Thursday, April 28, 2022

Bits & Bites

Popeyes is opening in the Cumberland Mall food court.  A new Popeyes will join the food roster opening between American Deli and Mandarin Express in a space previously leased to "The Original Hot Dog Factory."  The hot dog franchise never opened, with real estate sources calling the concept "half-baked."  ToNeTo Atlanta reported March 15 that Fuddruckers will also open in the food court.

PNC Bank has closed its branch at 293 Pharr Road in Buckhead.  According to signage at the bank, the Pharr Road branch closed as of March 18.  The more than 21,000 square foot, two-story bank opened in 2006 as RBC Centura and was rebranded in 2012 following PNC's purchase of the Raleigh-based bank.  Pittsburgh-based PNC announced plans in 2021 to close at least 120 locations that year, with more likely, as the company adapted to shifts in customer banking such as the increased use of digital banking, that was further accelerated by the pandemic. PNC continues to operate another nearby Buckhead branch at 3146 Peachtree Road, which replaced a former Wendy's when it opened in 2015.   

Popular Malaysian restaurant Food Terminal has opened its fourth location. Located in the Aria Village project off Abernathy Road in Sandy Springs, Food Terminal officially opened April 7.  The new restaurant joins the recently opened Alpharetta outpost on North Point Parkway as well as the group's other existing locations in Chamblee and West Midtown.  A fifth location is planned for Kennesaw.   

Big Bang Pizza, which proudly claimed to be "the 1st restaurant served by robot in America and coolest concept of pizza restaurant in Atlanta," has reportedly permanently closed.  The restaurant, which opened in early 2019, was located at 3043 Buford Highway in Brookhaven, not far from The Pink Pony.  Originally understood to be only "temporarily closed," the closure is seemingly now permanent.  

A recently closed Staples at Cumming Town Center has been leased.  Burlington, which has been on a growth spurt as of late, will open in the roughly 20,000 square foot space.  The Burlington, New Jersey-based retailer has already opened more than two dozen stores this year with more than a dozen more planned in the near term.  

Scoville Hot Chicken, with six locations in metro Atlanta, recently opened their first location in New York.  The New York outpost is on Orchard Street in the Lower East Side, and according to the Scoville website, will soon be followed by several more in metro Atlanta including one in the former Buffalo Grill, next to Firehouse Subs, in Village Shoppes at Creekside in Lawrenceville.  

After closing their Avalon location as of Saturday March 19, local sandwich shop Farm to Ladle will close their outpost at Ponce City Market as of Sunday, May 1. Guests are invited to dine at the group's other locations: Breadwinner Café – Sandy Springs, Breadwinner Café – Dunwoody, and Breadwinner Café – Chattahoochee Food Works.  

Newly installed signage at the Whole Foods Market-anchored Hammond Exchange shopping center in Sandy Springs indicates that a new Crumbl Cookies outpost will soon open.  The cookie shop will open in place of longtime tenant Mike's Hot Dogs, which closed in the center at the end of March after nearly 30 years in the community.  Franchisees Daniel Scott and Josh Christiansen opening the new location.  The duo opened their first Crumbl Cookies in August 2020 in Marietta.  Since then, Scott and Christiansen have opened locations in Kennesaw and Lawrenceville, with others slated to open later this year in Snellville, Buford and Flowery Branch. 

Dave & Buster's announced April 6 that it plans to acquire rival Main Event in a deal valued at $835 million.  Coppell, Texas-based Dave & Buster's currently operates 145 locations compared to Dallas, Texas-based Main Event which has about 50.  Both companies operate locations in metro Atlanta.  Dave & Buster's operates four locations in greater metro Atlanta:  Alpharetta, Lawrenceville, Marietta and McDonough, while Main Event has three locations including those in Alpharetta, Suwanee and on Cobb Parkway not far from Cumberland Mall.  

Cuts Steakhouse plans to open its new restaurant in Suwanee this summer. The opening has reportedly been delayed by permits, among other factors.  The restaurant is located at 1500 Satellite Boulevard and joins the existing Cuts which opened on Andrew Young International Boulevard in Downtown Atlanta in early 2014.  

A second Atlanta area location of Deca Dental is planned for Chastain Park. Marketing materials for Roswell Wieuca shopping center indicate that the new dental practice will open in a 1,986 square foot space between Fitness Depot and Amazing Lash Studio.  The space was most recently occupied by Interior Philosophy, a furniture and interior design store that relocated to Cates Center on East Andrews Drive earlier this year.  ToNeTo Atlanta reported in March that Deca Dental was entering the Atlanta market with a location at Buckhead Exchange where the dental practice will open in a space previously leased to YEAH! Burger.  

Chick-fil-A has several new and relocated restaurants in the works.  In Toccoa, the company plans to open a new 5,132 square foot restaurant at 605 Big A Road on the site of a former Quincy's Family Steakhouse.  Another new Chick-fil-A is planned for Senoia where the chain will build a new 4,841 square foot restaurant at the intersection of Georgia Highway 16 and Wells Street.  The company also plans to open its relocated Cumming at restaurant at 725 Atlanta Highway on May 16.  The large new restaurant will replace the existing 90s era location a few blocks away at 653 Atlanta Road in an outparcel of Lanier Crossing.  Another Chick-fil-A is planned for 2450 Wesley Chapel Road in Decatur where the company would continue its efforts to replace older units with newer, more efficient ones.  The new restaurant would replace the existing Chick-fil-A located across the street at 2445 Wesley Chapel Road.  

Kitchen Six in Oak Grove has been re-branded as Kindred.  The new restaurant debuted Wednesday April 20.  

In other Oak Grove news, Napoleon's has a new owner.  Original owner Sean Keenan has sold the restaurant to Jim Hancock, owner of Bench Warmers Sports Grill in Williamsburg Village.  Napoleon's, originally Napoleon's Grill, opened in Vista Grove Plaza in 2010 and closed briefly during the early months of the pandemic in 2020, but ultimately reopened. 

Scooter's Coffee plans to open another Atlanta area outpost at 2010 Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville.  The new coffee shop will open in place of what was most recently El Sombrero Mexican restaurant.  ToNeTo Atlanta reported April 7 that Scooter's also plans to open a new location in East Cobb

Kroger on March 29 officially broke ground on its highly anticipated new store at the corner of Powers Ferry and Terrell Mill Roads.  The new 90,000 square foot store will replace the smaller dated store nearby at the intersection of Powers Ferry and Delk Roads.  The new store is expected to open in 2023.  

Chicken Salad Chick plans to open its latest Atlanta area restaurant May 18 at Perimeter Marketplace in Dunwoody.  

Hopdoddy Burger Bar has converted its first former Grub Burger Bar to the Hopdoddy branding following its acquisition of Grub this past January.  The converted location, located in Plano, Texas, debuted for lunch service on April 15, just three days after its final dinner service as Grub. The brand's ability to quickly convert locations will likely come in handy as it continues the conversion process.  In metro Atlanta, there are currently four Grub locations: Brookhaven, Sandy Springs, Cumberland and Forsyth.  Sources close to the chain tell ToNeTo Atlanta that metro locations are likely to be converted this summer.  

Gucci has opened its new store at Lenox Square in Buckhead.  The store, in addition to the brand's existing outpost at Phipps Plaza, opened in place of longtime Lenox tenant H. Stockton on the mall's first floor near Neiman Marcus.  ToNeTo Atlanta first reported on the store's planned opening this past December.  

New locations of Chipotle and Jersey Mike's are coming to a new outparcel of the Kroger-anchored Rivermont Station shopping center in Roswell. The two restaurants will be located in one new, yet to be built, structure between Discount Tire and First Citizens Bank.    

Planet Fitness will soon open a new gym at Brookhaven Plaza in Brookhaven.  The fitness franchise will open in place of Stein Mart, which closed in the 28,000 square foot space it occupied in 2020. World of Decor had for a time "popped-up" in the space, but it has been vacant for several months.  ToNeTo Atlanta reported in February that Planet Fitness is also opening in City Center Crossing in Sandy Springs.  On the heels of the recent opening of a new Planet Fitness at Brookwood Marketplace in Johns Creek, and with Brookhaven and Sandy Springs coming, there will soon be more than forty Planet Fitness locations in the greater metro Atlanta area.  

Taco Mac has two new OTP locations in the works.  The Atlanta-based chain will in the coming months open new locations in Dawsonville and Gainesville.  Both restaurants are coming to outparcels of Kroger Marketplace-anchored shopping centers. In Dawsonville, Taco Mac will open in Dawson Marketplace and, according to materials reviewed by ToNeTo Atlanta, will be located behind Taco Bell.  The new restaurant will measure 8,350 square feet and occupy a 1.22 acre parcel.  In Gainesville, the new Taco Mac will open along Jesse Jewell Parkway in New Holland Market.  The new Taco Mac will be 8,815 square feet and will be joined by new locations of McAlister’s Deli and Nothing Bundt Cakes.  Atlanta-based Taco Mac has in recent years closed restaurants at CNN Center Downtown and Lindbergh City Center near Buckhead, but also added new locations in Lawrenceville and Hiram. There are currently approximately 30 Taco Mac restaurants.  

Big Blue Swim School will soon open its second Atlanta area location.  The new school, coming to Brighten Park in Brookhaven, will occupy a 10,000 square foot space most recently occupied by Dance 101, which itself relocated to "The Point" (fka Emory Point).  The first Atlanta area Big Blue opened in Johns Creek in 2020.  Rival swim school Aqua-Tots opened a new location not far from Brighten Park at Briar Vista shopping center in 2018.   

Verizon has closed its freestanding retail store at Crossroads Village in Chamblee.   A freestanding Burger King in the same center closed earlier this year.  

Mochinut, a fast-growing donut franchise specializing in mochi donuts, has signed a lease to open a new location on Pleasant Hill Road at Mall Corners in Duluth. The new outpost, expected to be the chain's third in metro Atlanta, is slated to open later this fall.  The first metro Mochinut opened at    Chattahoochee Food Works in Atlanta's Upper Westside in March with a second slated to open at Summit Plaza on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Suwannee this June.  The company has plans to open as many as seven more Atlanta area locations later this year.  

Starbucks plans to open a new location in Atlanta's burgeoning "Upper Westside" in 2023.  The coffee chain has signed a lease for a new cafe at 2418 Bolton Road, where it will replace both a former Subway as well as 2 Dogs Bottle Shoppe, a local liquor store which closed this past December.  The two businesses that occupied separate but adjacent parcels that Starbucks will combine into one 1.2 acre site that will carry the 2418 Bolton Road address.  Starbucks plans to construct a 2,700 square foot drive-thru enabled shop at the location with plans to open late in the second quarter of 2023.  

On April 25, Baker Dude opened their first stand-alone restaurant.  Owner Orran Booher opened his latest location in the former Emory Village Rise-n-Dine which closed at the end of October 2020 after thirteen years in business.  The new Baker Dude is 1,800 square feet and is described as a "brunch-erie, casual lunch spot combined with a to-go marketplace."  The new outpost joins existing counter-service locations in The Beacon in Grant Park and Chattahoochee Food Works on the Upper Westside.

A new Regions Bank is coming soon to Alpharetta. The new branch will be built at the corner of Haynes Bridge Road and Old Milton Parkway on the site of a former BB&T bank branch.  The BB&T branch closed as part of its consolidation and rebranding with SunTrust as Truist.  According to the FDIC's most recently completed Deposit Market Share Report, Regions Bank is the seventh largest in metro Atlanta with 66 branches and just over $5.5 billion in deposits, allowing it to grab about a 2.3% market share.  Truist in 2021 was the market leader, with just over 25% market share and nearly $60 billion in deposits.  Bank of America, which took the top spot in 2020, dropped to two, with about 20% share and about $48 billion in deposits, with Wells Fargo coming in third, with about 18% market share and about $42 billion in deposits. 

A new Captain D's is coming to Ellenwood.  The new 1,690 square foot restaurant will be built at 2901 Anvil Block Road.  

Crunch Fitness signed leases to open two more new locations in Cobb county.  In East Cobb, newly filed permits indicate that the company plans to open in the former Office Depot in Highland Plaza near the intersection of Sandy Plains and Shallowford Roads.  Crunch plans to spend at least $510,000 to convert the roughly 26,000 square foot former retail space to a fitness facility.  In Highland Plaza, Crunch joins existing anchors The Home Depot and Publix. In Acworth, Crunch plans to open in place of Best Buy, which closed earlier this year at Acworth Crossing (3335 Cobb Parkway).  The Acworth location will be 30,000 square feet.  ToNeTo Atlanta reported last August that Crunch also plans to open in place of the former Stein Mart in Parkside West Cobb on Dallas Highway in West Cobb.  According to the Crunch website, the company also plans to open new locations in Buford, Hiram and Savannah.  When all of these Atlanta area locations have opened, the New York-based company will have a total of thirteen locations in the state.  

Shake Shack opened its newest Atlanta area location Thursday, April 28 near Piedmont Park in Midtown.  The restaurant, first announced in 2021, is locate just outside the gates to the 12th Street entrance to Piedmont Park at the Piedmont Park Conservancy Community Center.  The new Midtown outpost is the New York-based chain's sixth in metro Atlanta joining existing locations in Buckhead, Old Fourth Ward, Dunwoody, Alpharetta and at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.  A seventh location is slated to open later this year in the food court at Lenox Square in Buckhead.  

Impact100 Atlanta, a women’s collective giving nonprofit, has launched and is accepting Founding Members through Saturday, April 30. Impact100 Atlanta will award high-impact $100k grants to nonprofits in the greater Metro Atlanta area enabled by members contributing $1,000 each year to the grant pool. Founded by Wendy Steele in Cincinnati in 2001, Impact100 has 60+ chapters globally, which have collectively donated over $105M to strengthen their local communities. 

2 comments:

CloseOTP said...

Not sure why your sources refer to the OriginalHot Dog Factory concept as half-baked. They have 20 locations and appear to be readying to open more.

Disneypal said...

Sadly, I'm not surprised the Bang Bang Pizza closed. Great and fun concept but the location was not the best - you had to really be looking for it to find it since the building isn't really viewable from the street and there is only a small sign to indicate it was there. Too bad.

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