[OPENING ALERT] Raising Cane's to Open in Snellville in October

ToNeTo Atlanta has been your number one source for news on the Atlanta market entry of Raising Cane's.  We are pleased now to share that the new Raising Cane's on Scenic Highway in Snellville is slated to open August 20 September 10 October 8.  

[UPDATE] Brookhaven Losing LA Fitness, "Gaining" Upscale "Club Studio"

Metro Atlanta is set to get a new premium gym.  "Club Studio," a newly launched upscale gym from Fitness International, LLC, is due to replace the existing, roughly 50,000 square foot LA Fitness in TOWN Brookhaven (755 Brookhaven Avenue) in Brookhaven.  

[ALERT] McDonald's Checks Out of Longstanding North Druid Hills Restaurant

McDonald's has closed one of its Atlanta area restaurants after more than three decades in business.  The restaurant, located at 2210 North Druid Hills Road at Tullie Circle, just off I-85, first opened in 1991 and closed in recent days, according to sources in the area.  The restaurant was long rumored to be in danger given its proximity (and likely inclusion) in the new Children's campus, but a 2018 renovation seemed to suggest it was safe.    

[OPENING ALERT] Original ChopShop to Open Third Atlanta Area Location in October

After several delays, a few unforeseen challenges, and a pre-opening location pivot, metro Atlanta will in September welcome a third outpost of healthy fast- casual eatery Original ChopShop.  The new restaurant at 10920 Haynes Bridge Road, Suite 200 replaces Bolay, which vacated the roughly 3,800 square foot space this past October after a little more than a year in business.

[ALERT] Sababa's Burgers Bringing New Option For Kosher Cuisine to Toco Hills

A new kind of restaurant plans to open this week at Toco Hills shopping center.  Sababa's Burgers, offering kosher cuisine in a quick serve setting, plans to officially open Sunday July 28 Tuesday August 27 at 2929 North Druid Hills Road, Suite F, a roughly 1,500 square foot space formerly home to BurgerIM, a separate burger business.  

[UPDATE] Former Hardee's Now Home to Seafood, Soul Food, Chicken, Pancakes, Coffee & More!

On the heels of last year's abrupt closure of more than a dozen Hardee's restaurants across Georgia, several of their former spaces have been leased to new and growing brands.  Some of the former Hardee's restaurants remain vacant and available, but ToNeTo Atlanta has confirmed at least ten have new tenants signed or open.  

[COMING IN HOT] Sully's Steamers Secures Spaces For Subsequent Georgia Shops

A new kind of franchise is preparing to make its greater metro Atlanta debut.  Sully's Steamers, a steamed bagel sandwich eatery, has signed a franchise agreement to open a new location in Gainesville.  The restaurant, at 311 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Suite 103 (Mule Camp Springs), is being opened by husband and wife franchisees Chris and Amy Williams.  

[CLOSURE ALERT] Sage Woodfire Tavern Quietly Extinguished in Dunwoody

Sage Woodfire Tavern seems to have quietly closed its last remaining Atlanta area restaurant.  The Dunwoody outpost, located in Park Place ( 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road ) is now marked "permanently closed" on Google and its website is down.  The upscale eatery occupied a roughly 8,300 square foot space in the center previously home to Houlihan's.  Sage opened in the space in 2010.  

[ALERT] Whole Foods, Whataburger Planned for Forsyth, Lidl May Finally Open!

After hearing talk of a planned Whole Foods Market in south Forsyth County for several weeks, we now have confirmation that the grocer is in fact in talks for a new store in the area.  The new Whole Foods would anchor a new project planned by Fuqua Development (dba Fuqua Acquisitions II, LLC) to the east of The Collection at Forsyth along Ronald Reagan Boulevard, behind an existing RaceTrac.  

[UPDATE] Treatment Center Purchases Former Hampton Inn and Rusty Nail: Dive Bar Demolished

The Hampton Inn at 1975 North Druid Hills Road, an area landmark for more than three decades, abruptly closed in late March.  The 111 key hotel was reportedly stripped of its "flag" with signage at the hotel suggesting it was undergoing renovations and would reopen soon.  Information released recently confirms that the hotel had posted signage that was entirely misleading.  

Demolished Rusty Nail in foreground, former Hampton Inn in background

[EXCLUSIVE] Where's Waldo? Sharpsburg Awaits Waldo's Chicken & Beer

On the heels of news that Layne's, a Texas chicken chain, is entering the metro Atlanta market, comes news that another chicken joint plans to make its Peach State debut, too.  Waldo's Chicken & Beer, a Nashville-based restaurant, has secured space in Sharpsburg - between Newnan and Peachtree City- for their first unit in Georgia.  (Worth noting is that despite the similar name, the restaurant is not related to Ludacris' Chicken and Beer which has locations in Los Angeles' LAX and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson international airports.)  

[ALERT] Layne's, a Tiny Texas Chicken Chain, Looks to Land 18 Locations in Georgia

If you thought Atlanta had too many chicken joints, you're not alone, but yet another chicken brand is looking to enter the metro area.  Layne's Chicken Fingers, a 17-unit franchise based in College Station, Texas, has signed a franchise agreement with three local entrepreneurs to open 18 Layne's locations in metro Atlanta. 

[ALERT] Historic Buckhead Dive Bar Five Paces Inn Listed For Sale

Five Paces Inn, a Buckhead mainstay for nearly 70 years, has been listed for sale.  The bar, located at 41 Irby Avenue in the heart of the Buckhead Village, first opened in 1955, making it perhaps the longest-running, continuously operating bar in Buckhead and maybe, Atlanta.    

[EXCLUSIVE] Ben Carter Enterprises Planning New Outlet Center in Newnan

Atlanta developer Ben Carter Enterprises is looking to build something that has not been built in the area in more than a decade: a new outlet mall!  Plans reviewed by ToNeTo Atlanta confirm that Ben Carter Enterprises (BCE), the firm originally behind the project today known as Buckhead Village District, is looking to build a new outdoor outlet mall just off I-85, along Poplar Road and Newnan Crossing Bypass in Newnan in Coweta County.  

[ALERT] Darden Gobbles Up Chuy's in $605 Million Deal

Darden Restaurants, Inc.  (NYSE:DRI), operator of several casual and upscale restaurants, announced late Wednesday it has agreed to purchase Chuy's Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHUY) in a deal valued at approximately $605 million.  The Chuy's deal gives Darden its first Mexican restaurant concept and tenth overall brand.  

[EXCLUSIVE] Local Restaurateur Looking to "Flip" Former First Watch into "Steak & Grace"

A man who has over the years opened fancy burger joints, gourmet hot dog eateries, and most recently, a fresh seafood restaurant, is now looking to open a new establishment in Dunwoody.  

[ACTION!] Famed Director Francis Ford Coppola to Open "All-Movie Hotel" in Georgia

Academy Award winning director turned hotelier Francis Ford Coppola has unveiled the latest concept in his travel portfolio, the All-Movie Hotel, located in Peachtree City.  Originally a Days Inn Motel, the circa 1998 property has been remodeled by The Godfather director with post-production in mind.  

[EXCLUSIVE] Retailer The Athlete's Foot to Open New Headquarters and Store Along Atlanta BeltLine

A new kind of tenant is coming soon at Midtown Promenade (931 Monroe Drive) in Midtown.  The Athlete's Foot, yes, that The Athlete's Foot, will soon debut both a new corporate headquarters as well as a concept store on the back side of the Trader Joe's anchored shopping center.  

[86'd] 101 Bagel Cafe Closes Dunwoody Location

101 Bagel Cafe has closed its location in Ashford Place (4780 Ashford Dunwoody Road) not far from Perimeter Mall.  The bagel shop occupied a roughly 1,800 square foot space in the center that recently welcomed Sushi Kingdom to a onetime Romano's Macaroni Grill space.  

[ALERT] Deep Roots Wine Market & Tasting Room Coming to Chamblee

A new wine market and tasting room is headed to Chamblee.  Deep Roots Wine Market and Tasting Room, a local business with existing locations in Roswell and Woodstock, is coming to 5348 Peachtree Road in Chamblee for their third location.