Wednesday, November 16, 2022

[EXCLUSIVE] Popular Bakery to Close Perimeter Outpost

Alon's Bakery & Market will early next year shutter its popular location at Park Place shopping center across from Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody.  The Dunwoody outpost opened in 2008, then the second location for the Atlanta-based business.  Founder Alon Balshan opened the original Alon's on North Highland Avenue in Morningside in 1992.  The more than 11,000 square foot Dunwoody space is not yet being marketed for lease but is due to close in February 2023, according to employees at the business.  

The original Alon's was a mere 1,300 square feet, but after finding success in the community, Balshan expanded the shop, first in 2000, and again in 2004.  Today, the Morningside location is over 6,500 square feet.  When the Perimeter Alon's opened in 2008, it took the space vacated by the beloved EatZi's which shuttered both its Dunwoody and Buckhead outposts in 2006.  

ToNeTo Atlanta exclusively reported in 2019 that Balshan planned to open a Buckhead outpost at Phipps Plaza.  Originally slated to open in 2020, COVID pushed the opening to September 2021.  At roughly 5,000 square feet, the Phipps location is less than half the size of the Park Place outpost.  

Sources close to Alon's tell ToNeTo Atlanta that staffing challenges were one of the primary factors behind Balshan's decision to close.  It's unclear what if any impact the purchase of Park Place this past December by real estate firm Edens may have had on Alon's or if any attempt(s) were made to keep Balshan as a tenant.  

Employees at Alon's Perimeter are reportedly telling customers that the market is "moving" near The Krog District in Inman Park, but ToNeTo Atlanta has been unable to confirm if that was or is the current plan. 

What would you like to see open in place of Alon's in Dunwoody?  What is your favorite local bakery in metro Atlanta?  Do you still miss EatZi's?

Please share your thoughts below.   

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

This closure will be a great loss to our Dunwoody business community. We are so sorry to see one of our favorite places to close their doors.

Anonymous said...

What a great loss this will be to Dunwoody. So very sad!!!

Anonymous said...

I really miss Eatzi's. There was no place like it before or since.
I hate to say it but Alons wasn't even close.

Anonymous said...

Buon Fornello or Crema Espresso are so much better

Anonymous said...

I'm sad to see Alons go but their customer service has always been dismal. Never a smiling face, a hello or thank you. That's the main issue I have with Alon's.

Anonymous said...

I hate to hear that this is a staffing issue. Where are all of the people who used to work??? I love Alons and am sad to see it go. Perhaps it could become a Trader Joe's!

Anonymous said...

The two other locations are still
Open: Phipps Plazxa and Morningside…

Anonymous said...

One of my favorite places. I used to drive a half an hour. I wish they would come to the new Halcyon on exit 12 in Alpharetta

Anonymous said...

I love this bakery so much I am very sad to hear that !

Anonymous said...

lol trader joes

Anonymous said...

One of the few places worth going when I worked in the area. Definitely a loss that will be felt by many.

Anonymous said...

I do not know what they’re thinking. Alon’s is besides McKendrick‘s the only thing that is a draw to that shopping center, unless you count steps away ghetto Exxon.

Anonymous said...

I love QT. I wonder the location they are building at Perimeter how long it will take to draw transients.

Anonymous said...

That’s a good question.

Unknown said...

It is maddening how so many people buy expensive houses in this sandy springs dunwoody area. yet, this area has lost Joli Kobe, Little European Bakery, and now Alon's over the last decade plus. THere is not a single bakery in this area now that hasa great variety of breads in addition to the cookies and pastries and sandwiches this place offers. Yes, the staffing was mixed in quality. Most of them rarely smiled.

Who the hell is going to go to Phipps in the traffic? It just stinks that not one place exists in this area that could be classified as a top quality bakery/cafe.

Unknown said...

This is very disappointing.

Anonymous said...

If people are barely smiling or happy...there must be a reason.A good store must treat their employees correctly.Everybody got fed up and left! Super overpriced bakery.

Anonymous said...

I am so sad about this news. I've been meeting clients here for years. I liked it because you can go to the counter get your food sit down and enjoy a nice long conversation without ever being interrupted by wait staff. I also enjoyed the outside seating area that was heated and closed. It was a nice option. It was literally my go-to place.

Anonymous said...

So so sad to hear this news. I would also drive 30 mins

Anonymous said...

No loss

Anonymous said...

I was astounded to find Alon’s closed as I came to buy a king cake this past Saturday! The place always seemed so busy! I especially liked the fresh baked goods. There really aren’t any good bread stores in Dunwoody. One is relegated to buy grocery store bread which contains preservatives abd ingredients I can’t pronounce. I would like a bakery with different types of breads, rolls and pastries. I was hoping that maybe Alon’s didn’t renew their lease because maybe they have their eye in. High Street ( new huge multi use area across from the Dunwoody Marta station… don’t know if that’s the case. Maybe another Buckhead Bread type store can open here! I would also like a Dunwoody location os Souper Jenny!

W.C.Bell said...

I would love it if we had an Atlanta branch of Eataly. I have been to Eataly in Chicago, NY & Boston. I think it would do very well at Perimeter. They would need more space but that could probably be managed. We need a fabulous brand like Eataly!

Anonymous said...

Paris baguette

Anonymous said...

ALPHARETTA!!! Please

Anonymous said...

Yes, Alpharetta please!

Anonymous said...

As a matter of fact , I drove up yesterday only to find Alons had closed at Perimeter. I said "No, not again"?? First EatZi's now Alon! Oh well bring EatZis back!!

Anonymous said...

Very sad..delicious breads and pastries, great weekend breakfast and brunch place. Some of the employees were neither friendly nor helpful but we overlooked that. Will be missed.

Anonymous said...

I want to have a funeral to represent this loss to my family. I’ve traveled extensively and there are very few places like Alon’s perimeter in the world. It was a beautiful bakery that almost seemed surreal for it’s beautiful interior and gorgeous and delicious offerings. Atlanta has lost a star.

Anonymous said...

“Sources close to Alon's tell ToNeTo Atlanta that staffing challenges were one of the primary factors behind Balshan's decision to close.”

This likely means Balshan was too cheap to pay a decent wage for the area, which means most employees would’ve had a fairly lengthy commute through that hellish, heavy mall traffic every day. Maybe no wonder they didn’t smile much.

Oh well. Good luck to them at their new Phipps Plaza location.

Anonymous said...

This is so sad. Will not go to Phipps (congested, traffic, ets). Will find another spot closer and even better.

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