Monday, July 25, 2022

[CLOSURE ALERT] Goldberg's Plans to Pull Out of Avalon

Goldberg's Fine Foods (fka Goldberg's Bagel Co. & Deli), plans to close its outpost in Alpharetta.  The restaurant, located in Avalon next to Antico Pizza Napoletana, opened with the project in 2014, but has reportedly never lived up to expectations.  Sources close to the project indicate that the restaurant was due to end its ten year lease in 2024, but had been working to vacate sooner.  A separate restaurant industry source tells ToNeTo Atlanta that plans are to shutter in Alpharetta by July 31, 2022.    

Following its closure, Atlanta-based Goldberg's will continue to operate six standard locations: two in Buckhead, one on Roswell Road and the other on West Paces Ferry Road, as well as those in Dunwoody, East Cobb, Toco Hills and at The Battery Atlanta at Truist Park.  The company also operates a pair of outposts at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.  

The company previously closed a location at Colony Square in Midtown in 2014 and closed its lone out-of-state location in New Orleans in May 2019, having opened it the previous May.  

Avalon, seen by many as the bellweather of mixed-use developments, has seen generally few closures since its 2014 debut.  That said, Goldberg's closure likely has more to do with its poor choice of location than the development itself.  Goldberg's two locations in Buckhead are by far the company's most successful, while attempts to branch out to mixed-use projects like Avalon and The Battery have been far less fruitful.  

Real estate sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta there is at least one deal already pending on the soon to be vacant Goldberg's space.

Are you surprised to see Goldberg's in Alpharetta closing? What is your favorite restaurant at Avalon? Who do you think makes the best bagel in metro Atlanta?

Please share your thoughts below.  

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not even a contest: Brooklyn Bagel Bakery and Deli

Anonymous said...

Not surprised. Went there a few times the first year or two, was never so pleased with service or food.

Anonymous said...

I disagree. Goldberg's bagels measure up to anything in metro Atlanta. They've been in this market for decades. They must be doing something right. I guess people in Alpharetta aren't big on Jewish ethnic food

Anonymous said...

I would love to see another bagel place come in that spot (like brooklyn bagel, Bagel boys, or BB's). It was nice to have a quick breakfast place to eat at there.

BigRedDogATL said...

I ate at that Goldbergs location once. The food wasn't good, service terrible, and the prices were high. IMHO it should have closed long ago.

In my opinion, the best bagel comes from either Bronx Bagel (BB's) on McFarland Parkway or the Bagel Boys location on Haynes Bridge Road.

Unknown said...

I like their bagels, but it was a pain to run in there for a quick bagel to go. Since the closest lot was a parking deck and other lots being around Avalon's border. BB's on Mcfarland is still great though.

Richard said...

Love Goldberg's, however their business model is heavily dependent on breakfast traffic, which Avalon doesn't deliver until lunch and especially evening. Plus, it it's difficult to run in and out of Avalon, so probably missed opportunities from the surrounding community based on that issue alone.

Tres said...

I would chalk this one up to its location as well. Every other Goldberg's location is one you can stop at real quick, run in, grab a bagel and coffee and go. There's too much hassle to get to this location. Perhaps they'd do much better in a nearby strip plaza that doesn't have all the "extra" of parking decks and navigating through Avalon.

Jodyml813 said...

Agree with the others! Ate here a couple of times it was fine but definitely not as good as some of the other options in Avalon. Agree, It's impossible to get in there for a bagel quickly because by the time you park and you walk in and you walk out, it's a half an hour.

Ham said...

Love Goldbergs but agree about needing Breakfast traffic. I will also mention that the service can be a little spotty.

Anonymous said...

to the poster regarding the Brooklyn bagel Company in Ansley mall, yes in general the bagels are (mostly) OK and mostly authentic. on the other hand if something is mostly authentic that actually means that it is not authentic. See the logic? However and you’ll see this on the yelp reviews the quality is a little variable and not consistent in terms of the actual shape of the bagel the thickness of the bagel and the amount of toppings on the bagel. Also the cream cheese which is very expensive have very little ingredients in them. It can be hit or miss, the owner just needs to pay attention that whoever is msking the bagels in the morning is not actually watching what they’re doing just rushing through the motions, and having the good solid bagel is really the foundation of his entire business. I agree Goldbergs is not that great, one in the area or if you feel like driving a little bit bagelicious in East Cobb is very very authentic from New York, it’s so authentic the owner sounds very rude compared to the typical Southerners. seriously try their garlic bagel with vegetable cream cheese, it’s great as is everything else on his menu.

Anonymous said...

To anon-7/26: I was actually thinking of the John’s Creek location, since no one is going to East Cobb if they live near Ansley to get a bagel except maybe once a year and OP was about Avalon. But yes the Ansley location of Brooklyn Bagel is relatively new and opened during the pandemic labor shortage, so there are some growing pains there but I’ll stack their garlic bagel against anyones!

Bottom line, Goldbergs was authentic enough… better than big chains but before better options arrived in town. The Colony Square store was a major disappointment.

Anonymous said...

Don't drive to East Cobb and eat at 101 bagel cafe ... I was so disappointed. The selection was normal and the 2 bagels we had was so dry. Absolutely nothing special. Not even sure if they were fresh. They also seemed short handed and in training mode. I saw a wrong order given out. Not sure how long they have been open. Not sure if I will return.

Anonymous said...

I don’t think 101 bagel is East Cobb, and I know it’s the edge of Cobb County a few miles from buckhead-ish northside dr but East Cobb is more like Johnson ferry Road-ish I believe.

Anonymous said...

101 bagel cafe is next to Johnson ferry rd. It's in the old Baskin Robbins/old blockbuster/Papa's John center ... Terrible bagels. Don't go.

Anonymous said...

ahhh there was one at akers mill onbthe other side of cobb, agree not worth visiting

Anonymous said...

There is a 101 Bagel at Akers Mill Square near Cumberland.

Anonymous said...

JFR different food and atmosphere. Not shocked

Anonymous said...

Oh dang! Just found out they were closed yesterday when I tried to stop in. Now I am seriously craving their everything bagel....nothing compares.

Skrybe said...

Geez. In Snellville right around the corner from me. That's perfect.

Anonymous said...

Having grown up in the Bronx and Brooklyn NY they just dont make. bagels like the good old days. I just get the frozen Bialys from publx and lightly toast them so they still lool like a regular bialy.. As good as good old days. I believe they come from Rays in NY.

Anonymous said...

Goldberg's bagels are excellent.

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