Sunday, March 3, 2019

[UPDATE] Landmark Diner Jr. Has Closed on Cheshire Bridge Road

Landmark Diner Jr. has closed its location on Cheshire Bridge Road.  The restaurant, an offshoot of Buckhead's Landmark Diner, opened in 2005 and reportedly closed quietly earlier this week.  The restaurant, which was open 24/7, featured a huge menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner options ranging from traditional egg plates to steaks, shrimp entrees and gyros. 
Photo courtesy of Russell Youngblood 


When the Landmark Diner Jr. opened in 2005, it replaced longtime Cheshire Bridge "landmark" Dunk 'n Dine, a popular neighborhood restaurant that operated for more than four decades.  The Landmark Diner building was originally built in 1960 according to Fulton County property records.     

It's unclear what precipitated the sudden closure but the Cheshire Bridge Landmark as well as its larger sibling restaurants downtown and in Buckhead, all have bad reputations for failing health inspections.  Despite the poor heath scores, the restaurant seemed to do well and its closure could be due to a pending redevelopment. 

JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle) is currently marketing not only the Landmark Diner property (2277 Cheshire Bridge Road) but the adjacent European Dry Cleaners (2297) and the former Happy Herman's (2299) too.  Collectively, the three parcels are reportedly .76 acres are being marketed for lease, ground lease or build to suit. 

According to the listing, the Landmark building is 2,300 square feet, European Dry Cleaners is 1,442 sf with 600 square foot basement and the former Happy Herman's is 6,096 square feet. 


The marketing materials further describe the opportunity as "incredible" given its location "in highly desirable intown Atlanta location" with "dense population with high incomes and surrounded by some of Atlanta’s best in-town neighborhoods including Morningside-Lenox Park, Piedmont Heights, Lavista Park and Peachtree-Hills." 

It's a known fact that RaceTrac and QuikTrip would LOVE to be in the area but given the subject assemblage is not even .8 of an acre, it's likely too small for even the most compact of modern c-stores either company would want to open. 


Cheshire Bridge Road, once a beacon of independent businesses, especially restaurants, has witnessed its fair share of casualties over the years.  The aforementioned Happy Herman's closed in 2008 after more than three decades in business.  


Just off Cheshire Bridge, on Lindbergh Drive, Varsity Jr. closed in 2010 and was later replaced by an uber boring self-storage facility. 


Alfredo's, a popular Italian restaurant on Cheshire Bridge Road for more than 40 years, closed in early 2016 and is now home to a mid-rise apartment community. 


Cowtipper's, on nearby Piedmont Avenue, closed this past December after 25 years in business and is slated to be replaced by a Chase Bank.  Before life as Cowtipper's, the restaurant building was home to an outpost of the Old Hickory House chain


Longtime Atlantans likely still yearn for the return of Katz's Deli, a once popular eatery where today Southern Nights, an adult toy and video store is currently located.  


Fortunately, some restaurants have survived the test of time and continuous redevelopment like The Colonnade, Nino's and Hong Kong Harbour, among others.  

We here at ToNeTo Atlanta hope the three properties, especially the dry cleaners and the Landmark building can be renovated and re-purposed rather than demolished. 


What would you like to see happen to these three parcels?  What is your fondest memory of a dining experience on Cheshire Bridge Road?  If someone were to reopen a former Cheshire Bridge area restaurant, which one would you most like to see reborn?


Please share your thoughts below  

17 comments:

Ham said...

It has been sad to see some of the closings in that area. As a life long resident that stretch of road has always been unique and attractive place to visit. Maybe someone can repurpose the property as an eatery, antique or specialty shop.

Leslie C said...

INTERESTING FACTOID: The exterior of JJ's Diner on the Parks & Rec show is of Landmark Diner on Cheshire Bridge.
https://parksandrecreation.fandom.com/wiki/JJ%27s_Diner

Anonymous said...

...And at the other end of CBR, the original "Franco's Pizza" which in the 80s had the best pizza in town.

Anonymous said...

Big fan of diner like places, but Landmark and Buckhead were just far too expensive. Cheshire Bridge is really changing. Wonder how long the adult clubs will hold out?

Anonymous said...

We used to go to the Dunk n' Dine on North Druid Hills near Buford Highway all the time.

atlcubfan said...

The time has come for change on CB. I am ok with more residential development there and maybe some bike lanes and new sidewalks on CB. This a great location that needs to develop and it doesn't have to be high-end either. The city needs starter homes; maybe this location can help fulfill that need to a small extent.

Anonymous said...

It would be nice to see the buildings torn down and replaced by a eatery. Some of the current buildings on Cheshire bridge have been leased to somewhat low class establishments.

Unknown said...

I've only eaten here twice but both times were below expectations with both service and quality of food. The premise is definitely out of date. Unfortunately diners are a losing battle in Atlanta Metro in favor of trendy 'brunch' places. Thumbs Up, Landmark, Atlanta Diner, Decatur Diner, etc. Other than Original Pancake house, there aren't many breakfast options left in this area.

Anonymous said...

There was an episode of How I Met Your Mother that also used the Landmark Jr. on Cheshire as the diner that one of the characters stopped into, on a road trip I believe to see his fiancé and it was during a snow storm.

ScottyBoyAtl said...

I have lived adjacent to CBR for 30 years and yes every establishment that closes is like another death for only in my memory to be shared for others to experience what was at that time. Change is inevitable good or bad i am just greatful for the many car trips i have taken back and forth at all hours on that stretch of road. Ps The things i did, bought and picked up on that road are the very best memories i have.
That street is one of a kind.

Unknown said...

Does anyone remember Twelve Oaks Restaurant at the start of Chesirebridge and Piedmont? Down from there you had Manhatten bakery (sp) and Kelly's diner. Pass Windemere Dr, and you have Rhodes bakery. This was before McDonalds, Pizza hut sprang up just down from Rhodes. memories . . . .




Scully A Go Go said...

Yeah. Screw those quaint historic buildings. Rise for the uninspired cookie cutter multi use for the uninspired tired, uncreative, boring public people they are designed ford!!

Anonymous said...

Scully, please don't talk with your mouth so full!

Anonymous said...

The gravy fries(gay fries) at dunk and dine were epic!

Disneypal said...

I didn't eat at the Landmark Diner but used to go to Dunk 'N Dine with my former boss quite often because he loved the place. I remember in the mid 1970s, my best friend's mom worked at Dunk 'N Dine. I do hope they will re-purpose the building along with the dry cleaners (which is such a beauty in architecture) but I doubt it - no one (especially developers) appreciate the beauty of those kind of buildings anymore and they will most likely be demolished and some kind of high rise condos or yet another large storage building (like the one across the street where the Varsity, Jr. was) will be built. I still miss Happy Herman's and Katz Deli.

Anonymous said...

It's a shame to see this place go. I live in the neighborhood and was by there on the last night. Word from employees was that the landlord increased rent for both the diner and the cleaners to where the diner couldn't make it and the cleaners is on the verge of shutting down.

Dunk-N-Dine said...

I actually worked at Dunk-N-Dine in 1982 at all four locations. Herman Mitchell had a great and loyal staff working for him.

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