Steel City Pops has abandoned plans to open in the new Madison Yards project in Reynoldstown. The lease, which was to have been the Birmingham, Alabama-based popsicle company's second in metro Atlanta, was terminated within the past few weeks, according to a source with knowledge of the project. The first Steel City Pops in metro Atlanta opened in fall 2017 on Church Street in downtown Decatur. When it opened, the plan was for the Decatur "Kitchen" store to supply product for several "satellite" locations elsewhere in metro Atlanta.
The recently opened Four Fat Cows in Dunwoody |
Although it's unclear why exactly Steel City Pops scrapped their Madison Yards plans, one possible explanation could be the negative press and brand bashing that followed a three part series from Decaturish that reported on the behind the scenes battle for vending rights between Steel City and King of Pops in the City of Decatur.
[We here at ToNeTo Atlanta like both King of Pops and Steel City Pops and feel that both offer great products. It's unfortunate to see so many people make such defined lines in the sand over popsicles.]
In place of Steel City Pops, Madison Yards developer Fuqua Development has secured a lease with local ice cream shop Four Fat Cows. Based in Alpharetta and with four locations open thus far, Four Fat Cows sells both ice cream they make, as well as ice cream made by Chamblee's Greenwood Ice Cream. The shop also features a curated selection of toys and accessories.
Four Fat Cows joins anchors Publix and AMC Theatres along with a host of eateries at the new mixed-use project at the corner of Bill Kennedy Way and Memorial Drive not far from the BeltLine Eastside Trail. The Madison Yards ice cream outpost will be 1,000 square feet and should open late this fall.
The new Madison Yards location will likely be the sixth for Four Fat Cows with owner Robyn Thompson planning to open a production facility and ice cream shop on Pharr Road in Buckhead by mid-August. Thompson tells us that she and Brenden Higbee, her son and business partner, have several other stores planned for metro Atlanta and potentially in surrounding southern states over the next couple of years.
Have you been to Four Fat Cows? What is your favorite local ice cream purveyor? Where would you like to see Four Fat Cows open next?
Please share your thoughts below.
5 comments:
Putting the politics aside of why the city of Decatur favored Steel City over King of Pops, I think Steel City makes a far superior products. Their pops are more flavorful and tastier than King of Pops and they have far more flavors. And I have no affiliation whatsoever with Steel City
Steel City's IG page said to stay tuned for big news next friday. Maybe they've just found what they think is a better spot. #shrug
It's a nice surprise to see that a local company will be able to take this spot. I don't think popsicle shops are a political topic but when one tries to use their ties to the local government to shut out competition then you do get into dicey territory.
Putting the politics aside of why the city of Decatur favored Steel City over King of Pops, I think King of Pops makes a far superior products. Their pops are more flavorful and tastier than Steel City Pops and they have far more flavors. And I have no affiliation whatsoever with King of Pops.
Ignatius J. Reilly opines that food cart politics irritates his valve.
Post a Comment