[UPDATE] R. Thomas Sold to Lounge Owners, Franchise Expansion Planned

Nearly seven months after it was revealed that landmark Atlanta eatery R. Thomas Deluxe Grill was being marketed for sale comes news that the restaurant has been sold.  Financial terms of the sale were not revealed, but the completion of the sale was first shared (behind a paywall) by The AJC.   

R. Thomas - Official 

The new owners - the Teranga Group - opened Teranga City this past April off Buford Highway in Brookhaven in a onetime Denny's near the Pink Pony.  Teranga City promotes itself as a West African restaurant and lounge, but with hookah and hours until 2AM seven days a week, some have suggested it's more like a nightclub.  The group also operates a second location in Charlotte, a takeout business called Jollof Express, and is planning a fine dining concept called "Afro District" for 132 10th Street (formerly Henry's Midtown Tavern) in Midtown in 2026.  

The group also previously operated Teranga City  Ultra Lounge at 22 Bennett Street but closed it earlier this year.  

Amat Baba, an owner at the Teranga Group, told The AJC that his team planned only minor cosmetic changes to the restaurant in the short term. "We don't want to change it," he added.  The group does plan to change out the furniture and update the floor, among other changes, in an effort to make the space feel more "modern."    

R. Thomas, located at 1812 Peachtree Street, is known for its healthy fare, fresh-squeezed juices, and tropical birds. 

The popular exotic birds that were briefly stolen but recovered in April 2023 have greeted guests at the restaurant for decades.  Baba indicated that the birds would likely continue to stay on the premises but that they might need a new perch as their current area near the entrance presents a safety concern, given its proximity to vehicular traffic. 

The restaurant first opened in 1985 and was once open 24 hours a day.  Although healthier foods - including vegan and vegetarian options - are easier to find today, R. Thomas remains a popular destination in part due to its rich history but also for its atypical hours, including being open until 5 AM Wednesday through Saturday and until 11 PM on all other days.  

Richard Thomas opened the restaurant after a successful career in the fast-food franchise business.  Thomas for several years served as President of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and spearheaded its growth in the 1960s before co-founding Bojangles in Charlotte in 1977.  He would later feel guilty for his role in “poisoning America” with trans fats and other unhealthy foods, which was the impetus for his pivot to healthier fare and the launch of R. Thomas.  Thomas passed away in January 2017 at age 82.   

Linay Thomas Sheltra, Richard's daughter, had owned the restaurant since her father's passing, but operated it from afar as she lives in Charlotte and made visits to the business a couple of times a month.  "We're going to be vetting people a little bit more, maybe deeper than we normally do," Atlanta entrepreneur Cliff Oxford told The AJC in April.  "We always do it, but I've got to think, would Richard and Linay have this person running the restaurant and be happy about it?" Oxford, who assisted Sheltra in selling the business, added.    

Sheltra and Oxford also told The AJC in April that the restaurant has "franchise potential," which seems at the very least misguided when you consider the kitchyness of the existing restaurant and how difficult, if not impossible, it would be to replicate it successfully.  Baba apparently bought into the franchise potential and told The AJC he and his team are already exploring opportunities to open a second R. Thomas in Charlotte.   

As much as we love healthier offerings and have enjoyed the establishment's Thai Express Bowl with tofu on more than one occasion, some restaurants are simply not built to be franchises.  Taxco, Agora, Marietta Diner, Red Eyed Mule, The Colonnade, and Nuevo Laredo are among the locally-owned Atlanta area restaurants that are great as independently owned establishments, but would seem impossible to franchise and still maintain their quality and charm.  (Doc Chey's Noodle House and Willy's Mexicana Grill both previously ventured into franchising before ending their respective efforts.)  

What are your thoughts on the sale of R. Thomas Deluxe Grill?  Do you think the new owners will be able to maintain the same experience and quality long term?  Does the idea of a franchise expansion of R. Thomas sound good to you?

Please share your thoughts below.