Tuesday, September 8, 2020

[SLICED] Schlotzsky's Shutters Strip Center Sandwich Shop

Schlotzsky's has closed its restaurant near Cumberland Mall in Atlanta.  The restaurant, across from Akers Mill Square at 2980 Cobb Parkway in Cumberland Festival, had been in business for more than a decade before closing within the past month.  The Cumberland outpost was one that within the past year received the company's redesigned look and branding reflecting the concept's "Schlotzsky's Austin Eatery" brand imaging and decor.  The restaurant was also paired with a Cinnabon, a sibling concept from parent company Atlanta-based FOCUS Brands.  The restaurant was corporately owned and managed by FOCUS Brands.  

The Cumberland Schlotzsky's is at least the second longstanding Atlanta area FOCUS Brands concept to close a short time after a significant branding overhaul.  The Moe's Southwest Grill at 6090 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs was one of the first units to display the burrito joint's latest brand imaging, decor and logo when it re-opened after an extensive renovation in October 2018.   The restaurant, which like the Cumberland Schlotzsky's was well established, having opened in 2011, closed a short time after its overhaul, closing for good in December 2019.   

Strangely, in the case of Schlotzsky's, signage at the restaurant indicates that the closure is "temporary," and that "we will open again," despite the fact that all FF&E has been removed from the restaurant, all permanent signage has been removed from the exterior, and its listing has been removed from the Schlotzsky's website.  Additionally, the 2,546 square foot Schlotzsky's space is marked as "Restaurant Available" on the marketing flyer for Cumberland Festival.  

It definitely seems like this year's "temporarily closed" is last year's "closed for renovations."  

A source with knowledge of the leasing efforts at Cumberland Festival tells ToNeTo Atlanta that they have seen a good bit of activity on the space and have "several interested parties." 

The closure of the Cumberland outpost is at least the fourth Schlotzsky's in close in metro Atlanta over the past few years.  Locations in Tucker on LaVista Road, Dunwoody in Perimeter Village shopping center and in Norcross along Holcomb Bridge Road, among others, have all closed in years past. 

For area customers still seeking Schlotzsky's or Cinnabon offerings, the deli shop remains opens at The Terrace at Windy Hill at 3000 Windy Hill Road, and Cinnabon remains opens in the food court at nearby Cumberland Mall. 

Are you surprised that Schlotzsky's closed its Cobb Parkway restaurant?  Are you fond of the changes made to Schlotzsky's: their logo, brand and menu?  What would you most like to see open in place of Schlotzsky's in Cumberland Festival?

Please share your thoughts below.  

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have fond memories of eating at the location in Tucker at least once a week and was super sad to see it close. There aren't any locations near where I live anymore, but I had a craving for Schlotzsky's last week and picked up some on Friday. They were not as I remembered, perhaps it was the difference in the location and how they made the sandwiches, perhaps the standard for making sandwiches has changed. Adequate amount of meat and fillings, but just not the same special taste. I will give them another try, but not any time soon. With so few locations in Atlanta now, if the same can be said for all the stores, you'd have to either be a major fan or live close by one and go there out of convenience for these franchises to succeed. Sad.

Anonymous said...

Cumberland mall, like much of atlanta, is pretty much a freakin no-gozone. Even Lennox has fallen...Are you surprised by these sorts of closures?

Jodyml813 said...

I think there is still a Cinnabon/Schlotzskys on Old Milton Pkwy in Alpharetta/John's Creek

Anonymous said...

Few people visit malls anymore, in contrast to the old days when you could easily spend (waste?) 2 hours or more on a simple shopping trip.

P.S. It's Lenox (1 "n"). "Lennox" are the people who make HVAC equipment.

Anonymous said...

Cumberland Mall has been lost to the element created by the bus stop across the street. After multiple crime issues there, I quit going even tho it is the closest Apple store.

Anonymous said...

The ‘element’ has destroyed so much in , the formerly paradise city Atlanta. How many of you all recall the glorious days, when even Cumberland resembled Lenox. Now look at these places....hhhmmm , what happened? But yet we ignore and just dance around this fact, and be all ‘PC an sheeeit’....

Anonymous said...

I remember Schlotzsky's from when I lived in Austin in the 80's. Their sandwiches today are a pale imitation of the original. About the only remembrance is the bread which is close-but not as sour, and the mustard. In Austin you could buy one sandwich and two bags of chips for lunch, save half and a bag of chips for dinner and be stuffed after both meals. Ate there once and decided to stick with the memory of a great sandwich.

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