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Friday, May 22, 2026

[ALERT] Mirko Pasta Says "Ciao" to East Cobb

Mirko Pasta has permanently closed its restaurant at Merchants Walk in East Cobb.  The casual Italian eatery - 1281 Johnson Ferry Road - opened at the Whole Foods Market-anchored shopping center in 2011.  

ToNeTo Atlanta reported in October 2025 that a new Shake Shack location was to replace both Mirko and the neighboring former Gigi's Cupcakes next door, but that plan failed to materialize with the pasta eatery pledging to remain in business for "the foreseeable future." 

Related: La Madeleine closing at Providence Square in East Cobb.

The restaurant's closure, which reportedly took place quietly earlier this week, likely marks the end of Mirko's existing lease.  The former Mirko space is 2,250 square feet but is not yet marked as "available" on the siteplan for the center from property owner Edens.  

Mirko Di Giacomantonio, a native of Tortoreto, Italy, first collaborated with Sandro Romagnoli to start FIGO Pasta in 2002.  After parting ways with FIGO, Giacomantonio went on to start his namesake eatery in Watkinsville (near Athens) in 2007.  At its peak there were ten Mirko locations in Georgia and one in Nashville.  

Former Georgia locations include Toco Hills, Roswell, Buford, Monroe, Johns Creek, Watkinsville and Athens.  

Today, following the closure in East Cobb, there are just two locations: Roswell Road in Chastain Park (opened 2011) and on Town Boulevard at TOWN Brookhaven in Brookhaven (opened 2023). 

What would you like to see open in place of Mirko in East Cobb?  What is your favorite East Cobb eatery?  What type of food do you think East Cobb is missing?

Please share your thoughts below  

9 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 22, 2026 at 3:30 PM

    I hope Shake Shack reconsiders! Or even a decent drive thru burger joint like Culvers

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 22, 2026 at 5:53 PM

    This person above me is so fucking unimaginative. Culver's? Shake shack? Wtf

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AlexMay 23, 2026 at 9:39 AM

      It's a generic suburban shopping center. What do you suggest?

      Delete
    2. AnonymousMay 23, 2026 at 2:40 PM

      At 5:53, at least they didn't say Trader Joe's.

      Delete
    3. AnonymousMay 23, 2026 at 4:49 PM

      Better a Culver’s or shake shack than a hookah lounge. Or a Trader Joe’s.

      Delete
    4. AnonymousMay 23, 2026 at 5:20 PM

      I guess your ideas that are so much better are a secret. Shhhhh. Don’t tell anyone.

      Delete
    5. AnonymousMay 27, 2026 at 2:41 AM

      You can tell the people saying “at least nobody is suggesting Trader Joe’s” aren’t from that area. If they were, they’d know there’s already a Trader Joe’s across the street from Merchants Walk

      Delete
  3. AnonymousMay 23, 2026 at 2:51 PM

    Drive thru... have you seen the space? Drive thru where??

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMay 23, 2026 at 11:27 PM

    I think a mattress store, bank, cell phone store, or yet another hot chicken place would certainly do well. I hear Tokyo Valentino is still looking to reopen in our hood. 😂

    ReplyDelete