Sunday, March 29, 2020

[UPDATE] Metrotainment Cafes Closes Several Restaurants, Some Permanently?

Several readers reached out to ToNeTo Atlanta with questions about the recent closure of Sugar Shack in Brookhaven.  Newly installed signage at the shop's front door indicates that the business is closed and thanks customers for 10 years of business.  The closure, which many figured was due the COVID-19 pandemic, seemed worded as though it is permanent rather than temporary.  ToNeTo Atlanta reached out to Tori Allen of Tori Allen Public Relations, who handles media inquiries on behalf of Sugar Shack owner Metrotainment Cafes.
According to Allen, the closures of Sugar Shack - as well as Hudson Grille North Point, Einsteins &  Joe’s on Juniper - are all "temporarily" due to the pandemic.

"With the Coronavirus pandemic and limited traffic/sales, the restaurants have closed temporarily, with only a few open and available for takeout including Hudson Grille locations in Downtown, Kennesaw, Midtown, Sandy Springs and Tucker."

Those restaurants that Metrotaiment closed were shuttered "because of slow traffic and adhering to the government suggestions of closure and social distancing."

Allen "fully denied" speculation that the entire restaurant group was closing.

"There is no plan at all to permanently close the entire company. Plans even continue forward with Little 5 Points location of Hudson Grille once the pandemic is no longer a threat, and again we have five currently operating stores offering takeout to provide additional income for employees."

If Sugar Shack (or others) never reopen, they would join a growing list of Metrotainment concepts to have closed in the past sixteen months.

Cowtippers, one of the group's most popular restaurants, closed at the end of 2018, after a prolonged curtain call.  The site, once the home of an outpost of The Old Hickory House, was subsequently demolished with a new Chase Bank currently under construction in its place. 

The group in 2018 also officially called off plans to open a new Hudson Grille at Toco Hills, where Famous Pub had closed at the end of 2016.

This past October, Metrotainment closed its Hudson FC soccer-themed sports bar at Brookhaven Station, where it was situated a stone's throw from Hudson Grille and adjacent to Sugar Shack.  “We feel that while the restaurant was successful and became a home for Atlanta United and all soccer fans, it was not an ideal location for a soccer bar,"  Landau said at the time of the closure.

At the end of 2019, Guaco Joe's, the company's Mexican concept, quietly closed at Vinings Jubilee, where it had operated for about five years.

Metrotainment closed its Hudson Grille at Brookhaven Station in early March, after being "unable to agree to terms" on the restaurant's lease with its landlord.

Earlier this week, Hayley Mason of CBS46 reported on issues being experienced by Metrotainment Cafes and their inability to fully pay staff - dating back to February - for hours worked.  Company owner Jeff Landau reportedly told CBS46 that the company's bank accounts are "completely empty right now" and that they will pay employees in full when they can.  Landau told CBS46 that minimum wage employees were paid their full pay, while other employees were paid only a portion of what is owed them.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

"...Plans even continue forward with Little 5 Points location of Hudson Grille..." Really? How is that going to work???? Why not an Applebees while we are at it???

Anonymous said...

You seem annoying.

Loyal said...

Please reopen Sugar Shack in Brookhaven. Sugar Shack had the best CAKES and breakfast or lunch menu. Great customer service and was a place where we could sit to chat and enjoy ourselves! Spent many times there with my 93 year old friend.

It is greatly missed!



Unknown said...

What about metrotainment bakery??? Their website is down.

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