Tuesday, October 29, 2024

[WOW] Shopping Center Left Without "The Meats" Following Arby's Closure

Arby's has closed its restaurant at 4415 Roswell Road in Chastain Park.  The franchise restaurant occupied a roughly 3,000 square foot freestanding building at the corner of Roswell and Wieuca Roads in an outparcel of The Fresh Market-anchored Roswell-Wieuca Shopping Center.  

Although we were unable to confirm its opening date, the building's design and size suggest it opened around 1999/2000.  A photo from the early days of longtime neighbor Willy's Mexicana Grill confirms that a SouthTrust Bank occupied the property before the sandwich joint.  

Locals report that while restaurant may have [had] the meats, it didn't have many customers, although it was well run with friendly employees.  There was reportedly no advance warning of the closure which occurred Monday.  

According to a site plan for the shopping center, Arby's had a ground lease on the property.  It's location in North Buckhead at the edge of Sandy Springs as well as a functional drive-thru will likely make it an incredibly desirable property.  The site is likely to attract several quick-serve restaurant (QSR) operators including Raising Cane's, Dave's Hot Chicken and Whataburger.  Coffee operators would surely love to be there too but are likely prevented from doing so by the presence of PERC, a local coffee shop on the Wieuca side of the center since May.   

Nuveen Real Estate purchased the shopping center last April.  

“Roswell-Wieuca Shopping Center was one of the most highly sought-after grocery-anchored centers that we’ve marketed in the past five years due to the infill location, high-income demographics and significant cash flow growth potential,” said JLL Senior Managing Director Jim Hamilton, who led the marketing efforts and ultimate sale of the asset, at the time of the transaction.       

Arby's is part of Atlanta-based Inspire Brands but despite its corporate presence, the franchise has seen several high-profile restaurants shutter in metro Atlanta in recent years.  

Those closures include restaurants on Buford Drive in Buford, Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, West Crossville Road in Roswell, off Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta, Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta, and Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville.

The former Buford restaurant was demolished and rebuilt as a Raising Cane's, while former Sandy Springs and Alpharetta units were retrofitted into new Chipotle restaurants.  The Roswell unit became a Fifth Third Bank, while the Lawrenceville unit is becoming a new location of Yeero Village.  As far as we know, the downtown restaurant remains vacant.  

A landmark Arby's along Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood closed earlier this summer after 55 years in business.  

Depending on what part of the Arby's website you choose to believe, the company operates somewhere between 3,400 and 3,600 restaurants globally.  

Are you surprised that Arby's remained open as long as it did?  What would you most like to see open in place of Arby's?  What is currently your favorite eatery in Chastain Park?  

Please share your thoughts below. 

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, first a grocery store and then a fast food outlet in a city park. Who knew?

Anonymous said...

I really liked this location. Very convenient and always clean and efficient. I hate to see it go.

Anonymous said...

How does the one on N. Druid stay open?

Anonymous said...

I went to high school on the other side of Roswell road and remember us going to Arby’s (we had open campus) in 1991 so think it was there before 1999

Anonymous said...

They unlock the doors, turn on the lights and sell roast!

Anonymous said...

Two words....Jamocha Shakes

Anonymous said...

To the best of my recollection, the outparcel has never been anything but Arby's. And yes, it has been there a lot longer than 1999/2000. Sad to see it go, in an era of multiple chicken concepts, they have a very tasty chicken sandwich. And Jamocha shakes are as delicious as they are unique. I guess nothing sells anymore in fast food except chicken joints and taco stands.

Ham said...

I'm always confused why Arby's doesn't do better. I'm not much on fast food in general, but occasionally hit Arby's when in a rush and always find the food good, prices tolerable, service ok and restaurant empty.

Anonymous said...

I've always has good experiences at Arby's. Their employees are always nicer and their restaurants cleaner than most other fast food concepts.

Anonymous said...

That Arby's was built in the mid to late 80s as a training restaurant when I worked at the Ace Hardware when I was in high school.

Anonymous said...

Beef n Cheddar is 2,300mg of sodium. Horrific. Some of the absolute worst trash you can put in your body.

Anonymous said...

But its so delicious. Why not die happy rather than grouchy on celery and broccoli?

Anonymous said...

This will be the perfect spot for my new hookah lounge. I hope some of my Chastain Park residents stop by and say hello!

Anonymous said...

When I worked in the area would definitely stop at this location. I moved to Atlanta in 1997 and pretty sure it was there then or opened shortly after. Now if I want Arbys I like the Hammond Rd location in Dunwoody.

Anonymous said...

You can still get plenty of meat at the Fresh Market

Anonymous said...

As of today, the outside is being repainted. Something else is coming.

Anonymous said...

I remember going to that location and getting 5 chicken sandwiches for $5 with my grandmother... that was in the early 90s.

Anonymous said...

Odd two guys were taking the tv screens from the drive through today …hmmm

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