How Crispy Express will at the end of this week close its one and only location after a little more than four years in business. The quick-serve chicken eatery opened at 71 Georgia Avenue on January 24, 2022, and was to be followed in late 2022 by a second, larger location on Mitchell Street in South Downtown, but that location never opened.
How Crispy was featured on the hit Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives this past June.
"We basically created @howcrispy to get on @guyfieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives so everything beyond this Friday is gravy! 😤😤😤😤 Viewing party this Friday at How Crispy 8:30-10pm, BYOB, @guyfieri Look-Alike Contest," the restaurant posted at the time of the first airing.
The restaurant did not provide a specific reason for the closure, but there are parallels to draw between the recent struggles (and closures) and those in West Midtown. Prolific real estate firm Asana Partners is a major landlord in both West Midtown and in Summerhill, and in both cases instituted paid parking programs after acquiring their respective assets in each neighborhood.
Given the lack of significant "anchors" in Summerhill, one would think that paid parking and the "friction" it creates is not a good move if the goal is to encourage constant and repeat visits to the area.
How Crispy's imminent closure comes on the heels of the recent closures of Hero (Doughnuts) Diner and Psito, both concepts owned by Birmingham-based Pihakis Restaurant Group. Pihakis is facing a growing number of liens and lawsuits in multiple states which currently total more than $14 million, so while their closures are not necessarily related to the issues in Summerhill, their likely permanent closures don't help with the area's activity or vibrancy.
Summerhill is experiencing a rash of changes.
Wood's Chapel, a barbecue restaurant from Atlanta's Rye Restaurants, announced last week that it will on May 5 debut its new menu, reflecting a pivot to Tex-Mex.
Junior's Pizza closed behind How Crispy in December 2024, and as we were first to report in early March, NADC Burger is slated to open in its place. NADC - Not A Damn Chance - is based in Austin with the Summerhill location expected to be the budding chain's first unit in the market.
Heritage Supper Club from Bread & Butterfly's Chef Demetrius Brown, featuring an "elevated Afro-Caribbean cuisine," is expected to make its brick & mortar debut at 63 Georgia Avenue later this year.
Mexican eatery Boca closed, too, with plans for new owners to open a more casual Mexican spot in its place.
Rusty Taco closed earlier this year at the Publix-anchored Summerhill Station after first being listed for sale, and seeing its short-lived sibling location in Decatur close last fall.
Have you ever been to Summerhill? If not, have you heard of it? What can Summerhill do to make it a more attractive place to visit?
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2 comments:
Trader Joes's
They had outstanding chicken sandwiches. What a bummer
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