Ford Fry's King+Duke is closing. Multiple well placed real estate sources as well as a King+Duke employee indicate that the Buckhead restaurant will close "around August," June 18 after a little more than ten years in business. The restaurant is located at the intersection of Peachtree and West Paces Ferry Roads in a freestanding building but part of the collective One Buckhead Plaza development. When King+Duke opened in May 2013, it replaced longstanding upscale southwest restaurant Nava, a concept from Buckhead Life Restaurant Group which closed in 2012.
King+Duke opened well but of late was not treated the same as other concepts in the portfolio - for example, it never reopened for lunch post COVID - and its closure is likely the result of the group opting not to renew for another term at the conclusion of its ten-year lease. Fry previously closed his first Atlanta restaurant, JCT. Kitchen, at the end of 2021. At the Westside Provisions District Fry does plan to re-concept and eventually reopen as "Little Sparrow."
Fares Kargar, owner of popular Middle Eastern restaurant Delbar is reportedly in advanced negotiations to take over the King+Duke space to finally bring his restaurant to Buckhead. Kargar, you see, had an executed lease on the ground floor of the nearby Gentry multifamily high-rise nearby, but ultimately found that the building was constructed in a way that was not conducive to operating a restaurant, given the equipment and ventilation it requires.
ToNeTo Atlanta exclusively reported this past December that the Delbar at The Gentry was not happening. A new Delbar did debut earlier this month along Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta while Kargar was seemingly working quietly behind the scenes to secure a new site for would-be Buckhead outpost.
If the Buckhead Delbar comes to fruition as planned, it would join the aforementioned Alpharetta outpost as well as the original which opened just off North Highland Avenue in Inman Park in 2020. This past November, Kargar opened Bibi, a quick-serve, scaled down version of his popular restaurant, in Ponce City Market.
The site at One Buckhead Plaza is definitely superior to the space at The Gentry and includes not only tremendous branding and visibility opportunities but also a large outdoor patio with a separate bar.
UPDATE 6/8: Delbar is confirmed and will open this Winter.
Are you surprised to see Ford Fry close King+Duke? What is your favorite Ford Fry restaurant? Are you pleased to hear that Delbar may find a home in Buckhead after all?
Please share your thoughts below.
45 comments:
That intersection in Buckhead Village is so run down now, lots of homeless and vacant storefronts. I see why King + Duke is leaving. Hopefully the new tenant can turn things around for the area, but would probably make more sense as a fast food or fast casual place than upscale dining.
I live in Buckhead area and it continues to flourish with the new restaurants, luxury stores, and best restaurants in the country. I find that most people who make these comments simple don’t get or understand the lifestyle and convenience offered.
I live in Buckhead Village, have you been recently? There is so much fine dining and multi-million dollar properties. That section is being built up. I am sure another fine dining restaurant will take that location over.
That would be awesome if Delbar replaces it. What’s great addition to that area of Buckhead.
Was hoping for Delbar. This is a better location for sure.
Agreed, these people either don’t live here or must not patronize the same Buckhead I’ve lived/worked/shopped in for the last 22 years. Yes, we had some hiccups during the pandemic, but show me a city that didn’t.
Delbar is an excellent restaurant, probably one of the best middle eastern restaurants in Atlanta and that includes Rumi’s! I’m hopeful this works out!
I just saw your ad and Eli you are so cute! Thank you for your hard work on this website!
I live in the area and haven’t seen any homeless in this portion of Buckhead.
I see homeless around Loudermilk Park frequently, especially in the mornings. I wouldn't say it's as bad as around Lenox but Buckhead sure needs to step up its game to catch up with the rest of the city. It's not the luxury destination is was 10-15 years ago, that's for sure.
lmao...to the anonymous poster. you must be fun at parties. Please climb back into your enclave/ perfect world.
When is someone going to buy and knock-down the old Cheesecake Factory site?
The new Buckhead is hookah lounges, women being shot 12 times while in an Uber at 4:30 AM, and incessant car break-ins. The same people who say Buckhead is doing great must not pay attention to the $500,000 in private security funds just amassed by the same private businesses like King & Duke that are fleeing the area in order to combat the never ending crime. This is why homes in the northern suburbs have increased by an average of 35% and Buckhead has remained the same but, hey, you get the local government you deserve.
Too risky. Many of the nearby office buildings are at risk of going into default because of WFH and flight to quality in Midtown and other parts of the metro area.
Ford Fry is the most overrated Restauranteur I must have ever seen. His stuff is just nothing special and very overpriced. I will say that JCT had the best brunch I ever had, but their other stuff was not good. El Felix/Superico was not good. I could continue.
I live in the neighborhood. There is no homeless camp or anything - what is that person even talking about. It’s all Bentley, Porsche, etc in the parking deck here on the corner. The neighborhood is higher end and lately I’ve seen a fair amount of folks with new babies moving in.
The owner doesn’t need the money. It will end up in his estate & probate.
Too risky. Many nearby office buildings are at risk of going into default due to WFH and flight to quality in Midtown and other areas of the city preferred by young professionals.
Then stay in your fabulous northern suburbs you love so much, and patronize your chain restaurants and sterile strip centers and leave Buckhead alone…
Bitter party of one
when is the last time you were actually in buckhead?
I'm not sure you've left your local Panda Express in a decade but if it was ONLY 35% more to buy a house in Buckhead you'd have everyone buying.
So many strange comments from the same insecure ITP person. Anyway, I miss Nava and old-school Buckhead. Those days are long gone. As for the "Northern Suburbs,".... well, just look at the changing demographics.
If we're being honest, the northern suburbs have much diversity and many great restaurants now. More fast food and strip malls in Buckhead, which is what the rest of ITP makes fun of it for.
Restaurateur. There is no “n.”
Newsflash: the people who make these comments are ignorant trolls. Anyone who bothers responding with an earnest or even a snarky comment is just wasting their time. Do you not know how trolls work?
I’m 69 and moved to Buckhead in 1990, I can say 100% that’s homelessness, prostitution, shootings, robbery are still very rampant in this area and for anyone to deny it means they have some political agenda or are in denial. I long for the days when you could walk to Phipps for lunch at the peasant uptown restaurant.
Is the Raccoon Lodge still down that way? I used to party over there.
Crime and homelessness is not limited to Buckhead. I was in East Cobb today and saw several homeless around the Merchants Walk area m. My coworkers who live in Peachtree Corners and Dunwoody complain of crime and street racing. My friend who grew up in and still lives in Dunwoody is terrified to go to Perimeter mall since she witnessed a massive fight outside of the H&M store. My point is, to think Buckhead alone is in some sort of “crisis” is just ridiculous, these issues are all over the metro.
I went to Lenox today, felt totally safe and shopped at Pottery Barn, which had many customers. The mall had shoppers of all ages and ethnicities and it was completely fine.
This is a joke right? Arguably the best upscale dining in the city is there, not even including King+Duke.
I'd like to see a hookah lounge there. Anyone opposed to that is a NIMBY and racist. Probably a gentrifier too!
Buckhead has a ghetto Nobu and some corporate steakhouses. The good restaurants are in West Midtown and the Eastside.
Buckhead is going through whatever the opposite of gentrification is and should offer more affordable dining options, even if that means fast food.
Funny seeing southerners fight over their perceptions of this "city".
i was at lenox square at approx 5pm last nite. two black guys with sagging pants panhandeling outside Bloomingdales until mall security told hem to leave . safe? I think not.
I have to image the nicer hotels will eventually relocate to Midtown. Buckhead has become Atlanta's red light district where anything goes. I feel sorry for homeowners in the area and understand why people don't want apartments in their neighborhood.
Red light district? That means an area with sex related businesses, like adult video stores and strip clubs? The only area like that is Cheshire Bridge Huh? Both Buckhead and midtown are plagued with crime and homelessness. what are you talking about?
You do know there are unregulated all night clubs in Buckhead, right? You think people go there to play board games and drink root beer floats?
People have definitely forgotten buckhead 23 years ago when crime was rampant. I live in the area and midtown has far more homeless and crime.
Don't remember metal detectors and police dogs at Lenox and Phipps 23 years ago. Why don't they need similar security measures at PCM if Midtown is so bad? Just sayin'...
Location has a police precinct there now. It’s as safe as you can get!
King+Duke was good when we went but their prices were sky high. That’s why we never went back and not surprised they are closing. The location is great. Make something that makes people want to come back.
Buckhead is turning into BuckHOOD very quickly around that area, unfortunately.
To the comment about Buck "hood"!! I could not agree more!! Anyone..and everyone that has and still frequents Buckhead knows this is the case! Sadly! We've always loved Buckhead,lived there for 8 years, until "changes" and forced to live else where. Today...they, Buckhead communities are making things much better and we feel safer about frequenting all our favorite restaurants. VERY VERY sorry to hear of King and Duke!! Absolutely Love it there! Patio, staff, Food, Chef's through out the years have all been awesome!! So sad and shocked to see them go. I will agree with a recent reviewer, the prices did go through the roof...Wine, and all food just to expensive. Was off our radar for the last year or so because of that.
Fast casual or fast food...ARE YOU CRAZY...OR JUST PLAIN OUT OF YOUR MIND???
Buckhead is upscale and we want to remain Fabulous..as long as they can keep the trash out! Higher prices and enforcing the Dress code is doing it!!
Stay in middle America if you want fast food...we don't!!!!
Ghetto Nobu and corporate steakhouses?! 😂 Obviously this person has never dined in these establishments. Further proved by stating the best restaurants are elsewhere. Your opinion is only valid if you’ve tried the food (which you can make claim to all you want, it’s obvious you have not).
These people living in trailer parks making their comments. I was in Buckhead in the 90s, it was much more dangerous back then. You ever heard of the Black Mafia Family? Ever heard of Ray Lewis shooting? Back then Atlanta was the second most crime-ridden city with the most murders per capita behind Detroit. You all must have forgotten but Buckhead and Atlanta are actually much safer now compared to back then.
Buckhead has been a rough place for a long time. Lived off Lindbergh across from the Marta station and had some run ins with some unsavoury people. The stairwells in nearly every parking garage smell like piss and shit like you are at the monkey house at the Bronx Zoo.
There used to be a better level of clientele who shopped at Lenox and Phipps, but now it's nothing but want to be rappers and hoochie mamas walking around.
Many of the restaurants are no where near what they used to do in the number of seats per night. I dined at K&D just before the closing date and the place was barely half full, same thing at Capital Grille, and many others. Buckhead lost a lot of its luster when the restaurants started lowering their standards for dress code. Like at Hal's had dinner there a few weeks ago and the dress code had always been no t-shirt or caps, gentlemen must wear jackets but it seems that is no longer the case.
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