[EXCLUSIVE] Massive Restaurant "Drops Out" of West Midtown Market

In a move that we'd heard was imminent, Culinary Dropout has closed their restaurant at The Brickworks in West Midtown.  The restaurant opened in November 2023 and reportedly closed as of January 15.  The other Atlanta location of the Arizona-based chain - in Dunwoody's Ashford Lane - opened this past February and remains open.  

Culinary Dropout, like Flower Child, North Italia and several other trendy restaurants, was developed by Sam Fox, also the creator of True Food Kitchen.  All but True Food Kitchen, which Fox had previously sold, were acquired by The Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE) in 2019.  Culinary Dropout, along with Flower Child and North Italia, among other Fox Restaurant Concepts (FRC) brands, were seen as significant "growth vehicles" for Cheesecake as it worked to diversify its portfolio and cater to different, more discerning diners.  

(Grand Lux Cafe, a concept The Cheesecake Factory developed internally, closed at Phipps Plaza in Buckhead in February 2023.  The Cheesecake Factory sibling concept opened on the mall's second floor in 2018, closed briefly in 2020, and reopened in 2021 before closing for good as of February 28, 2023.)  

The menu at Culinary Dropout is rather mixed, with offerings that include assorted meats and cheeses, salads, Detroit-style pizzas, sandwiches, steak, chicken, pasta, and even a spicy vegan curry entree.  Culinary Dropout also features weekend brunch and live music.   

Our personal favorite menu items are the Butternut Squash & Kale Salad with Bartlett pear, ancient grains, date, pistachio, toasted mulberry, white cheddar and maple tahini vinaigrette and their Whipped Feta & Tahini Dip with caramelized squash, apple, date, roasted pistachio and grilled ciabatta.  The Monkey Bread, featuring cinnamon apple brioche and vanilla ice cream, is a solid cheat day dessert.  

In a November 2023 article in Nations Restaurant News, an industry trade publication, Cheesecake president David Gordon was quoted as being incredibly enthusiastic about the growth prospects for the brand.  

“We just opened our newest Culinary Dropout in Charlotte, N.C., to strong demand with average sales of $175,000 over the first couple of weeks,” Gordon said. “We now have nine locations open, averaging over $200,000 per week so far this year,” he added.  “Culinary Dropout’s strong cash-on-cash returns position this concept as one of the more promising experiential concepts within FRC’s portfolio, given the attractive unit economics,” he said. “We are testing the geographic portability and currently have plans to open another location this year in Atlanta."  

It would seem that the West Midtown restaurant's size - about 12,000 square feet over two floors - and landlord-instituted customer-unfriendly paid parking - made filling the restaurant on a regular basis a challenge.  

The restaurant business is tough, and the Atlanta market can be challenging for a new-to-market brand to break into.  That said, West Midtown has proven to be ground zero for restaurant struggles - for both local and national concepts - with more than a half dozen closures in just the past twelve months and more said to be on the horizon.  

Notably, Superica, from local chef Ford Fry, closed its restaurant on Howell Mill Road after just 17 months, while Wagamama, an international Asian restaurant, closed at Star Metals in January 2024 after a similarly short stint.  Longstanding West Midtown breakfast spot West Egg Cafe closed December 29 after 20 years in business, while Cultivate also closed its Howell Mill restaurant December 22.  Over at Westside Paper, a new project not far from The Brickworks, Boxcar Betty's, a Charleston-based chicken joint, closed last March after about a year in business, while Elsewhere Brewing and Bar Diver, a restaurant from Richard Tang, both closed in October.  Pancake Social, a breakfast eatery at Westside Paper, was listed for sale in December.  

Following the West Midtown closure, there are currently 13 Culinary Dropout locations across seven states, according to the company's website.  Texas, with its six locations, is the chain's largest by unit count.  An activist investor this past October suggested that The Cheesecake Factory spin off North Italia, Flower Child, and Culinary Dropout into a separate publicly traded company to better fuel their growth.    

Have you been to Culinary Dropout?   Why do you think so many restaurants struggle in West Midtown?  How important is the availability of free parking to you when making a dining decision? 

Please share your thoughts below.