Thursday, May 18, 2023

[EXCLUSIVE] Scary New Restaurant Hopes to Bring New Life to Ailing Shopping Center

Tucker is getting a scary new restaurant.  Haunted House Restaurant - that's literally the name -  is opening soon in Northlake Festival (4073 Lavista Road, Suite 323).  The new restaurant spans nearly 12,000 square feet and is the second overall restaurant for the business that began in Cleveland Heights, Ohio in 2021.  

The Tucker restaurant is more than double the size of the Cleveland outpost.   Haunted House Restaurant is opening in place of the short-lived "Vista Vibes Restaurant" that was for several years before that home to Coca Cabana, a Cuban restaurant.  

Essentially, the restaurant is just what it sounds like, a Haunted House-themed restaurant complete with costumed staff, themed food and "scary" decor.  The restaurant seems also to encourage patrons to dress up, too, and get in the "spirit."  

The restaurant proudly states: 

                                    "The only thing scary...     

                                   ...is how good our food is." 

Examples of the restaurant's themed food includes the Nashville Massacre (fried hot shrimp with avocado mousse, braised pico salsa), Ecto Burger (Impossible Burger with vegan BBQ pulled pork and vegan smoked Gouda) and Nightmare on Elm Street Corn, among other options.  The restaurant also features a variety of "Potions Bowls," shareable cocktails served in a 51-ounce glass chalice.  "If you're looking for a bit of bippity, boppity, boom.... order our Potion Bowl for a magical spell bounding experience."  Perhaps the scariest thing about the menu: Pepsi products! 

The existing location is open for dinner during the week and weekend brunch.  The restaurant is closed on Mondays.  

Haunted House Restaurant, co-owned by serial entrepreneur Andre Scott and Ryan “DJ Ryan Wolf” Gullatt, the official DJ of the Cleveland Browns, among others, will reportedly run the Tucker outpost as a corporate location but additional franchised units are in the works. 

Haunted House Restaurant joins several new and upcoming restaurants in Northlake Festival including Five Guys, which opened May 8 in a space beside Verizon and adjacent to Chick-fil-A along LaVista Road.  KPot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot is expected to open soon in a onetime Blockbuster Video close to the main entrance of the center, also along LaVista Road.  

A franchise of struggling pizza operator Uncle Maddio's Pizza closed at the center as of May 1.  

Real estate sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta that Northlake Festival was recently sold, and that new ownership is being more aggressive in their leasing efforts than the center's previous owners. 

Leases are reportedly in the works for several of the center's larger "big box" spaces including the former Toys R Us (44,037 square feet), Hi-Fi Buys (14,825 square feet) and Haverty's (25,905 square feet).  

[Fun fact: Having grown up in the area, we bought our first Nintendo 64 at the Northlake Festival Toys R Us and our family's first DVD player at the center's Hi-Fi Buys]

Increased leasing activity likely means that the City of Tucker's desire that the property is redeveloped in what they envisioned as "Tower Park" are less likely now than ever.  

Current anchors in center include PetSmart, a recently renovated Goodwill (in a former OfficeMax) and Movie Tavern (in a converted former AMC Theaters).  

Haunted House Restaurant in Tucker should definitely open in time for Halloween 2023.  In addition, another location is reportedly in the works in Orlando as well as several others across the country.  

Does the idea of a Haunted House-themed restaurant excite you?  What is your fondest memory of Northlake Festival?  What other types of restaurants or retailers would you like to see open at Northlake Festival?

Please share your thoughts below.  

26 comments:

Ham said...

It sounds interesting, but how often would you really eat there? I can see it being very popular at first and once everyone visits it closes, but who knows.

Anonymous said...

Go ahead and put this on the short list! Who wants to eat with a haunted atmosphere! If they want something scary look at the gas prices! Makes me loose my appetite each time

Anonymous said...

So excited for this!

Anonymous said...

Tacky

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the info. Wondering if you could give some clarification a little up the road in Tucker. Chick-fil-A is building a new restaurant almost across the street from its existing location on the corner of Hwy 29 and Hugh Howell. Are they going to close the older one?

Anonymous said...

Love the idea! We’re visiting a Halloween themed bar on an upcoming Fla trip.

Anonymous said...

That's definitely a good shopping center for it. Honestly being someone that lives in the area it's exciting to see some new places open in the area.

Anonymous said...

Depends on the food, I think it will be fun.

Anonymous said...

Those menu items sound hideous.

Anonymous said...

Closing the old one on the corner when the new one is complete.

Anonymous said...

These rude ass comments are crazy. This is a business idea that excites people. You people that are salty or say "I'd never eat here" are just unhappy people with miserable lives. I'm sure this owner doesn't want you eating there anyway.

Anonymous said...

I am excited to hear about this restaurant!!! Count me in!😈

Anonymous said...

Was really looking forward to this antiquated mall being redeveloped into more modern useful mixed use businesses and housing but apparently the new owners don't have the same vision that residents of Tucker have and wanted to bring to the area. We didn't ask for more chain restaurants since they don't stay in business for long unless there is a really. Really high demand and I don't see that with a haunted themed restaurant. Thankfully there is hope with north Dekalb mall being totally demolished and redeveloped with what the residents voiced their wishes AND THE NEW OWNERS LISTENED!!!

Anonymous said...

Creative dining concept. For me Spooky and ghostly would be entertaining. Gore would be unappetizing.

Alex said...

Not something I would ever invest in. But it might work if they can do theme nights throughout the year, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter, super heroes, etc. for the cosplayers. Otherwise, most people visit a theme restaurant like this just once and never or rarely return.

Anonymous said...

I’m a happy person with a wonderful life. I do think the concept sounds…interesting…and I guess there maybe a market for it. It’s not for me but then again Bacchanalia isn’t for everyone either.

Anonymous said...

They should open a Texas Chainsaw Massacre restaurant serving Barbecue.Leatherface would be your hostess.

Anonymous said...

What a bizarre business idea.

RayAtL said...

Sounds neat-o!
There were two horror themed restaurants in NYC for years called Jekyll and Hyde. They were very elaborate and cool. Great for the tourists trade.
There was a werewolf themed tavern as well.
I wish them luck in Tucker.

Anonymous said...

As a Halloween super fan, I’m excited for this restaurant and hope it’s a runaway success for the owners.

Anonymous said...

Trendy and won’t last but we’ll go try a cauldron of potions at least once!

Anonymous said...

The person saying those who think it's a bad idea have "miserable lives" is coping and projecting hard. Who exactly did they poll to think this excites people? Either way, people can have other opinions, grow up. I agree with others that it is a strange business idea, to say the least. Best of luck to the owners, but I see this as a novelty idea that will not last.

Anonymous said...

Very creative concept and dining experience. Been to the Ohio one and the line is out the door EVERY weekend. Social media is so legit. Excited this is coming to the city of Tucker.

Anonymous said...

Pandering to the lowest common denominators of society. No thank you!

Anonymous said...

We just ate at the original in Cleveland yesterday!! It was really good food, all the waffles are AMAZING! So good, we drove 30 minutes back last night for dessert!! I am seriously excited to see this!!!

Anonymous said...

I ate at the one in Ohio, and the food was fabulous with a party atmosphere. I can't wait for it to open in GA.

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