[SPECIAL] Brookfield Properties Introduces New Promotion Where Customers Can "Eat - Win - Win"

Brookfield Properties, owner of several Atlanta area malls (and many more around the country), has begun a special promotion whereby restaurant patrons, a deserving charity and the restaurants being patronized stand to benefit!  Dine & Delight, which the company quietly launched a few days ago,  provides rebates for customers who patronize select restaurants and a donation to Feeding America's COVID-19 Response Fund.  

[UPDATE] After 30 Years, Georgia Grille Closes in Peachtree Battle

Southwestern restaurant Georgia Grille is closing its doors for good after 30 years in business, the popular local spot announced Monday via its Facebook page.  The restaurant, located just south of Peachtree Battle in Peachtree Square shopping center, is the second restaurant to close in the center in just the past few months following the September 2019 closure of Panera Bread.  When Georgia Grille opened in 1990, it replaced Gianni's Restaurante Italiano.

[UPDATE] Several Hundred Restaurants, Mostly Chains, Reopening For Dine-In Service Today

This past Monday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced plans to begin [allowing] the reopening of select businesses which were temporarily shuttered by state mandate in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.  Despite the fact that COVID-19 is believed to still be very much a threat to metro Atlanta, the state, and the country, Kemp apparently feels the time is right to allow some businesses to reopen.  Gyms, salons, and other indoor facilities were able to start reopening this past Friday (although few actually did) and restaurants can resume full operation as of today, April 27, contingent on compliance with 39 state guidelines.

[EXCLUSIVE] A Time to Gain, a Time to Lose...To Everything There is a Season

In a quiet weekend move, Seasons 52 closed its Buckhead location permanently.  The restaurant, located at 3050 Peachtree Road in Two Buckhead Plaza, opened in 2006, and according to a message on the restaurant's voicemail, closed as of Monday, April 27.  When the restaurant first opened, it marked the first expansion for the then fledgling concept from owner Darden Restaurant's home market of Florida.  

[TOASTED] Quiznos Quits Chamblee

Quiznos has closed one of its last locations in metro Atlanta.  In the past few days, the Quiznos in Chamblee Plaza closed "for ever" according to a sign on the business's front door.  The roughly 2,500 square foot franchised location was reportedly "priced out" after owner Trinity Development invested millions in upgrades to the center and increased rents as a result.  Following the closure there will be just three Quiznos left in metro Atlanta: two downtown and one in midtown.  The Quiznos website indicates there is a fourth Georgia location at a Marriott hotel in Augusta and a fifth in Kingsland in southeast Georgia.

[UPDATE] Gusto to Open Next Month in Chastain Park

Gusto founder Nate Hybl announced via Instagram Thursday that his upcoming Chastain Park location will open Friday, May 8.  The new restaurant is opening in The Fresh Market-anchored Roswell Wieuca shopping center on Roswell Road near Chastain Park.  Gusto will open in place of what was most recently Cheeseburger Bobby's, situated between Willy's Mexicana Grill and Chicken Salad Chick.  Hybl tells ToNeTo Atlanta that given the COVID-19 situation, he does not expect the restaurant to offer on-premise dining but will instead open for takeout and delivery only.  The restaurant offers delivery via Uber Eats, Postmates, DoorDash and Grubhub, as well as direct delivery from Gusto teammates.  

[EXCLUSIVE] Kroger Closing Cambridge Square Store in Brookhaven

It was revealed Thursday that Kroger plans to later this year close its longstanding store in Brookhaven.  The roughly 41,000 square foot store which anchors Cambridge Square at 2036 Johnson Ferry near its intersection with Ashford Dunwoody Road, opened in 2001.  Prior to becoming a Kroger the store previously operated as a Harris Teeter and before that, a Winn-Dixie for more than thirty years.  The store is due to close permanently at the close of business on Saturday August 1, shortly ahead of the culmination of the grocer's current lease which reportedly ends September 30. 

[CLOSURE ALERT] Levi's Apparently Not A Good "Fit" in Alpharetta, Store Shuttered After Three Years

Levi's has closed at Avalon in Alpharetta.

[OPENING ALERT] Local Entrepreneur Opens the Doors (For Takeout) to Her Buckhead Bakery

At a time when so many restaurants, cafes and other eating establishments are closing either temporarily or permanently, at least one has just opened!  Garnet Gal's, located in Lenox Village along Lenox Road, features organic coffee, breakfast, and lunch daily.  The 1,540 square foot shop occupies a space previously home to Mae's Bakery. [Mae's continues to operate, but is currently without a physical retail location.]  Roaster's and Sushi Kiku are among the shop's co-tenants in the shopping center. 

[CLOSURE ALERT] Boston Market Closes Restaurants in Duluth and Sandy Springs

Quick-serve restaurant Boston Market has closed its longstanding locations at 5903 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs and at 4215 Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth.  The Sandy Springs restaurant, located in a freestanding building a few blocks north of I-285, occupied an outparcel of what is currently a Lowe's and was previously a Kmart-anchored shopping center.  The Duluth restaurant was situated along Pleasant Hill Road, just off Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and across from the Kroger-anchored Peachtree Hill shopping center.     

[CLOSURE ALERT] Burger King Bows Out of Roswell

The Burger King at 11570 Alpharetta Highway in Roswell has closed.  The restaurant, located near the corner of Hembree Road and Alpharetta Highway, first opened in 1988, according to Fulton County records.  Over its more than three decades in business, the restaurant had only received minimal renovations, with its exterior still very "80s."  The Roswell restaurant was a franchise owned by Alpharetta-based Southern Restaurant Hospitality Group, LLC. 

[UPDATE] Perimeter Marketplace Moving Forward in Dunwoody

Despite the current COVID-19 situation, commercial real estate progress is still happening in Atlanta and around the country, albeit more slowly and in fewer numbers than normal. [International Council of Shopping Centers has "suspended" its annual RECon convention in Las Vegas that was scheduled for May 17-19.]  In Dunwoody, for instance, new plans indicate that Perimeter Marketplace, the new Branch Properties grocery-anchored shopping center coming to Ashford Dunwoody Road, is continuing to move forward.  

[THAT'S ALL FOLKS] Folks Southern Kitchen Files For Bankruptcy, Plans to Liquidate

The three remaining Folks Southern Kitchen restaurants closed March 23 which the company said was temporary, but new information suggests will be permanent.  Folks, like other restaurants that have closed in recent weeks, was likely not the most financially stable and the pandemic seemingly accelerated the inevitable.  The company filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy in the Northern District of Georgia Monday.  

[POPS] One of The "King's" Men Defects to Rival Pop Producer: Both Need Your Support

The COVID-19 pandemic has for us (like basically everyone else) meant that in addition to social distancing, our email box has filled hourly with basically every company, store, and restaurant with which we have ever done business updating us on their current offerings and status.  Mixed in with the many local and chain businesses we heard from was an email from Steel City Pops.  As many will recall, Steel City, named for its home city of Birmingham, Alabama, previously operated a pop shop in Atlanta, but closed it last year.

[UPDATE] Ten Restaurants Getting Creative During COVID-19

Friday we shared news that select Waffle House restaurants were offering their products "grocery style," and the response was so overwhelming that we decided to highlight a few other DIY restaurant options.  The restaurants below are offering versions of their typical menu items (and even some special items) packaged to be prepared and enjoyed at home.

Farm Burger - "Backyard Cookout Kit" (serves 6)

[ALERT] Support Your Local Waffle House or Start Imagining A World Without It

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll not only on human life (4,000 deaths and counting in the U.S.) but also on industries, perhaps most of all, hospitality.  Hotels are running at nearly 100% vacancy and furloughing thousands of employees.  Restaurants are doing whatever they can to remain in business.  Restaurants you would have never thought would be offering takeout (Aria & Umi) are doing so, while others (Arnette's Chop Shop and Bell Street Burritos) have morphed into markets selling grocery and protein items they might have previously offered on their menu.