[ALERT] Atlanta Chicken Chain Acquires Atlanta Bakery

Chicken Salad Chick Wednesday announced the acquisition of  Atlanta-based Piece of Cake bakery. Terms of the deal between the 245-unit fast casual chicken salad chain and the 10-unit bakery chain were not disclosed.  Chicken Salad Chick, which moved its headquarters from Auburn to Atlanta in 2021, intends to bolster its dessert menu with Piece of Cake’s offerings.  

Bits & Bites

A new bb.q Chicken - Korea's Finest Fried Chicken plans to open in Decatur. The new franchise restaurant will open at 319 West Ponce de Leon Avenue where it will open in place of Pho King, which closed at the end of 2021.  The roughly 2,600 square foot space originally debuted in early 2016 as an outpost of Taziki's Mediterranean Café.  Seoul, South Korea-based bb.q Chicken has existing Atlanta area locations in Doraville, Duluth, Johns Creek and Suwanee. 

[UPDATE] Aaron's to Acquire BrandsMart USA

Atlanta-based Aaron's Co. (NYSE: AAN) announced Thursday is plans to acquire Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based appliance and consumer electronic big-box retailer BrandsMart USA for $230 million in cash.  Aaron’s, a lease-to-own retailer for furniture, home appliances and consumer electronics, said it plans to close on the acquisition in the second quarter of 2022.  

[SOLD] Park Place Purchased by Active Property Player

Park Place in Dunwoody has been sold.  Coro Realty Advisors, which purchased the 82,097 square foot retail property in 2009, sold it on December 9 to EDENS for an undisclosed sum.  Located at 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Park Place sits on 13.5 acres and is located directly across from Perimeter Mall at the intersection of Ashford Dunwoody Road and Perimeter Center West. 

Bits & Bites

After months of delays of various kinds, Fire Hen is now open in Buckhead Village.  The restaurant, located at the corner of Cains Hills Place and Irby Avenue adjacent to Woody's CheeseSteaks, serves a variety of items including rotisserie chicken, vegetable and meat hand pies, as well as assorted sides and desserts.  

Bits & Bites

Beachwood, Ohio-based DDR Corp., a major owner and manager of open-air shopping centers, last week changed its name to SITE Centers Corp.  In a related move, the company, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange, (NYSE) changed its ticker symbol to SITC from DDR.  "Our new brand reflects our mission to drive sustainable growth by owning and investing in high quality communities and locations," said David R. Lukes, President and Chief Executive Officer of SITE Centers.  "We are focused on maximizing the value of our centers by utilizing our company’s creativity, vision and operating capabilities to generate compelling returns."  The new color scheme is quite a bit "louder" than before with a magenta-centric color scheme.  The company owns a number of centers around metro Atlanta including Brookhaven Plaza in Brookhaven, Cofer Crossing in Tucker and the multi-phase Camp Creek Marketplace in East Point.  The SITE website indicates that the company owns nearly 30 properties in Georgia, making it one of their largest markets by center count.

Bonus Bits & Bites

FOCUS Brands Thursday closed on its $200 million purchase of Frisco,Texas-based Jamba Juice.  The juice and smoothie chain was started in 1990 and today operates over 800 locations nationwide with a handful in Georgia including those in Decatur, Buckhead, Sandy Springs and East Cobb, as well as licensed locations in Turner Food Market at Turner Broadcasting in Midtown and at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.  The company previously operated locations in Alpharetta as well as on the campus of Spelman College and within the Whole Foods Market in Sandy Springs.  Atlanta-based FOCUS Brands, owned by Atlanta based Roark Capital Group, already encompasses a number of franchise concepts including Moe's Southwest Grill, McAlister's Deli, Auntie Anne's, Schlotzsky's, Cinnabon and Carvel.  

Bits & Bites

The "EZ One Price $1.99 Dry Cleaners" that became the EZ One Price $2.29 Dry Cleaners" has now become the even less enticing $2.59 "EZ One Price Dry Cleaners" ... for now.  You must also pay with cash to receive the advertised price.  The first location opened on Roswell Road in Buckhead in 2013, with additional locations added on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs and on Cheshire Bridge Road in Atlanta.  

[NEWSFLASH] Taco Mac Has Been Sold

This week, Taco Mac was sold by Dallas-based private equity firm CIC Partners to a team of independent investors and experienced restaurateurs led by Atlanta resident and longtime Taco Mac guest Harold Martin, Jr. 

Bonus Bits & Bites

The newly rebuilt drive-thru only (DTO) Chick-fil-A on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, just north of Northridge Road, is expected to open Thursday February 22.  The restaurant will celebrate the grand re-opening with a First 100 Road Trip where 100 participants will ride around the city, participating in community service the day before the official opening.  In exchange for their participation (expected duration 9AM-3PM) each participant will receive a card good for 52 #1 combo meals at Chick-fil-A. 

Bits & Bites

In response to last month's senseless murder of manager Chelsea Beller, Barcelona Wine Bar will be adopting a cashless policy as of Monday December 11.   Beller was murdered at Barcelona's westside location in the early morning hours of Sunday November 19th after a robbery at the restaurant.  A "security officer" at the restaurant who placed a call to the police indicated they were "not sure of the address" and indicated it was "downtown."  While ditching cash is great, hiring capable security would also be a good idea.  Norwalk, Connecticut-based Barteca Restaurant Group plans to institute the policy change at their two Barcelona and three bartaco restaurants in metro Atlanta, but not chainwide, according to a source at the restaurant.  Given they realize that their success attracts the potential for crime, it's curious that the change is not chainwide.  Beller's killer(s) have not yet been apprehended despite a $20,000 reward.