Thursday, November 3, 2022

Bits & Bites

A new bb.q Chicken - Korea's Finest Fried Chicken plans to open in Decatur. The new franchise restaurant will open at 319 West Ponce de Leon Avenue where it will open in place of Pho King, which closed at the end of 2021.  The roughly 2,600 square foot space originally debuted in early 2016 as an outpost of Taziki's Mediterranean Café.  Seoul, South Korea-based bb.q Chicken has existing Atlanta area locations in Doraville, Duluth, Johns Creek and Suwanee. 

Clean Your Dirty Face, a growing facial spa franchise, will soon be opening two new Atlanta area outposts.  One, located in City Walk (227 Sandy Springs Place) in Sandy Springs is slated to open November 5, while a second one planned for Powers Ferry Square (3802 Roswell Road) in Chastain Park is slated to open "Winter 2023," according to the company's website.  The Chicago-based franchise has an existing  Atlanta area location at Halcyon in Alpharetta and other upcoming locations planned for Savannah (5525 Abercorn Street) in Abercorn Walk. 

South State Bank has closed its branch at the Gateway shopping center along Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.  Based in Winter Haven, Florida but with a significant corporate presence in Atlanta, SouthState entered the metro area in 2020 when it merged with CenterState Bank.  CenterState gained a presence in metro Atlanta when it acquired West Point-based CharterBank in 2018.  The Sandy Springs branch opened as a Charter branch before being converted to CenterState and later SouthState.  Following the closure, SouthState continues to operate several Atlanta area branches including on Maple Drive and Piedmont Road in Buckhead, West Peachtree Street in Midtown and East Ponce de Leon Avenue in Decatur.  

Women's retailer South Moon Under has closed its store at Shops Around Lenox in Buckhead.   The Buckhead closing follows that of the South Moon Under at Ponce City Market last summer.    Following the two closures, the Annapolis, Maryland-retailer operates just one store in metro Atlanta: Avalon in Alpharetta.  

El Azteca has opened its second Sandy Springs location.  The new restaurant at 6115 Peachtree Dunwoody Road replaced Uncle Julio's which closed in 2020.  The locally owned restaurant operates another Sandy Springs restaurant on Roswell Road just south of Hammond Drive and another on Peachtree Road in south Buckhead.   

Discount Tire has launched a new concept store and chose to debut it in Flowery Branch in Hall county, just north of Atlanta.   "Pit Pass" is described as a "mobile-focused, drive-thru experience" where customers can remain in their vehicles for scheduled services.  The roughly 5,000 square foot facility is located at  3445 Mundy Mill Road.  Scottsdale, Arizona-based Discount Tire operates more than 1,100 locations in 37 states including more than a dozen in metro Atlanta.  

Roll On In sushi has closed at both Woodlawn Point shopping center in East Cobb and Crabapple Market in Milton.  The sushi burrito and bowl franchise opened in East Cobb in early 2020 just ahead of the start of the pandemic.  The restaurant's roughly 1,000 square foot space is currently being marketed for lease.  A separate franchise of the Cincinnati-based chain in Crapabble near Roswell is reportedly "temporarily closed" but like East Cobb, has been removed from the company's website. The Milton location also included a sibling brand, Buzzed Bull Creamery, which also closed.  Monte and Suzanne Jump were the franchise owners of both the Milton and East Cobb locations.  The Roll On In website indicates that another location in Augusta remains open and one is "coming soon" to Gainesville. 

A second East Cobb location of Crumbl Cookies is coming soon in the Parkaire Landing Shopping Center.  The Utah-based chain, which opened its first shop in 2017, will be moving into the former Cold Stone Creamery space at 640 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 110, next to Ted’s Montana Grill.    After starting with a single product—chocolate chip cookies—Crumbl has grown its product line to include a rotating menu of both cookies and ice cream.  Aggressive social media campaigns, especially on TikTok, also have helped Crumbl Cookies’ rapid expansion to nearly 600 locations nationwide.  Locally, Crumbl Cookies has opened at Sandy Plains MarketPlace in East Cobb, as well as Kennesaw Marketplace in Kennesaw.

Eclipse di Luna in October opened its newest Atlanta area location at Halcyon in Alpharetta.  The new restaurant joins existing locations of the popular locally owned restaurant on Miami Circle in Buckhead and at Park Place in Dunwoody.  

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery, a growing breakfast concept, has leased space for a new outpost at Sterling Pointe in Dunwoody.  The Denver-based chain made its Atlanta area debut last January 2021 in Sandy Springs and added a second location on the Westside in September 2021.  ToNeTo Atlanta reported December 2021 that the company was planning additional locations in Midtown and Buford.  Other new locations are also planned for Akers Mill near Cumberland Mall and Alpharetta near North Point Mall.  The new Dunwoody location, like the one planned for Akers Mill, replaces a former Corner Bakery Café.  

Smith Ace Hardware plans to close its store at Cornerstone Square in Sandy Springs.  The roughly 7,400 square foot store is currently liquidating in-stock merchandise ahead of its closure.  The store serves as a junior anchor in the Aldi-anchored center.  A second Smith Ace Hardware will remain open in Sope Creek Crossing along Delk Road in Marietta.  

Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q is opening at 11200 Town Center Drive (Tract 3B) as part of the planned 131 acre Covington Town Center project in Covington in Newton County.  The restaurant will be about 5,400 square feet and provide seating for about 134 patrons.  ToNeTo Atlanta reported October 31 that new locations of Whataburger, Panda Express, Dunkin', Freddy's Steakburgers, Arby's, Zaxby's and Huey Magoo's, among other restaurants, are also slated to open at the development.  

Public Lands opened its first Atlanta area store Wednesday October 19 in Kennesaw.  ToNeTo Atlanta first reported on the planned opening this past April.  The new store is a Dick's Sporting Goods concept that many industry observers see as an attempt by the retailer to better compete with REI.  

Paris Baguette and Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams have both opened at Ashford Lane in Dunwoody.  The pair of new treat options are the latest in a string of recent and upcoming openings at the center originally developed by Sembler and first known as Perimeter Place.  The new Paris Baguette marks the third in metro Atlanta for the Seoul, South Korean-based chain, joining existing outposts in Doraville and Duluth.  The new Jeni's is the ninth "scoop shop" in metro Atlanta for the Columbus, Ohio-based chain joining existing locations in Avalon, Buckhead, Decatur, Glenwood Park, Krog Street Market, Plaza on Ponce, The Battery Atlanta, Westside Provisions and Krog Street Market.  A tenth location is slated to open soon at The Krog District along the BeltLine in Inman Park.  

Simon Property Group announced October 11 that it took a 50 percent state in real estate firm Jamestown.  Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but the transaction is viewed as a way for Simon to diversify its largely mall-centric portfolio and gain exposure to the mixed-use properties Jamestown is known for.  In addition to Atlanta holdings that include Ponce City Market, Buckhead Village District, Parkaire Landing, Parkside Shops and Hammond Exchange, Jamestown  also owns Ghirardelli Squre in San Francisco and Chelsea Market in New York City, among other properties.     

Chase Bank plans to permanently close one of its Atlanta area branches December 8.  The branch, located at 2091 North Decatur Road in the Publix-anchored Emory Commons shopping center, opened in 2013 in a rebuilt endcap once home to Chapter 11 Bookstore.  According to the site plan for the center, the bank's space is not yet being marketed for lease and is 6,600 square feet.  Following the closure, the New York-based bank will continue to operates dozens of branches around metro Atlanta including three in the vicinity of the Emory area including those in Toco Hills, Emory Village and North Decatur Square.      

Kids toy store Lizards & Lollopopz is closing its shop on the Marietta Square and currently offering all in stock merchandise at 25 percent off.  

LOOK Dine-In Cinemas plans to make its Atlanta area debut November 3 in TOWN Brookhaven.  The new-to-market movie theater chain is opening in place of CMX CineBistro which closed its  Brookhaven location in 2020.  

Marshalls plans to open its new store at Merchants Walk in East Cobb November 3.  In a related move, the off-price retailer earlier this week closed their longstanding store at East Lake shopping center about four miles away.   ToNeTo Atlanta first reported on the planned move and closure this past January.  

Fast casual salad shop Chopt opened its latest Atlanta area location October 26 in Peachtree Corners.  The new location opened in The Forum on Peachtree Parkway in a space previously home to Atlanta Bread Co.  The New York-based based company will on November 9 open a new East Cobb location in a portion of a former California Pizza Kitchen in  the Trader Joe's-anchored Pinestraw Place shopping center.  Chopt entered the Atlanta market in late 2018 and has since opened locations in Buckhead, Midtown, Dunwoody, Toco Hills and Peachtree Corners with additional units planned for Kennesaw and Brookhaven.   

Steak 'n Shake has seemingly permanently closed its restaurant at 895 Woodstock Road in Roswell. The restaurant had been closed previously but was reportedly sold and under new management as of late.  The Roswell restaurant is still listed on Google as if it were open and on the Steak 'n Shake website, but under "hours," it's closed every day.   

New "Chipotlane" equipped Chipotle Mexican Grill locations are slated to open November 16 in a former dry cleaners on Mount Vernon Road in Dunwoody Village and on December 6 on the site of an old IHOP on South Cobb Drive in Smyrna.  The Newport Beach, California-based chain has several additional locations in the works for metro Atlanta as it quickly approaches 100 locations in the state.  

Schoolhouse Brewing plans to celebrate the "Grand Opening" of its Atlanta outpost - "The Gymnasium" - November 11.  The new brewery and restaurant is located in "The Point" fka Emory Point, in a 4,200 space beside The General Muir.  The second-generation restaurant space opened in the project as a Bonefish Grill and later became an outpost of locally owned Cuban eatery Papi's Cuban & Caribbean Grill.  The Gymnasium will reportedly focus on small-batch barrel-aged beers including mixed fermentation, High Gravity, and classic styles. The original Schoolhouse Brewing opened in May 2019 and is located at 840 Franklin Street in Marietta.  

Recess "soft opened" October 27 in the street level retail of Hanover Buckhead Village along Roswell Road in Buckhead.  The new restaurant is located a couple of doors down from sibling Castellucci Hospitality Group (CHG) concept The Iberian Pig.  The original Recess is located in Krog Street Market.  

West Marine has closed its Smyrna location at along Cobb Parkway in Smyrna.  The boating gear and accessories store was located in the Best Buy-anchored shopping where longtime tenant Scalini's Italian Restaurant closed in August.  

The Cumberland location of Otter's Chicken has been sold and will soon reopen as Atlanta's first outpost of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill. The Nevada-born and now West Palm Beach, Florida-based franchise has nearly 50 locations open or coming soon across 16 states.  Following the Cumberland, and 2020 closure in Carrollton, locally owned Otter's Chicken will have just two locations: Avenue West Cobb in Marietta and Kennesaw Marketplace in Kennesaw.  

Bargain Hunt will open a new location in the former Value Village thrift store near White Water in Marietta.  The new store will occupy the 33,500 square foot anchor space left vacant earlier this year when the local thrift store closed in North 41 Plaza.  Antioch, Tennessee-based Bargain Hunt already operates several locations in metro Atlanta including those in Austell, Kennesaw, Newnan, Rome, Griffin and Cumming, among others.  According to the Bargain Hunt website, the new store is slated to open Friday November 4 with a "Mega Bin" sale with all items priced at $7.  

Hollywood Feed recently closed it store in Roswell Market Place shopping center in Roswell.  The store, located in the Sprouts Farmers Market-anchored center at the corner of Mansell Road and Alpharetta Highway, was reportedly closed in favor of the nearby store at Roswell Corners shopping center along Highway 92.  The Roswell Corners store, located in the Super Target, TJ Maxx and The Fresh Market anchored center, will reportedly be expanded soon.   

Viva Chicken opened its first Atlanta area location October 26 on Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw.  The  new restaurant which specializes in rotisserie Peruvian chicken joins Maple Street Biscuits and Five Guys, among other tenants in the center built on the site of the former Sweet Tomatoes.  The Charlotte based chain operates fifteen locations between North and South Carolina and as ToNeTo Atlanta reported this past December, is also planning to open an Alpharetta outpost in early 2023.  

We reported in August that a franchisee of Whit's Frozen Custard planed to open a new location in Roswell in early 2023.  While that is still the case, the location has changed.  Whereas plans originally called for the new custard shop to open at 2612 Holcomb Bridge Road, Suite 130, where it would be part of the redevelopment of the former Super Target, the shop will instead open at Connexion Shopping Center (1570 Holcomb Bridge Rd - Unit 605).  The two sites are about two and half miles away.  The Granville, Ohio-based franchise currently has one Atlanta area location in Newnan with another planned for Augusta.

Sankranti Indian Kitchen owner and restaurateur Srinivasa Nimmagadda (Nimms) will open a second location of his quick-serve Indian eatery in early 2023 near Emory University.  The new 2,200 square foot restaurant will open at 1569 North Decatur Road in Emory Village.  The new Sankranti replaces local burger joint Lucky's, which iteself replaced Starbucks.   "The name of his restaurant, Sankranti (pronounced sum-kraanthi), translates to “positive change” in Sanskrit and is the foundation of Nimmagadda’s successful concept of offering healthy menu items to guests."   Sankranti Indian Kitchen opened its first location at the State Farm-anchored Park Center in Dunwoody this past January. 
"Nimmagadda is regarded as a leader in the Indian restaurant arena in Georgia with his fine dining restaurant and banquet hall in Johns Creek, also called Sankranti. Now, he will offer franchise opportunities for his fast casual concept and has 10 locations planned for the Atlanta area."  

Could ToNeTo Atlanta commenter and reader "vespajet" please email us?  Thank you. 

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Would love to know when the crumbl cookie store in sandy springs in the Whole Foods @ Hammond shopping center will open.

Anonymous said...

Wow that was a very quick closing for buzzed bull and roll on in Crabapple!

Bryan Marquardt said...

Wow! That's alot to report...change is in the air.

Anonymous said...

Sucks to lose Otter's in Cumberland, they did it good there.

Anonymous said...

I miss Corner Bakery in Dunwoody. Snooze AM is great but at double the price.

Anonymous said...

wish we had both!

Anonymous said...

ain't nothing peruvian about viva chicken

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