[CLOSURE ALERT] Popular Greek Restaurant to Celebrate Final Table Dance This Fall

A longstanding intown Atlanta restaurant announced Wednesday they will close for good in November.  Taverna Plaka, located at 2196 Cheshire Bridge Road, will serve their final meal Saturday November 4, after providing lively Greek fare (and belly dancing) to metro Atlantans and visitors alike for two decades.  The restaurant made the announcement via posts to its Facebook and Instagram pages.  

"For over 20 years Taverna Plaka has thrown napkins, performed the Zorba, belly danced and celebrated life with you on Cheshire Bridge. We never imagined the fantastic journey this restaurant would take, so it is with the saddest of hearts that we announce that we will be CLOSING our doors at the start of NOVEMBER. These years have filled us with joy and we invite you to join us for a glorious goodbye OPA! before our last day, Saturday NOVEMBER 4th, 2023. 

-Thanks 💙  Taverna Plaka Staff & Management OPA!"

Taverna Plaka first opened in 2003, offering classic Greek dishes in a casual yet fun atmosphere.  On Friday and Saturday nights however, when the restaurant stays open until 2:30 AM, Taverna Plaka gets "turnt up" with belly dancers, and the option for patrons to climb tables and show off their moves.  

The restaurant's closure is especially sad when you consider that it survived not only the "Great Recession" of 2008 but later the pandemic, and most recently, the interminable closure of Cheshire Bridge Road.  

Cheshire Bridge Road was forced to close in August 2021 after a fire badly damaged the bridge that carries cars across Peachtree Creek.  One lane reopened in October 2022 but it was not until April of 2023 that the road fully reopened.  At the time of the single lane reopening, Taverna Plaka owner Soctt Duke indicated that his restaurant's business was off about 40 per cent as a result of the bridge closure.  

In the social media post, Duke did not specify the reason for the closure but ToNeTo Atlanta was since told that the property's landlord did not offer Duke a lease renewal as they plan to sell the property.  

Fulton County property records indicate that "Pace Cheshire LLC" owns 2196 and 2192 Cheshire Bridge, two parcels that total a little more than one acre, that the business acquired for $925,000 in late 2002. 

For reference, Alfredo's, another longstanding Atlanta restaurant, closed in 2016 after more than 40 years in business and is today home to more than 400 apartments.  Property records indicate that the Alfredo's parcel spanned six acres and sold for $5.45 million or a little more than $900,000 per acre.  The 403 apartment community, today known as Solstice Morningside, was sold in February 2020 for $54.72 million.  

Another former area mainstay, the Varsity Jr. (1085 Lindbergh Drive), closed in 2010 and saw its 1.4 acre property sold in late 2014 for $1.32 million.  A 750 unit climate-controlled self- storage facility was subsequently built in its place.  

Landmark Diner Jr. closed its doors in 2019 and save for an occasional movie/film set, has stayed largely idle. (The building was previously home to Dunk 'n Dine for more than four decades.) The property, 2277 Cheshire Bridge Road, has at times been marketed for redevelopment along with the neighboring parcels, including 2299 Cheshire Bridge Road, once home to Happy Herman's.  

Nicola's Restaurant, located just over a mile from Plaka, also offered belly dancing but it closed in August 2021 after nearly four decades in business.  

Back at Plaka, Duke, who bought the restaurant in 2014 from original owner Ray Pace, said Taverna Plaka’s entire staff will be offered jobs at The Colonnade, the iconic Atlanta mainstay since 1927 where Duke has served as general manager for about a year. 

Are you sad to see Taverna Plaka close?  What is your fondest memory of Cheshire Bridge Road?  What would you like to see replace Taverna Plaka?

Please share your thoughts below.