Atlanta based J. Christopher's has closed their restaurant in Decatur. The breakfast eatery, located at 250 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., had been in business nineteen years, according to signage at the restaurant announcing the closure.
J. Christopher's marks the second breakfast eatery to close in Decatur in just the past few weeks following the closure of Effin Egg (201 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.) in July after less than two years in business.
Decatur diners seeking breakfast and brunch dishes still have several options including FolkArt a 174 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. FolkArt opened in late 2019 in a space previously home to fellow breakfast spots Thumbs Up Diner and before that, the beloved Crescent Moon.
The first J. Christopher's opened in Marietta in 1997. Today the locally owned-chain includes 19 locations in Georgia plus one in Franklin, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville. (The company's website indicates that the Decatur location is still open as is the Buckhead unit in Peachtree Hills despite it having closed more than a year ago.) Verde Taqueria opened earlier this month in place of the former J. Christopher's in Peachtree Hills.
A new J. Christopher's is coming soon to The Shops at Ashley Park in Newnan, according to The City Menus.
The owners of J. Christopher's also operate a sibling brand, Reveille Cafe, a so-called "coffeehouse cafe," which includes seven locations in Georgia (some converted former J. Christopher's) plus one in The Villages, Florida.
Bradenton, Florida-based First Watch, a similar breakfast eatery, entered the Atlanta market in 2012 with the purchase of two J. Christopher locations. The restaurants, in Johns Creek and Smyrna, were subsequently rebranded and reopened as First Watch restaurants in 2013.
At the time of the purchase, it was reported that the Florida company also acquired the right to purchase the J. Christopher’s brand, concept and all intellectual property, contingent on certain developments, but that never came to fruition.
For its part, First Watch has since its Atlanta debut in early 2013 expanded to more than 20 locations around the state including a Decatur location in the Sprouts-anchored Decatur Crossing shopping center less than two miles from the now closed J. Christopher's.
Are you surprised J. Christopher's closed its location in Decatur? Where would you like to see J.Christopher's open next? What is your favorite local or chain breakfast eatery?
Please share your thoughts below.
Running a breakfast-and-lunch–only restaurant isn’t as easy as it used to be.
ReplyDeleteRents and wages keep climbing, even if you’re only open until 2 p.m. Fewer people commute every day now, which means fewer weekday breakfasts out. And the cost of staples like eggs, dairy, and coffee seems to swing with every news headline.
It’s still a beautiful model when it works — your evenings are free, and the morning crowd can be fiercely loyal. But to survive, you’ve got to make every hour count: own your niche, pack the place on weekends, and think beyond the dining room with catering or grab-and-go.
since we now work from home we eat breakfast at sit down restaurants a lot more frequently.
DeleteWell they have terrible hours 7am - 2pm ... If you are going to do breakfast then maybe open at 5:30 or 6am. Most people have to be at work at 8am. Add in Atlanta traffic and 7am is late. As for lunch, some people like myself don't get lunch until 1-1:30pm. I can only imagine that they have a decent rush on the weekends. But you can't survive on the weekends alone. So many options now for breakfast so they need to try harder and not be stuck in 1997. The food is okay but not being late for work okay.
DeleteWe loved this location so much! We were shocked and disappointed when we came by and found it was closed. The food was always good and the service was too.
ReplyDeleteHopefully they close the Brookhaven location soon. Cannot imagine a more mediocre place when it comes to breakfast.
ReplyDeleteI've never had a bad experience at that location and the food is always fresh, but what would you prefer take its place? It adds diversity in dining options to the area as nearly all of the other restaurants are lunch/dinner joints.
DeleteI loved this place AND the BROOKHAVEN location..both had great food n service and fair prices
DeleteSizzler used to have fair prices.
DeleteTheir Midtown eatery is also under duress. Half empty most weekdays. Takeout seems to do better. They have maintained quality and service. I hope business picks up. It's a well-run operation.
ReplyDeleteI have never been there. I love Rising Son and Pastries-a-GoGo. They have the same hours but I only eat out on weekends now since I work from home.
ReplyDeleteI’m partial to Breadz’n’Butterz but Duh!! It’s Dough!! is pretty good too!
DeleteArticle should point out that Decaturites still have Pastries a GoGo as bkfst option in downtown. Not just FolkArt
ReplyDeleteAlso, Egg Harbor
DeleteAlso Walmart bakery
DeleteDoes anyone have a contact there? They had some great art on their walls!
ReplyDeleteYes they did!!
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