After 55 years of being a customer of The Colonnade, Lewis Jeffries is now the owner. A native Atlantan and longtime resident of nearby Pine Hills, Jeffries was the winner of what was reportedly a robust competition to become the next owner of The Colonnade.
A CPA by trade, Jeffries, together with husband Paul Donahue, opened Lingering Shade Social Club, a cocktail bar and lounge at the Irwin Street Market in July 2017. The bar is located along the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail and across from Krog Street Market.
The Colonnade is known locally to be a favorite among Atlanta's "gays and grays," both groups of which Jeffries is a member.
Currently located at 1879 Cheshire Bridge Road, The Colonnade has been an Atlanta staple since 1927 and was most recently owned and operated by Jodi Stallings and her husband David.
The purchase of The Colonnade closed early Monday, and thus far, Jeffries has not responded to ToNeTo Atlanta's request for comment.
It is believed, however, that Jeffries is the "Anonymous" poster of this August 19 comment on our Colonnade report:
"Colonnade ain't going anywhere and no significant changes. I have it under contract and have been a customer for 55 years. My grandparents even ate there. Please relax and keep coming back supporting our wonderful staff!"
Unconfirmed reports indicate Jeffries plans to enhance the bar offerings, among the limited changes he plans to make.
The business (not the real estate) was originally offered for $975,000 but the final sales price was not disclosed.
What is your favorite menu item at The Colonnade? Are you one of the few who has never dined at The Colonnade? What is one thing you would like to see Lewis Jeffries change at The Colonnade?
Please share your thoughts below.
61 comments:
Good
This sounds like very good news!
My honey loves your fried chicken livers and would love to see them back as a meal instead of just the appetizer.
Good! About damn time something classic got saved from destruction in Atlanta.
Please add delivery.
Great news!!!
Love the tomato aspic.
Thank you Lewis!
Yay! Bring back the Early Bird Special, pretty please? 😃
I agree about the chicken livers when I was there the other day. I was very disappointed to hear that it was an appetizer, not a main dish.
I am so excited.
No changes necessary on food, drink or personnel. Keep it rolling the way it is. it's perfect. Best of Luck
I love the bloody Mary's & the food.
Please open for lunch on Saturday.
Love Colonnade. Please add lunch hours!
AGREE - PLEASE ADD DELIVERY!!!!
Very happy about this!
Bring back the Bing Cherry Salad please
This is great news, and I'm glad a member of the Gay and Gray community is taking the reins! Please bring back the old menu, though! I haven't enjoyed the recently condensed menu nearly as much.
Great news!!!! Been going for over 50 years!!!
Please make the hiring ages 35+
Bring back Saturday lunch, Tuesday night, and the early bird please.
I love The fried chicken and dressing, but my husband sure has missed the stuffed pork chops that they used to serve
Aspic! Only place in town serving it!
Congrants Lewis
Fantastic news
It’s perfect! Don’t change a thing!! Just ate there last night, the best FRIED CHICKEN in this world and that includes mine and I’m a great fryer!!
Add back the saltine crackers please
Love the chicken livers but last time I had them, they were dry. Was the chef changed because my husband also said his fried chicken didn’t taste the same?
Absolutely!!!
Reopen for lunchtime!
I also want to see the chicken lives back as an entree!
OMG the fried scallops are the best. I don't know if they are still on the menu but I dream of having them anytime I'm back in Atlanta. Thanks so much for keeping the Nade alive!
Yes!!!!
Salmon Patties Rule!! Looking forward to the 100th anniversary.
Always have the mixed salad with the beets! More light and brighter interior.please!
Agree!
Me, too!
How does a man have a "husband"?
Yes!
who owns that land?
land - who owns that $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ land?
please bring back the stuffed shrimp! :)
It is a HUGE appetizer portion
I was extremely excited to hear that this couple bought the restaurant. They are clearly a perfect fit and know what the Colonnade means to Atlanta and its patrons that have been eating and drinking there for decades. From a second generation Atlantan: Thank-you gentlemen. So much better than a big coporation or investor coming in to purchase it. My guess is that the restaurant will be even better once these guys do some mild updating of the interior and retro-ing of the menu. Best of luck!
To the “anonymous” moron who made the stupid comment about how does a man have a husband.
You are obviously the type who is brainwashed by fox “news” and needs to go back to “truth” social with the rest of the low IQ individuals. This site is about businesses and you have no business being here.
Very excited about the news. Just talking about it the other day with friends. It's quite a drive for me but I plan to be there soon. Fried chicken please!
The only change I would want to see on the menu is to be able to order shrimp and scallops instead of one or the other.
My job is not to be critical, but to tell the truth. if these guys want to be successful and last beyond the current class of octogenarians they’ve got a lot of work to do. The Facility, establishment, menu, kitchen every last teaspoon and fork along with the filthy stained cocktail glasses needa to all go to sleep with the fishes. If you want a live action,Titanic dining room recreation go here for that and a side of tummy aches. One of the biggest million dollar questions of the year is how to hell do they have one of the best fried chicken plates in the ATL? It’s all BS and hype. Churches Texas chicken anytime of any day will beat collondale, Mary Mac and all these other so-called famous chicken joints.
Would have been a nice location for some affordable housing.
It’s been the same for over 50 years and they have continued to keep people coming in. If they scrap it all and start over, tinkering with everything to make it “new” they will fail.
And Church’s drive thru awaits! By the way, what is your job, since you told us what it’s not?
Go get yourself some Church's then. I can see why you would enjoy dining at Church's since their restaurants are always so spotless.
My husband and I ate at the Collanade every Thursday or Friday evening. I would almost always order a steak dish that was thin slices of steak with the steak gravy on top. It had a definite name but I cannot recall what it was. Usually 2 vegetables and a salad was served with the steak. We both loved the Collanade very much. We also had the same waitress and I’m not positive but I believe her name was Mable. Good memories!
Well we see who the resident comedian is. Stick to comedy because Churches Fried Chicken is HOG SLOP
Yep! Oink oink
No to another hoodrat apt complex with nightly pewpew. Yes to great food that’s not some chain.
Easy. He married a man.
I’ve eaten at the Colonnade a few times and don’t understand what the big fuss is about, it’s not very good
Church’s!?!?!? No way!
Since you know, don’t go back! More room for the rest of us who like it.
Maybe they meant chicken made by ladies at church for Sunday lunch?
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