Thursday, May 16, 2024

[EXCLUSIVE] Kacey's Home Cooking Closing, Growing Bank Eyes Space

Kacey's Home Cooking, a Tucker area mainstay for more than a decade, will soon close for good.  The restaurant, located at 3925 LaVista Road at its intersection with Montreal Road, is slated to close at the end of June.  A local developer that previously replaced an old Tucker area Wells Fargo with a new Starbucks and Willy's Mexicana Grill among other tenants, has the Kacey's property under contract with plans to replace it with a bank. 

DeKalb County property records indicate the roughly 4,200 square foot restaurant was first built in 1972 and that it sits on eight tenths of an acre.  Before its time as Kacey's, the building was The Italian Oven, part of a local chain that according to its website still exists in Stockbridge and Peachtree City.  Locals tell ToNeTo Atlanta that the property was also previously home to an outpost of the local chain, Milk Jug.    

The bank slated to replace Kacey, Fifth Third, is in for permitting, and while Kacey's is definitely closing, the bank's development hinges on several variances needed from the City of Tucker, not the least of which is a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) for the bank's drive-thru.  

The Cincinnati-based bank first entered the Atlanta market in 2008 and today operates 29 branches in Georgia including several within Kroger grocery stores.  The bank has in some cases taken over former restaurant buildings such as in Chamblee where they occupy a one-time El Pollo Loco and another in Roswell where the bank made use of a former Arby's.  

In addition to the planned Tucker branch, another new Fifth Third is planned along Roswell Road in Sandy Springs on the site of the former Flasher's strip club (6420 Roswell Road) with another planned in Milton (13794 Highway 9) in a former Wendy's.  

Some branches have proven less successful than others with the bank having closed a short-lived location on Paces Ferry Road in Vinings, among others.  

To help bolster the bank's local presence, Fifth Third purchased naming rights to "Fifth Third Stadium" at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw.  The bank partnership started in 2013 and was extended in 2023 to at least 2030.  

The name "Fifth Third" is derived from the names of the bank's two predecessor institutions, Third National Bank and Fifth National Bank, which merged in 1909.

Overall, Fifth Third operates 1,100 branches and 2,400 ATMs across 11 states: Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.  

In Georgia, Fifth Third is, like Coastal States Bank, SouthState Bank, Cadence Bank, and others, vying for market share in a city already home to many dominant banks including Ameris, Truist, Wells Fargo, PNC, Regions, Chase and Bank of America.  

Are you sad to see Kacey's close?  Do you typically do bank business in person, or do you handle most banking business online?  What is your favorite bank in metro Atlanta?

Please share your thoughts below.   

21 comments:

Unknown said...

I used to take my kids to the Italian Oven at that location. The pizza was meh but very kid friendly with tables covered in butcher paper so kids could draw on it with crayons (kept them busy while waiting for the pizza). Also,there was a wide window partition with a step in front of the kitchen so kids could watch the staff make pizza.

Sad that the location is going to get another bank branch, I think they suck a bit of the soul out of the retail neighborhood.

Anonymous said...

it was a Sizzler steakhouse for many years before it became Italian Oven. Italian Oven was actually pretty good. And for a few months it was the 'Northlake Diner', then became Kacey's iirc.

Unknown said...

So we need another brick and mortar bank in the age of online transactions? I have not set foot in a bank branch in several years. Remind me not to invest in that bank.

Anonymous said...

Never frequent that part of 'town', and never been to Kacey's. That said, sad to see a long-time establishment such as them, close. But I suppose that is business.
As for banks, I've been a customer of Trust Co/Suntrust/Truist for over 40 years, and (after multiple buy-outs) Wells Fargo for longer than that. Wells Fargo does not impress me, and it seems they are trying their best to drive me away.
All to say that the only reason I ever have to go to a bank is when I receive a check, which is rare.

Anonymous said...

I live in the area and know people that like Kaceys. It's not my kind of place so I never went. I can't believe they are putting a bank there. I only go into a bank if absolutely necessary and banks are short employees now like every business so it's not normally a great experience.

Anonymous said...

I was told last night that Kaceys southern style cooking is fabulous—-I’ve never tried the place because the building and ‘all you can eat’ sign put me off a little bit- too bad for me, apparently. Will try before it closes.

Anonymous said...

Too bad a restaurant is closing. As for the bank, why not move it the empty bank on L’ville Hwy at Cooledge?

Anonymous said...

Well, I have eaten at Kacey's quiet often. I had much rather continue eating there than see a half-ass bank take the spot. Hope the Bank fails.

Anonymous said...

I’m very surprised any business would see the need for another bank. The newest one I have been in is Chase bank on the corner of Hugh Howell and Mtn. Industrial in the Publix shopping center. It doesn’t have a drive thru and I was very surprised to see inside the high security. Plus I had to wait a long time to do my business. Not a convenient location at all simply for what the bank doesn’t offer.

Anonymous said...

"All to say that the only reason I ever have to go to a bank is when I receive a check, which is rare."

And with mobile deposit, you could take care of that check without going to the bank.

Anonymous said...

There used to be a fudruckers 1 block down that also turned into a bank! Why do we need so many banks? They’re as common as a gas station. The moes, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s also closed in this area even though it’s very populated. What’s going on?

Anonymous said...

I only went once and that was enough. Whatver Italian Oven didn’t remodel after Sizzler was still exactly the same 40 years later. Old smelly and dirty and the food not much better than Piccadilly (now not the way it used to be 30 years ago.)

Anonymous said...

Very sad I love eating there! Nothing is left for dining in that area. Is the food court still open at the mall?

Anonymous said...

Does anyone remember when Steak and Shake was up there across from. McDonald's? What other restaurants use to be around there?

Anonymous said...

Will the former Tucker Federal Bank that sits at the corner of Briarcliff and Henderson Mill will ever be used? I share the frustration of another poster about restaurants closing in the area, though I do hope for something better to take their place. The Northlake area is not poor, we do have money to spend, and would love to have some interesting stores and restaurants like other parts of town. Maybe the new bank thinks we want to deposit our money but not spend it in the neighborhood?

Anonymous said...

I grew up going to the Steak and Shake. I can't really remember exactly which buildings were reused (as opposed to razed). It became Showbiz Pizza, which was awesome if you grew up around there and are currently maybe 48-55yo. Then became a Dairy Queen for a while. There also used to be a Del Taco at the corner of Harobi and Lavista. That later became Chicken Loco, then Northlake Diner, then 'Plaza Diner'...

Anonymous said...

My granny used to let me grind the 8 o’clock coffee beans. I usually ground way more than we bought because I thought I was “helping “ so other didn’t have to grind it. That was before the Sizzlins was over there. It was just weeds then I think.

Anonymous said...

Super sad to see kaceys go! A very reasonable place for a great variety of food. Something for everyone. Seemed to be quite popular w retired clientel! Makes me wonder where all those frequent diners will go for variety and cost! We need another bank on lavista? Several there now.
Nope will not use! Really unhappy w the change!

Anonymous said...

True and chase keeps building bank after bank

Anonymous said...

I remember the S&S and the Arby’s where Mc Donald’s is/was in the early ‘70’s.

Anonymous said...

I heard that the Owner died and his children didn't want the responsibility so they Sold it. We loved going on Friday Night for the Cat fish.

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