Twisted Taco back-filling former Garrison's Broiler & Tap

Twisted Taco recently signed a lease to back-fill the former Garrison's Broiler & Tap on the southwest corner of Medlock Bridge Road & State Bridge Road in Johns Creek.

Rick Seaman and Gavin Abadi, owners of the Twisted Taco at Roswell and Wieuca in Buckhead, are driving the Southwest further north.  From the Buffalo Bill to The Wild Alaskan to The Tombstone Chicken, their "twisted creations" have roped-in a loyal band of customers across the City.  Each location features a full bar, live music, flat-screen TVs, and unique southwestern decor featuring antler chandeliers and rustic artwork.  Metrotainment founder, Jeff Landau, closed the Garrison's a while back to focus his efforts on his Hudson Grill concept.  Other restaurants in the shopping center include Tilted Kilt, Kampai, Starbucks, Romeo's NY Pizza, Coldstone Creamery, Quizno's, and Uptown Loft.  

The Johns Creek Twisted Taco will be 8,012 square feet and is expected to open in Winter 2011.  This will be Twisted Taco's 6th location in Atlanta with the Smyrna location opening last week.  Ryan Backus of First Allied represented the Landlord in the Johns Creek transaction.

Information gathered from:  http://twistedtaco.com/

Ocean Prime to take over former Sambuca in Buckhead!

Ocean Prime recently signed a lease to take over the former Sambuca Jazz Cafe building at 3102 Piedmont Road in Buckhead.  

Founded in Columbus, Ohio by entrepreneur Cameron Mitchell, Ocean Prime was created to pair an upscale steakhouse with a fresh and modern seafood restaurant.  Using only the highest-quality meats and fish, Ocean Prime will offer such menu items as the Ginger Salmon, Filet Mignon and their famous Chilean Sea Bass in Truffled Champagne.  The chefs have selected award-winning wines to compliment each entree - for those late nighters, the bar chefs will be serving their signature hand-crafted cocktails and mixed drinks.   

This will be Mitchell's 9th Ocean Prime location with existing restaurants being in Detroit, Columbus, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Dallas, Denver, and Phoenix. The Buckhead location will be 8,773 square feet and is expected to open in Summer 2011.  Amy Fingerhut with CB Richard Ellis represented the Landlord in the transaction, Harold Shumacher with The Shumacher Group represented Ocean Prime. 

Information gathered from:  www.ocean-prime.com

Marlow's Tavern joining Merchant's Walk in East Cobb!

Marlow’s Tavern will soon be joining Chipotle and Pinkberry at Merchant's Walk shopping center at Johnson Ferry Road and Highway 120 in East Cobb.

Founded by Sterling Hospitality (John C. Metz Jr., Tom DiGiorgio, Richard E. Rivera, and Hank Clark), Marlow's strives to create American-tavern fare served in a warm neighborhood, yet contemporary feel.  The open kitchen allows patrons to observe the chefs while they prepare Marlow's signature dishes such as their grilled Atlantic Salmon, the Black and Blue Burger, the grilled "Center-Cut" filet, and their "Infamous" Fish Tacos.  The interior focuses on modern comfort utilizing a black and white motif, Chicago style brick walls, large cozy booths, and flat-screen plasma TVs.  In addition to the 6 existing Marlow's around Atlanta, Sterling Hospitality is also the parent company of Aqua Blue in Roswell and Bistro 191 in Downtown Atlanta.

The Merchant's Walk Marlow's will consist of a patio and pass-thru bar overlooking the Georgia Theatre and is expected to open in mid-December.  Tiffany Cox with Edens & Avant represented the Landlord, Marc Weinberg with The Shopping Center Group represented Marlow's Tavern.

Information gathered from:  www.marlowstavern.com

Ribs Etc. in North Buckhead to become Mirko Pasta

Chef Mirko Di Giacomantonio, founder of FIGO Pasta, will soon be converting the Ribs Etc. building on Roswell Road into Mirko Pasta.

Di Giacomantonio opened his first Mirko Pasta three years ago in Watkinsville and now has seven locations throughout Georgia.  Mirko creates authentic, made-from-scratch Italian cuisine prepared by ‘culinary missionaries’ in a friendly, casual cafe atmosphere.  The menu incorporates seasonal vegetables and fruits, and changes up some of the sauces to offer their customers some lighter choices in the spring and summer, and heartier choices during the cooler months.  From the bread to the sauces, their food is made from scratch daily, using only the freshest and most authentic ingredients available.  Desserts are also offered along with a selection of coffee, beer and a wide range of wines from around the world. 

Mirko and his partner, Archie Crenshaw, are aspiring to open an additional 100 restaurants over the next seven years in the Southeast as they begin franchising the choose-your-own pasta and sauce concept.  The North Buckhead Mirko Pasta will be located at 4233 Roswell Road, adjacent to Chastain Square shopping center.  

Information gathered from:  http://www.mirkopasta.com/

Ghengis Grill coming to Buckhead!

Ghengis Grill will soon be taking over the former Blockbuster endcap on the corner of Peachtree Street & Colonial Homes Drive in South Buckhead.

Founded in 1998 out of Dallas, this 51-unit chain is actively expanding throughout the South and Midwest and was ranked #2 in Fast Casual Magazine's Top 100 Movers & Shakers. Known for their "interactive style of exhibition cooking," customers select an array of meats, oils, vegetables, and sauces and then hand them over to a "Grill Master" who transforms the ingredients into a meal.  Ghengis strives to create a lively and family-friendly atmosphere where the dishes are prepared over open flames to provide an entertainment element to dining.  The food bar features an array of over 80 ingredients...the drink bar features unique specialty cocktails perfect for any occasion.

The first Ghengis Grill in Georgia recently opened adjacent to the Mall of Georgia in the former Ray's Pizza...the Buckhead location will be 3,595 square feet and is expected to open in 2011.  Coro Realty Advisors represented the Landlord in the transaction.

Information gathered from:  http://www.genghisgrill.com/

Egg Harbor Cafe joins Mellow Mushroom in Duluth

Known for its country-style décor and signature breakfast creations, Egg Harbor Café will soon open its 17th location in the former Weezy's Jazz Café building at 6000 Medlock Bridge Pkwy in Duluth.

First hatched in 1985 in Illinois, Egg Harbor specializes in gourmet breakfast and lunch dishes in a warm, charming, country setting.  Owners John Wright and Mike & Aimee Farrell have adopted the mission of "The Foodservice Triangle" where they strive to balance the elements of food, service, and atmosphere to provide the best dining experience possible. Their menu is an extensive selection of breakfast and lunch creations such as egg and skillet platters, omelettes, waffles, pancakes and french toast, soups, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and a slew of country sides.  

The Duluth location will be 5,142 square feet and is expected to open on December 1st.  William Gervin and Brad Shoemaker represented the Landlord in the transaction.

Information gathered from: http://www.eggharborcafe.com/

The Cotton Club now open in Athens!

The Cotton Club recently opened in the former Broad Street Bar & Grill on the corner of Broad Street & N Jackson Street in Downtown Athens.

Created by Russ Graham and Tom Powers, two restaurant entrepreneurs from Memphis, The Cotton Club is a casual BBQ concept offering such menu items as jumbo barbecue sandwiches, barbecue nachos, baby back ribs, and barbecue chicken.  Graham said they have created "Athens-style barbecue" by combining the sauces and styles from many different regions into one location.  Vinegar-based....tomato based...even sweet-flavored barbecue sauce has already made the establishment a big hit for the nation's #1 party school.

Located next to La Dolce Vita, The Cotton Club will offer a full bar and outside eating area fronting Broad Street.  Graham and Powers also own and operate Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar in Memphis.

Information gathered from:  www.onlineathens.com and http://kevinsbbqjoints.com

Firkin Pub taking over Smokey Bones in Dunwoody

After just a year at Lindbergh City Center, Firkin Pub is spreading their wings to the Perimeter Mall trade area by taking over the former Smokey Bones building on Ashford Dunwoody Road. 

Founded in 1987, Stanley Adelson and Ian Fisher have now grown the concept to 30 Firkin pubs in Canada and 15 locations in the US.  Their motto:  "Good Food...Good Pints...Good Firkin Fun!"  Branding themselves as a neighborhood pub, each Firkin offers a wide selection of Domestic & Imported bottled beer, drought beer, wines, and cocktails.  With traditional English favourites such as Fish'n'Chips, Cottage Pie & Bangers, and Beans & Mash, Firkin is bringing a taste of England to the burbs of Atlanta. If you're wanting to stay on the west side of The Pond, Firkin also serves burgers, salads, sandwiches, and daily specials incorporating regional flair in each dish.

The Dunwoody Firkin will be 7,217 square feet and is expected to open in the Fall.  Matt Hagan with Regency Centers represented the Landlord on the transaction.


Information gathered from: www.firkinpubsusa.com

Rio Nuevo opening on North Point Parkway

Rio Nuevo is currently in the process of building-out the former Famous Dave's BBQ building across from North Point Mall in Alpharetta.

There has been a tremendous amount of activity along this corridor recently with SteinMart, Buy Buy Baby, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Panera Bread all having a new location on North Point Pkwy.  In the past year, AT&T re-developed the 7,075 SF Smokey Bones building, Woody's Bar-B-Q converted the 4,022 SF Pizza Hut building, and Total Wine leased the 20,356 SF CompUSA building.  In this economy, expendable income is extremely attractive to concepts looking to grow...as is the idea of "safety in numbers".  With Household Incomes over $100,000 in a 3-mile radius and solid national anchors such as Target, Toys R Us, and Dick's Sporting Goods being here, it's no surprise that Rio Nuevo chose this site as their 1st location in Georgia.

Rio Nuevo will be 6,201 square feet, have a covered patio fronting North Point Parkway, and be the one and only full-service Mexican Cantina in the trade area.  They are hoping to be open in the Fall.

Restaurants Continuing to land on Windward Parkway

After years of vacancy and concepts wondering what will come of the once-dense Windward Parkway, leasing activity has greatly picked up the past 6-8 months. 

Panera Bread opened last year in Retail Atlanta's new outparcel building in front of Home Depot and is already doing tremendous business.  Seeing a need for a hang-out/meeting venue along this corridor, they offer wi-fi and have become a regular gathering place for surrounding businesses and entrepreneurs.  Adjacent to this building, Which Wich and Yogli Mogli are in the process of building out the former W.G. Grinders and Ben & Jerry's spaces at Centre Stage at Windward.  Qdoba added their 4th location in Atlanta a few months back by taking over the endcap opposite from Einstein Bros Bagels at Plaza at Windward.  Additionally, Krystal is in the process of building out an endcap at Windward Square with their new concept called "Krystal Too".  

There are rumors that Ghengis Grill is landing on Windward Parkway in the near future...along with a few other new concepts to Atlanta.  With business generators continuing to seed this area such as SuperTarget, Kohl's, and ALDI, keep an eye out for more restaurants opening their doors in the coming months...

Tilted Kilt landing in Dunwoody

Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery will soon be taking over the former Max & Erma's building on the corner of Abernathy Road and Mt. Vernon Highway in Dunwoody.

The original Tilted Kilt opened in 2003 inside the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.  Known as a Scottish version of Hooters, Tilted Kilt offers pub-fare food with such items as the Dublin Burger, Tilted Wings, The Scottish Cheese Steak Sandwich, and Flannary's TK Steak.  For those late-nighters, there is a full bar and a wide variety of original cocktails.  The staff's uniform:  knee high socks, (short) plaid kilts, matching plaid halter tops, and white camp-shirts tied to show off the midriff.  

Located in the Perimeter Pointe shopping center at 1155 Mt Vernon Highway, the Dunwoody Tilted Kilt will be 6,800 square feet and include a covered outdoor patio. Other tenants in the center include Regal Cinemas, LA Fitness, Michael’s, Babies R Us, Stein Mart, Home Goods, The Sports Authority, Office Depot, Chick Fil-A, Atlanta Bread Company, Starbucks, Happy Summo, and the soon-to-open Galla’s Pizza.


Information gathered from:  www.tiltedkilt.com

Deadwood Saloon taking over Twisted Taco in Midtown

Sarju Patel, owner of the famous "Churchill’s British Pub" in Buckhead, will soon be opening Deadwood Saloon in the former Twisted Taco space in Midtown.  

Open for almost 10 years, Twisted Taco is wanting to concentrate more on their franchise expansion in the outlying areas of Atlanta.  With little-to-none saloon/western-type bars in Midtown, Patel saw this as a great opportunity to create a niche in the trade area.  Deadwood Saloon will offer American fare and bar food including such fire-grilled dishes as saloon burgers, grilled chicken, and their original homemade chips. Open for lunch, dinner, and late-night, the saloon will be a 180 from Churchill's in Buckhead, but is still striving to create a laid-back atmosphere "servin' all your favorite libations".

Deadwood Saloon is expected to open this month and will be located at 66 12th Street.

Information gathered from: www.deadwoodatlanta.com

Goin' Coastal Seafood coming to VA Highland

Goin' Coastal Seafood will soon be opening in the former FIGO space at the corner of Virginia Avenue and N Highland Avenue. 

After their success in Downtown Canton, Chef Zach Kell will soon be transforming the fast-casual Italian nook to a "sustainable seafood joint" featuring unique dishes such as Sullivan's Island Shrimp, Coastal Linguine, Coca Cola & Hoisin Marinated Flat Iron, and Lobster and Peekytoe Crab Cakes.  In additional to their great assortment of appetizers, Goin' Coastal also will serve soups, salads, coastal platters, and several southern sides such as Jalapeno Corn Bread Pudding and Creamy Cheesy Grits.  Open for lunch and dinner, this should be a great addition to the one-off restaurants and taverns in the Virginia Highland market.

Goin' Coastal Seafood will be located at 1021 Virginia Avenue and plans to be open by the Fall.

Information gathered from:  www.goincoastalseafood.com

Kaleidoscope Bistro & Pub coming to Brookhaven

Executive Chef Joey Riley will soon be leaving the Buckhead Diner to open his own concept on Dresden Drive in Brookhaven called "Kaleidoscope Bistro & Pub". 

With the re-vitalization of the surrounding neighborhoods and retail, many one-off restaurants such as Haven, Verde Taqueria, and Valenza have now made this corridor of Dresden Drive their home for several years.  Riley will be featuring seasonal dishes on the menu and plans on working with local farmers to bring as many fresh, organic items as possible.  Striving to create an atmosphere with great food in a neighborhood environment, Kaleidoscope defines themselves as "a place we can all call home at an affordable price and still be a chef driven concept."

Kaleidoscope will be located at 1410 Dresden Drive on an endcap space at Village Place Brookhaven.  Other concepts in the development include: Verde Taqueria, J. Christopher's, 10 Ten, Allure, The Mercantile, Davonshire, Natural Body Spa & Shop, Pro Cleaners, Library Coffee Company, and the soon-to-open Yoforia.  Kaleidoscope is expected to open in October.


Information gathered from:  http://kaleidoscopebistro.com/