[ALERT] Southern Eatery Shutting its Doors After Nearly Four Decades in Business

Donnie's Country Cookin' is closing its doors in Brookhaven after nearly four decades in business.  The meat and three eatery is currently located along Clairmont Road in Brookhaven in the formerly Kroger-anchored Skye Hill shopping center. The restaurant's last day in business is Friday September 25.  

Photo Courtesy Explore Brookhaven 

Korean immigrant Donnie Kim opened the original Donnie's Country Cookin' at 1791 Barone Avenue in 1989 and moved to the current Skye Hill location (3300 Clairmont Road) in 2008.  Over the decades Kim expanded to several locations across the metro including units in Stone Mountain, Norcross, Clarkston and College Park, among others.  Over the years Kim sold off all of the restaurants with today, following the Brookhaven closure, only the Norcross location on Beaver Ruin Road and the Clarkston location on North Indian Creek remaining open.  

Fellow Korean immigrants husband and wife Dongrae Byun and Miae Byun are the current owners of the Brookhaven location, and given current inflationary challenges, they have opted to retire at the completion of the current lease.  

The original Donnie's on Clairmont occupied a freestanding building once home to William's Seafood, a popular restaurant from Savannah.  Following Donnie's relocation, the building was demolished and a Bank OZK branch was built in its place.  

The current Donnie's in Skye Hill was previously occupied by another local restaurant called Wings N Wiches.  The 2,400 square foot space is reportedly seeing interest from several would-be replacements, but no lease has yet been signed, according to a source close to the center.   

Related: Trader Joe's looking to add Brookhaven store 

Compare Foods, a new-to-market grocer targeting the Hispanic market, is expected to open in place of the former Kroger in Skye Hill which closed last October after about 50 years in business.  ToNeTo Atlanta was first to report on the grocer's plans this past June and while things are delayed slightly, we are told the grocer is now targeting an October opening.   

Are you surprised to see Donnie's Country Cookin' close in Brookhaven?  What would you like to see open in place of Donnie's in Brookhaven?  What is your favorite southern eatery in metro Atlanta?

Please share your thoughts below