de Leon Avenue in downtown Decatur in 2012.  The restaurant replaced popular neighborhood spot Cakes & Ale which expanded and relocated to the Decatur Square. (It closed in its new space earlier this year.)  

Sears Succumbs to its Sluggish Sales, Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Sears, seen by many as the granddaddy of American retail, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  The 132 year old company has been struggling for well over a decade and its bankruptcy filing, while sad, is not all that surprising.  The company is drowning in debt and is unable to afford a $134 million debt payment due Monday. Sears Holdings, the parent company of Sears and Kmart, is among dozens of prominent retailers to declare bankruptcy in the era of Amazon.

[SOS] Legal Sea Foods to Sleep With the Fishes in Downtown Atlanta

Boston's Legal Sea Foods plans to shutter its lone Atlanta outpost at the close of business on Tuesday, December 18, after just over a decade in operation.   The restaurant opened as the onsite restaurant of the Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Downtown in 2008.  While the restaurant was a welcome addition to Atlanta, many readers have lamented over the years that the restaurant just wasn't as good as the original in Boston.    

[OTP] Andy's Frozen Custard Finds Space in Alpharetta

A Missouri-based custard joint is planning to open its first ever Atlanta area location early next year in Alpharetta.  Andy's Frozen Custard is coming to 11700 Cotton Creek Entry, just off Old Milton Parkway, about two miles from Avalon.  

A typical Andy's Frozen Custard

[EXCLUSIVE] Flying Biscuit Cafe to Land in Toco Hills in 2019

A new Flying Biscuit Cafe is slated to open at Toco Hills shopping center next year.  The restaurant, which will occupy a 2,920 square foot space, will, like its recently opened neighbor Chopt Creative Salad Co., take a portion of the former Petite Auberge restaurant.  

[Roasted] Whole Foods Replaces Revelator with Allegro in Chamblee & Kennesaw

In a rather quiet move, Whole Foods Market last week replaced the two Revelator coffee shops in the grocer's Chamblee and Kennesaw stores with Allegro, a brand owned by Whole Foods.  Both coffee shops opened when the grocery stores debuted in August (Chamblee) and October (Kennesaw) of 2017. [Birmingham,Alabama-based Revelator Coffee Company purchased Atlanta-based Octane last March.] 

[OPENING ALERT] Sweetwaters Bringing Coffee Back to TOWN Brookhaven

Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea is coming soon to TOWN Brookhaven.  No, SweetWater Brewing Company is not getting into the coffee business, instead, a franchise from Michigan will open its first location in the Peach State.  The new Sweetwaters will open alongside Marble Slab Creamery and Flying Biscuit Cafe in a portion of the space previously home to Copper Coin, a cafe, coffee, beer and wine bar.  

An existing Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea in Michigan

[UPDATE] S&W Seafood Goes Fishing For New Owner

After a little less than a year in business, David Weinberg of S&W Seafood is putting the business up for sale.  A  listing from The Shumacher Group indicates that the 2,800 square foot restaurant is being offered for $99,000 with "generous owner financing options with as low as 50% down."  The restaurant is located in Johns Creek at 5805 State Bridge Road, near its intersection with Medlock Bridge Road in Medlock Corners shopping center.  

Bits & Bites

After originally being sold as condos, the upcoming Peachtree Road high-rise The Sutton is converting to apartments.  The 151 unit development reportedly pre-sold just 30 units, causing the developer to switch gears to rentals rather than ownership.  The new leasing center, located in a small strip center adjacent to the project, opened this past Monday in tandem with the launch of the new website complete with pricing.  The project will offer 1,2 and three bedroom apartments and be managed by Atlanta-based RAM Partners. The updated website for The Sutton indicates the current plan is for the property to welcome their first move-ins May 2019.  The Charles, the other condo project still moving forward as condos, at 57 units, is about a third the size of The Sutton and is reportedly 70% sold with planned delivery in August 2019.  

[UPDATE] Mattress Firm to Shutter 200 Stores, Five in Georgia

Bankrupt mattress retailer Mattress Firm Friday announced the first 200 of what could ultimately be 700 store closures as it works to trim its breath-taking number of stores and remain a going concern.  The first closures include 35 in its home state of Texas, 29 in Illinois and the balance in other markets in which the company operates.  In Georgia - where Mattress Firm seems to operate multiple stores across from, down the road from or otherwise on top of other Mattress Firm stores - the retailer only plans to close five stores.  Amazingly, the stores slated for closure in Georgia include no stores inside the perimeter and only two in metro Atlanta.  Overall, the company operates about 3,500 stores nationwide.  

[EXCLUSIVE] DSW to Step Into Merchant's Walk in 2019

DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) will be opening a new location at Merchant's Walk in East Cobb county in 2019.  The new 14,543 square foot store will occupy a portion of Office Depot which was left vacant following the office supply store's downsizing and re-branding from OfficeMax about two years ago.

Bits & Bites

Designer jeweler boutique Mayors will relocate next spring from their current first floor space near Victoria's Secret to a new space near Starbucks at the cusp of the Lenox Luxury Wing.  The store will assume both the former Bvlgari boutique as well as a portion of the former Fendi boutique. (Bvlgari left the market, while Fendi relocated and expanded to the Luxury Wing).  French cosmetics and skincare retailer L'Occitane will occupy the remaining portion of the Fendi space, planning to relocate back to Lenox Square from The Shops Buckhead Atlanta.  The new Mayors store will measure 3,224 square feet, larger than the company's current 2,993 square foot space.  The new store, which is slated to include a Rolex boutique, will have separate entrances for the store and the luxe timepiece brand.    

[EXCLUSIVE] Embassy Suites Planning Second Hartsfield Area Hotel in Hapeville

A local source tells ToNeTo Atlanta that a deal was recently struck to bring a new Embassy Suites hotel to Virginia Avenue near the Delta Air Lines headquarters in Hapeville.  The new hotel would be constructed on a portion of the site currently home to the Virginia Crossings office complex at he corner of Virginia Avenue and International Boulevard.  The complex, which Fulton County records indicates was once owned by Delta Air Lines, was built in 1963 and is comprised of four low-rise office buildings.  Previously proposed plans to redevelop the entire office complex remain tabled for the foreseeable future. 

A typical Embassy Suites hotel 

[UPDATE] Flower Child to Bloom in Sandy Springs October 17

Flower Child, a quick-service healthy eatery from Sam Fox, creator of True Food Kitchen, is expected to open its second Atlanta area location Wednesday, October 17 in Sandy Springs.  The new restaurant is opening in a roughly 3,500 square foot corner space along Johnson Ferry Road at the new City Springs development.  The chain's first area location opened this past June at the Shops Around Lenox in Buckhead and like Sandy Springs, features an expansive outdoor patio.  

[Ahoy!] Captain D's Plans to Drop Anchor in Norcross

A new Captain D's Seafood Kitchen is being planned for Jimmy Carter Boulevard, just off Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Norcross.  The new restaurant is slated to open alongside relatively new locations of both RaceTrac and Zaxby's, along with PetSuites of America.  The approximately 2,200 square foot restaurant will be built on a roughly .8 acre site.  The new Norcross Captain D's will be one of the first new build restaurants the Nashville-based company has built in metro Atlanta in the past decade or so.

Modern Day Captain D's 

Chicken Chain Guthrie's to Cross State Line, Return to Greater Metro Atlanta

Guthrie's, which proudly proclaims itself to be the home of "The Original Golden Fried Chicken Fingers," is returning to the greater metro Atlanta area after a three year absence.  Our friends at Scoop OTP reported Friday that the company is looking to open at least four new locations in the coming years including two in Canton in Cherokee County, one in Cobb County and another one in Locust Grove in Henry County.