Not only is the Braves lineup changing as the team returns to Atlanta, but the newly launched "Outfield Market" food hall is, too. NFA Burger, the popular Dunwoody area eatery that opened alongside seven other "stalls," has closed.
Unlike at their Dunwoody outpost where they offered their "classic" two patty smash-burger for $8, NFA at Truist offered a trio of exclusive smaller "NFA Minis" (slider-size burgers) sold as a single item for $14.
When we visited the stall on opening day, NFA founder Billy Kramer and COO Brett Crowder were hard at work trying to ensure that guests were having the same NFA experience at Truist as they might have or have had in Dunwoody. The stalls of Outfield Market, like other food establishments in the ballpark, may carry different names but are all operated in partnership with Delaware North, a huge multinational food service company.
Based on our visit, where a friend waited nearly two innings (after pre-paying) for burgers that when received were too burned to be eaten, it seems Delaware North may simply have been unable to execute to the standards and expectations of Billy and his team.
Something else we noted in our visit was the presence of H&F Burger a few feet from Outfield Market, and a partnership that has been in existence since Turner Field. Simply put, Truist Park's burger game is strong.
In place of NFA, the Braves have brought in Alex Brounstein and his Grindhouse Killer Burgers, another local burger spot, but one that offers the confidence and experience of already operating two successful locations elsewhere in Truist Park. The new Grindhouse, which debuted earlier this evening ahead of the Braves vs. Twins game, offers a single Grindhouse-style burger for $10.99, reportedly the cheapest burger in Truist Park. (The other Grindhouse locations in the ballpark offer only the double patty.)
When contacted about the closure, Kramer supplied the following statement regarding his departure from Truist Park:
“We were thrilled to have the opportunity to share the NFA Burger experience with Braves fans at Truist Park. Given all of the exciting things we have going on as a company, we have decided to focus our efforts on our new location at Avalon in Alpharetta. We wish our friends at Grindhouse and the Atlanta Braves the best of luck this season!”
The Avalon location Kramer references is opening on the green at the popular mixed-use development in Alpharetta where it is replacing the short-lived Israeli eatery Rina in a roughly 3,300 square foot space originally home to Goldberg's Bagel. The new Avalon NFA is reportedly on track to open in May, with Kramer also assessing other opportunities around metro Atlanta, too.
In addition to what is now three locations at Truist Park, Grindhouse also operates restaurants on Piedmont Avenue in Piedmont Heights, Memorial Drive near Grant Park, North McDonough Street in Decatur, Apple Valley Road in Brookhaven, South Lumpkin Street in Athens, and on the D and T Gates at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
A new Grindhouse Killer Burgers, complete with a rooftop deck, is slated to open on Chattahoochee Avenue near The Works on the Upper Westside. The restaurant, opening in place of a former SunTrust Bank, is currently on track to open late this fall, according to a source close to the eatery.
As a reminder, the Braves are also replacing Wahlburgers at The Battery Atlanta with a new location of Shake Shack, complete with a full bar. The new Shake Shack is slated to open later this June, ahead of the upcoming All-Star Game on July 15.
Did you have the chance to try NFA Burger at Truist Park before it closed? Do you plan to visit Truist Park this season? What moves can the Braves make to get back on track?
Please share your thoughts below.
17 comments:
Bottom line is eat at a reasonably priced place or at home right before you go...prices are absolutely ridiculous
Bottom line is eat at a reasonably priced place, or at home before you go. Prices are ridiculously.
Never been to Triust Park never plan to go.
nfa is completely overrated
Walked through the Outfield Market about 45 minutes before the Braves vs Phillies Game on 4-9-25 and it was literally a sea of mass humanity. With the amount of people trying to pass through the relatively small area, The Braves Game Day Management needs to address this going forward....
Nfa in dunwoody sucked very over rated and salty burger I trashed mine after one bite would not even feed my dog
Braves are gettin' a little carried away with "options" .... A simple good hot dog, peanuts and a coke at the ballpark is still the best experience ... Back to basics Braves !!
Agree 100%. But it's all about "the fan experience" now. Even the ball game itself takes a back seat to it.
I think that Billy was high on his ”Sassy Sauce” when he signed on to offer $14 sliders. he is supposed to be a marketing guru but doesn’t understand you need to know your competition well before going to market, also, you need to be nimble enough to change. Tweak and adjust. based on the current competitive landscape a few weeks into launch. if Grindhouse already had several locations at the ballpark and they’re offering a single for 1099 and a double for 1499 there is absolutely no value in Billy’s $14 slider. It is worth Mentioning that the single patty burger from Grindhouse is flipping huge. I used to order doubles and had to leave some over because it was too much food. Now I only order the singles. to be fair. I really like NFA, it’s a different product. The Avalon initiative seems a little aggressive for his concept. Not so much the fact he’s at Avalon, but the size and location of his space is very aggressive for his concept.
I agree, Keep it simple and affordable. Too many options. If dining options are someone's reason to visit the Braves at Truist, that's curious to me.
I had read about NFA but hadn’t been. Excited to try it at Truist on Opening Night. Thought the three sliders were fabulous and the best burgers in the park. Maybe best in town. Very disappointed to not find it tonight April 19; tried Grinders, just ok. Very disappointed NFA didn’t stick around to work through opening weekend issues that Truist has every year.
Calm down. Why are you so melodramatic?
Thanks for sharing this irrelevant info
Legit burger but he's getting bad advice from his experts. After fighting expansion (or blaming landlords for all being out to get him) for years, he chooses Avalon and Truist Park? Thosre are about the two worst locations for this concept that I can imagine, except maybe the airport.
Yep!
💯 agree!
A concept like NFA burger will do better in more blue-collar areas not Avalon. Most people at Avalon will continue to dine at Antico, Intermezzo, and Rumi's.
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