[AERT] Arby's Abandons Another Atlanta Area Restaurant

Another week, another Arby's closure in metro Atlanta. This time, it's the Arby's at 12180 Highway 92 in Woodstock in Cherokee County.  The restaurant, located in an outparcel of the Walmart-anchored Shoppes at Trickum shopping center, closed for good as of April 27, reportedly without advance warning to employees or patrons.  

Cherokee County property records indicate that the Arby's opened in 2004, was 3,417 square feet, and occupied a 1.24 acre property.   

Real estate sources suggest that the now former Arby's in Woodstock is expected to become a new bank.  

Arby's has closed more than a half dozen restaurants across the greater metro Atlanta area over the past few months, including those on North Druid Hills Road and in Lindbergh Plaza in late March and early April, respectively.  

ToNeTo Atlanta reported in February that Arby's had closed units in East Cobb, Duluth, and Emerson.  Arby's, owned by Sandy Springs-based Inspire Brands, has seen several metro Atlanta units close in recent years, including those in Roswell, Alpharetta, Albany, Milton, Buford, Chamblee, Sandy Springs, downtown Atlanta, Buckhead (Chastain Park), and Suwanee.   

The latest closure comes on the heels of those in Marietta along Cobb Parkway this past November and in Chamblee along Peachtree Boulevard this past December.  In years past, Arby's have also closed on Spring Street in midtown, Vaughn Road in Kennesaw, South Cobb Drive in Smyrna, Metropolitan Parkway in Atlanta, Windy Hill Road in Marietta, and LaVista Road in Tucker, as well as food court locations in Northlake Mall in Tucker, at CNN Center (now The CTR) downtown, and Lenox Square in Buckhead, among others.                

ToNeTo Atlanta reported in October 2024 that Arby's had closed its longstanding restaurant on Roswell and Wieuca Roads in Chastain Park.  This past June we reported that a new location of Fifth Third Bank is planned in its place, with actual renovation work having just recently started.        

Despite all the closures, the company and its franchisees continue to operate about 3,400 restaurants worldwide.  Sources suggest that the recent closures were low volume locations and were executed in preparation for parent company's Inspire Brands planned initial public offering (IPO).  

Remaining Atlanta area units include those on Howell Mill Road in Atlanta, Hammond Drive in Sandy Springs, State Bridge Road in Johns Creek, and Scenic Highway in Snellville.  

Update May 12: A ToNeTo Atlanta reader tells us that an Arby's at 8490 Tara Boulevard in Jonesboro also closed in recent days.  

Are you surprised to see so many Arby's close across metro Atlanta?  Do you think Inspire going public is a good idea?  What is your favorite quick-serve restaurant (QSR)?     

Please share your thoughts below.