Monday, January 3, 2022

[CLOSURE ALERT] Grilled Cheese Franchise Shutters Final Atlanta Location

The last remaining Atlanta area franchise of  Tom & Chee has closed.  Located at the intersection of Barrett Parkway and Cobb Parkway in Barrett Crossing shopping center, Tom & Chee Kennesaw opened in April 2014 and closed quietly at the end of 2021.  News of the restaurant's closure caught many in the shopping center off guard, including several employees of junior anchor Bargain Hunt, where at least one employee had just days ago enjoyed a meal from the restaurant and had no idea they'd be closing.  

Laura Ann and Eric Hart became the third ever franchisees of the fledgling concept in 2013 after seeing Tom & Chee on the popular business show Shark Tank.  The couple opened their franchise in April 2014 and were the first of four Atlanta area locations of the grilled cheese and tomato soup franchise.  A separate group opened locations in Atlanta and Buford with another franchisee opening a unit in Alpharetta. The Alpharetta location followed the Kennesaw opening and debuted in February 2015, followed by Buford in March 2015 and Howell Mill Road in Atlanta in January of 2016.  

2017 brought the closure of all three: Atlanta in January, Alpharetta in February, and Buford in April.  

As we said then, the Kennesaw outpost, situated in a second generation, 2,100 square foot space in a well-located but not all that exciting shopping center, stood the best chance at long term success.  

Following the sale of Tom & Chee, from its founders Trew Quackenbush and Corey Ward, to Gold Star Chili in 2017, the Harts launched a Tom & Chee food truck in metro Atlanta.  Although it's unclear what, if any, plans the Harts have for the food truck, the restaurant's exterior signage has already been removed, its facebook page has been deleted and the Kennesaw location has been removed from the Tom & Chee website.  

Are you surprised to see Tom & Chee close in Kennesaw?  What was your favorite menu item at Tom & Chee?  What would you like to see open in place of Tom & Chee in Kennesaw?

Please share your thoughts below.  

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I never went to the Kennasaw location. It's always sad to see places close. I went to the Alpharetta location a couple times. The food was good at the Alpharetta location but there was never enough seating and the noise level was extremely high. I think the main issues with the concept are grill cheese doesn't "travel well" - is not as good if not eaten right away.

BigRedDogATL said...

I thought the whole chain had already gone out of business nationally. IMHO they were overpriced for what you got. The soup was barely above room temp and the Grilled Cheese was nothing a child couldn't make at home.

Unknown said...

I liked Tom & Chee but thought they could use more bread options. (other than glazed donuts) My understanding is that the restaurant will be replaced with a Breakfast place.

Unknown said...

I liked Tom & Chee but always thought they needed more bread options (other than glazed donuts.) I liked the soups and I hate to see them closed. I am hopeful based on what Laura Ann Hart put on Facebook that she is hoping to open a breakfast restaurant in the same location sometime soon.

Anonymous said...

I am so sad that Tom + Chee closed. I loved the food but the restaurant was in a bad location in Kennesaw and had to compete not only with everything on Barrett but also the new Whole Foods shopping center across 41.

Debbie said...

I Loved Tom & Chee!
When I was Living in Florida, every time we came to visit family in GA we would make it a point to go to Tom & Chee and have a wonderful Lunch. I brought my Granddaughters for lunch there for there Birthdays and they ate everything on there plates and Loved it!
I have since moved to GA 2 months ago and made it a point to go there on the last day they were open 12/31/2021 and it was still a great meal and place to eat! I read the above reviews about not having choices for Breads and I have always had a choice like White Bead, Sour dough Bread, etc…
Have a Good Day & I hope to run into The Cheezy Truck soon 😊

Anonymous said...

I have tried two Tom and & Chee when traveling out of town and was not impressed with the food or service.

Several months ago we stopped by this location and experienced poor service and when we returned home only to find the food was not prepared as requested.

I hope only the best for the employees.

Anonymous said...

You're probably one of those hard to please people to begin with. I mean, you're asking for a grilled cheese and tomato soup be "prepared as requested" ... It's a grilled cheese sandwich and soup for crying out loud 🤣

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