[BREAKING NEWS] Cowtippers to Close January 28

Popular Midtown eatery Cowtippers Steaks & Spirits will close at the end of business on Sunday, January 28.  The restaurant, located on Piedmont Avenue near its intersection with Monroe Drive, has been in business since 1993.  Cowtippers, like a number of other in-town eateries, is owned by Metrotainment Cafes.  While a representative for the restaurant confirmed the closure, they did not shed any light on the reasoning or timing of it.  

The space that Cowtippers has occupied for nearly 25 years was home to an outpost of the Old Hickory House previously. Fulton county property records indicate that through an LLC, Jeff Landau, founder and CEO of Metrotainment Cafes, currently owns the restaurant's property.  The building, which is roughly 4,800 square feet, dates back to 1940 and sits on about a third of an acre, according to Fulton county records.  The records indicate that "TEN TWENTY THREE JUNIPER ST ASSOC LLC," headquartered at 1119 Logan Circle, where Metrotainment Cafes is headquartered as well, paid $1.2 million for the property in 2002.   

Local sources indicate that the property was sold for the construction of a high-rise apartment building.  While this has not been verified, it would not be shocking considering the multi-family construction boom across key intown markets.  That said, the Cowtippers property reportedly lies within the Atlanta BeltLine planning area, and any planned redevelopment must therefore be presented to the BeltLine Design Review Committee.   It's unlikely a sale would have closed on the restaurant site if the proper approvals for a redevelopment had not been received.  As of today, no public  submission for redevelopment has been made for the site.  The Committee will meet for the first time in 2018 on January 17, with submissions due by January 10.

As ToNeTo was first to report in 2015, longstanding Italian restaurant Alfredo's was forced to close in early 2016 after its lease was not renewed.  Westplan Investors purchased the Alfredo's property and others near it for the construction of Accent Morningisde, a 239 unit low-rise apartment complex currently under construction. 

The property adjacent to Cowtippers, home to Smith's Olde Bar, among other businesses, was purchased by Selig Enterprises in late 2015 for about $3 million.  ToNeTo Atlanta was first to report on the availability of the property when at the time, Smith's future was in doubt, and there was talk of apartments coming.  Thus far, little has changed at the property and Selig is reportedly taking a "wait and see approach" to the property and possible redevelopment.   

Redevelopment is not only affecting in-town restaurants.  As ToNeTo Atlanta reported last week, Greenwood's and Swallow at the Hollow in Roswell both closed at the end of the year.  The restaurants, which opened in 1986 and 1999 respectively, were reportedly sold for a planned redevelopment. 

Cowtippers, like its sibling concepts Joe's on Juniper and Einstein's, also on Juniper Street, are especially popular with Midtown's gay population and many patrons were saddened and caught off guard by news of the upcoming closure.  Metrotainment's other concepts include Guaco Joe's in Vinings, Sugar Shack and FC United in Brookhaven, Metrotaiment Bakery Epic Events Catering and seven Hudson Grille locations across metro Atlanta.  An eighth location, planned for Toco Hills, that ToNeTo Atlanta first reported on last January, is still to open, but was reportedly put on the back burner following the relocation of the Hudson Grille in Alpharetta last year.  

Are you surprised by the planned closure of Cowtippers?  Have you, too, heard that apartments will replace it?  What is your favorite old-school Atlanta area restaurant?

Please share your thoughts below.  

Update: Tori Allen of Tori Allen Public Relations provided ToNeTo Atlanta the following statement regarding the planning closure of Cowtippers.  

“Metrotainment Cafes can confirm that Cowtippers will unfortunately be closing at the end of this month. The restaurant has been a part of our restaurant group for a very long time, and we’re proud of the more than 20 years we have been in business, but with the changing climate of the city, we are going to close the restaurant and turn our attention to our other successful concepts including Hudson Grille, Einstein’s, Joe’s on Juniper, Hudson FC and Guaco Joe’s,” said Metrotainment Cafes CEO Jeff Landau. “Metrotainment Cafes still owns the property and we are weighing several options including selling the restaurant and property. In the interim, we will use the space for private events handled by our catering company, Epic Events. We are thankful for the many years of patronage from Atlanta and looking forward to continued success with our other concepts as we continue to grow in this city.” 

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Following UGA's Loss, Dantanna's Closes in Sandy Springs

Dantanna's has closed its Sandy Springs location after just less than four years in business.  The restaurant, located in a 5,900 square foot out-parcel of Abernathy Square shopping center at the corner of Abernathy & Roswell Roads in Sandy Springs, closed after UGA's devastating loss yesterday, Monday, January 8.  The restaurant opened in April 2014, replacing what had for many years been an Applebee's restaurant before it closed in late 2013.  

Dantanna's is the second location in just the past ten days to close in Abernathy Square, following the closure of Mexican eatery CT Cocina & Taqueria last week.  CT opened in late 2016 in the 2,500 square foot space previously home to a failed Dickey's Barbecue Pit franchise.  

Dantanna's never seemed to resonate with the local community, largely comprised of young and affluent families.  The restaurant originally opened as Dantanna's Tavern before undergoing a significant renovation and re-branding effort in late 2016, and becoming more like its Buckhead and downtown outposts and shortening its name to simply Dantanna's. 

The original Dantanna's in Buckhead at The Shops Around Lenox remains open, as does its second location at CNN Center in downtown Atlanta.  The Buckhead and Downtown outposts, like the Sandy Springs location, replaced formerly popular restaurants.  The Buckhead outpost opened in place of Bennigan's in 2003, while the downtown location opened in place of Jocks & Jills in 2009.  

Are you surprised by the recent closures of both CT Cocina & Taqueria and Dantanna's?  What would you like to see open in place of either restaurant?  Do you think metro Atlanta simply has too many restaurants?

Please share your thoughts below. 

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[EXCLUSIVE] Insomnia Cookies' Munchies Relief Comes to 2nd Atlanta Location

Insomnia Cookies is adding a second metro Atlanta location.  On the heels of their entry into the Atlanta market in January 2016, Insomnia plans to open their next location on Cleburne Terrace, just off Ponce de Leon Avenue near The Majestic Diner and the Plaza Theatre.  

The Cleburne Terrace store will open in the approximately 600 square foot space previously home to Preservation Reef, an aquarium store.  

With dual headquarters in New York and Philadelphia, Insomnia Cookies was started in 2003 by Seth Berkowitz, a student at the University of Pennsylvania.  Today, there are over 120 locations, many near college campuses, but others, like the Cleburne store, are in densely populated urban areas.  

As the name suggests, Insomnia is intended to be the answer to your late night munchies as they deliver until 3AM at most locations, including all three of their existing Georgia shops.   

The first Georgia location of Insomnia Cookies opened in Athens near the University of Georgia in 2013.  The existing Midtown Atlanta location at University House on Spring Street near Georgia Tech opened in 2016, and was followed by a third location in Statesboro near Georgia Southern University last January.  

Tiff's Treats, another business specializing in cookie delivery, will open another Atlanta location later this spring in Buckhead. The new location, opening in the street level retail of the new Hanover Buckhead Village luxury apartment highrise next to the Buckhead Theatre, is the sixth in metro Atlanta for the Austin, Texas-based company. Tiff's entered the Atlanta market in 2016 with a location in Alpharetta and followed that with locations in Midtown, Sandy Springs, Cumberland and Decatur.   

The Cleburne Terrace Insomia Cookies should open later this spring/summer.  

Are you excited for the opening of a second Insomnia Cookies in metro Atlanta?  Where is your favorite place for cookies in Atlanta?  If choosing between chains Insomnia, Tiff's Treats, Great American Cookie Co. or Mrs. Fields, which is your favorite?  Where should Insomnia open next?

Please share your thoughts below.  

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[CLOSURE ALERT] Impossible Burger Not Enough to Keep The Counter Viable

The Counter Custom Burgers in Roswell is closing after business tonight.  The 2,800 square foot restaurant, located on Mansell Road near its intersection with Alpharetta Highway, opened in 2008 in a former SouthTrust Bank branch.    

The Counter was one of only three restaurants in metro Atlanta to carry the "Impossible Burger" from Impossible Foods.  The Impossible Burger is a meat alternative burger made from wheat, coconut oil, potatoes and heme. Other Atlanta restaurants that carry the Impossible Burger are Grindhouse Killer Burgers (Decatur, Piedmont Heights, Hartsfield-Jackson and Athens) and ARGOSY in East Atlanta Village.  

While offering the Impossible Burger, which debuted this past fall, was one way to differentiate The Counter from other quick serve burger restaurants, it seems that it was not enough to keep the business going.  

When brothers Don and Scott Harris opened the Roswell franchise, they had plans to open at least nine other restaurants in Atlanta and subsequently in Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg, Florida. Despite owning six Panera Bread restaurants and seven Wendy's franchises, their planned expansion of The Counter concept never materialized.   

Culver City, California-based The Counter was started in 2003 and began franchising in 2005.  As of 2008, The Counter had sold development rights for over 125 restaurants.  Long-range projections as of 2008 called for as many as 400 to 600 U.S. locations.  According to The Counter website, the chain operates 30 locations domestically, 21 of which are in its home state.  There are about nine other locations internationally in such as places as Ireland, Japan, Scotland, Ghana, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.  A tenth location is planned for Madrid, Spain later this year. 

Early last year, The Counter closed two locations in south Florida, one at The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens, the other in Aventura Mall near Miami.  Both locations were less than three years old.  

Are you surprised that The Counter is closing?  Have you tried the Impossible Burger?  What would you like to see open in place of The Counter?

Please share your thoughts below 

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[CLOSURE ALERT] Burger King Relinquishes Its Throne in The Shops of Dunwoody

The freestanding Burger King at 5468 Chamblee Dunwoody Road in Dunwoody Village has closed.  The restaurant, located in an outparcel of The Shops of Dunwoody shopping center, closed Friday afternoon after over 30 years in business.  

A sign posted to the restaurant's door Friday directed would be patrons to the nearby Burger King at 4537 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, across from Georgetown shopping center.  The shuttered Dunwoody Village restaurant is just over two miles from the Georgetown location.  Both restaurants, along with many other around metro Atlanta, are owned by Atlanta based GPS Hospitality.  GPS is a major franchisee of both the Burger King and Popeyes brands around Atlanta and around the country.  

Duluth based BRAND Real Estate Services, which already owns The Shops of Dunwoody, reportedly recently purchased the property from GPS and is currently marketing it for lease.  According to DeKalb county property records, the approximately 2,700 square foot Burger King was built in 1984.  Strangely though, the BRAND lease flyer indicates the property sits on just under nine tenths of an acre while DeKalb county records indicates it sits on just under a half acre.  The sales flyer, which does not indicates lease terms, may be seen here.  

Local Dunwoody resident and ToNeTo Atlanta reader Terry Nall was kind enough to provide us photos of the restaurant.  Nall lamented that "the bigger loss might be to the various Dunwoody schools and club fundraisers. This has been a regular location for car washes." 

Nall also shared the images on his Facebook page where one resident sarcastically joked that they were "crossing fingers for a bank!!!" while another more seriously suggested that the nearby Dunkin' Donuts relocate to the Burger King site to alleviate traffic at its current location.  

Dunkin' is no stranger to conversions, especially other fast food restaurants, having previously converted a former Burger King on Piedmont Avenue, as well as a former KFC on Howell Mill Road, among others, to Dunkin' Donuts.

The Shops of Dunwoody has been active in signing new restaurants in recent months.  Last May, a new location of Vintage Pizzeria opened in the center, while this coming March, a new barbecue eatery and brewery is expected to open.  Allen Porter plans to open PorterQ in the approximately 2,900 square foot former d'Vine Wine Bar & Shop space.  As ToNeTo Atlanta reported previously, Porter is also opening Porter Pizza & Brewery at 285 and Powers Ferry, in the former Bruegger's Bagels space.   

In less exciting news, SunTrust will soon open their relocated branch in another outparcel of Shops of Dunwoody on the site of the former Old Hickory House barbecue restaurant. 

What would you like to see open in place of Burger King?  Are you surprised that Burger King closed?  Are you looking forward to PorterQ?  

Please share your thoughts below    

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[CLOSURE ALERT] One Rooster Closes As The Year of The Rooster Nears Its End

One Rooster Mongolian Grill, the "create your own" stir fry eatery on the Westside, has closed.  The restaurant, which opened this past February, was meant to be the next evolution of the restaurant that had occupied its space previously, The Original Chow Baby.  

One Rooster confirmed the closure in a message posted to their official Facebook page earlier this afternoon.  

"Thanks for creating a stir with us 

We are sad to inform you that One Rooster is officially closed. Our sincere appreciation to everyone who supported us."  

Mike Blum, founder of The Original Chow Baby, was a minority partner and consultant for One Rooster.  According to Blum, One Rooster was majority owned by venture capitalists.  

A spokesperson for Blum tells ToNeTo Atlanta that "despite excellent online reviews, there was just not enough foot traffic or diners coming through the doors to keep the restaurant open." 

The spokesperson goes on to say "When Mike Blum opened The Real Chow Baby in 2005, there were limited options for fast casual dining options on Howell Mill Road/Marietta Street/Northside Drive.  Today, there are so many options and much more competition, especially at lunch, for these diners."  

Blum, along with Chef Guy Wong, continue to be partners in upscale Vietnamese eatery Le Fat, located on Marietta Street, not far from One Rooster.  The duo are also partners in Ton Ton, a ramen bar in Ponce City Market. 

Sources say there are no current plans for the vacant One Rooster space, but given that it was so recently remodeled and is located near so much new and upcoming development, it's sure to attract heavy interest.  

Are you surprised that One Rooster closed after such a short time in business?  What is your favorite casual Westside restaurant?  What would you like to see open in place of One Rooster?

Please share your thoughts below.  

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[CLOSURE ALERT] McCormick & Schmick's Sleeps With the Fishes in Dunwoody

McCormick & Schmick's has closed its location in Dunwoody near Perimeter Mall.  The restaurant, which closed quietly and without advance notice on Monday, had been open since mid-2000.  The chain's downtown location at CNN Center, which opened in late 2002, remains opens.  

McCormick & Schmick's closure in Dunwoody follows the closure of neighboring restaurant Brio Tuscan Grille this past September.  Brio itself had replaced Il Fornaio, an Italian restaurant and original tenant in the project.  P.F. Chang's is now the last remaining restaurant in the three restaurant development.  

Self-made billionaire Tilman Fertitta, through his company Landry's, Inc., owns McCormick & Schmick's as well as over three dozen other restaurants, hotels and casinos around the country.  In Atlanta, Landry's other concepts include the remaining McCormick's downtown, Morton's The Steakhouse, also downtown, The Oceanaire Seafood Room in Midtown and  Joe's Crab Shack in Kennesaw, Morrow and Savannah.

Fertitta purchased the Morton's chain in December 2011 after which he closed the Buckhead outpost near Lenox Square in early February 2012.  The space was vacant for over five years before being leased to Sage Woodfire Tavern last year.  After months of renovation, the restaurant is expected to open by mid-February.  

Landry's operations outside of Georgia include Rainforest Cafe, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company and Golden Nugget Hotels & Casinos, among other hospitality businesses.  In addition to Fertitta's hospitality businesses, he is also the star of the CNBC reality show Billion Dollar Buyer and last fall purchased the Houston Rockets NBA team for $2.2 billion.  

Are you surprised that McCormick & Schmick's closed its Dunwoody location?  What would you like to see open in place of McCormick & Schmick's (or Brio) in Dunwoody?  Where is your favorite place for seafood in metro Atlanta?

Please share your thoughts below.  

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