Ed Hardy Scouting Atlanta For Next Retail Store?

Rumor has it that reps from Ed Hardy have been in talks with property managers in the Buckhead area for one of their retail stores. Already open in California , New York and internationally in such locales as Dubai, South Africa and Japan, Atlanta, with its heavy hip hop presence is seen as a great location for this line. Personally, I sense the brand waning in popularity, just as the Von Dutch line did years ago, really hot, to really NOT! As the brand becomes more and more available and more and more counterfeits are available, it loses what made it desirable, its exclusivity! Rumored to be located in either Lenox (which definitely has the room) or The Shops Around Lenox, don't be surprised to see a "Grand Opening" and "Grand Closing" within a short time span.

Raving Brands Sells Another Concept To Franchisee

On the heels of Raving Brands sale of its Mama Fu’s Asian House to then franchisee Murphy Adams Restaurant Group, comes word that it is unloading its coffee concept, PJ’s to New Orleans Roast LLC and New Orleans Brew LLC. Franchisees since 1995, New Orleans Roast and New Orleans Brew currently own and operate five New Orleans area PJ's Coffee locations. After purchasing the New Orleans based specialty coffee chain in 2002, they expanded the brand throughout the southeast but experienced problems in growing a niche, and had many company and franchised stores heavily damaged after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The company from New Orleans, returns to its home with the intention of developing additional stores in the future.

Chanel or Prada To Open At Lenox

After months of speculation, it has become evident that either Prada or Chanel will be moving into the space adjacent to Hermes, left vacant when Nicole Miller relocated to the upper level. According to mall officials, a lease has been signed but an official announcement has yet to come. Prada, once mentioned as a possible replacement for the current Hermes space (Hermes moves to The Streets of Buckhead next year) appears to be the probable tenant while there was also word that Chanel had signed a letter of intent to open a flagship boutique in Lenox, with the obvious location being somewhere in the "Luxury Wing". Expect to hear more from me on this in the coming weeks.

No Surprise Here, Liz Claiborne Closing Metro Outlet

As sales of her banner brand continue to fall, Liz Claiborne's outlet at Discover Mills has announced their closure. One of the original tenants when the mall opened in 2001, the line has had trouble maintaining a customer base with its staid line. Everything in the store is priced to move, all merchandise is $3.99 until they close permanently on 3/26.

Kroger Takes A "Fresh" Approach To Organics

The Kroger Co. has announced it plans to close their current store at the corner of Peachtree and Piedmont Rd. as of May 30 and reopen as their new "Fresh Fare" concept late this Fall. The current site known to many Atlantans as the "disco Kroger" as it was once adjacent to a disco within the shopping center, should provide a perfect location for Kroger to test the concept in Atlanta. Realizing that a simple "Natural Foods" section within the store was just not cutting it, the new Fresh Fare by Kroger will most likely have expanded meat, seafood and produce offerings as well as more organic and natural foods. A larger wine selection is also probable given the extensive selections at the original Fresh Fare stores on the west coast. With Publix scouting an Atlanta area site for their organic Greenwise Market (most likely in Buckhead) as well as the current Whole Foods on West Paces, not to mention the two Fresh Markets close by and the soon to open Trader Joe's, Buckhead residents will have a number of healthy choices for their organic grocery needs.

Bob Amick At It Again, This Time A New Orleans Influenced Concept

Bob Amick, the tireless restaurateur who brought us the original Mick's and most recently with his Concentrics Restaurant Group, STATS it at it again, this time on North Highland. With plans to restore the old pipe factory at 240 N. Highland, Amick will launch Parish: Foods & Goods. Amick has retained designer Taylor Dawson to help restore the the 1890s building. Parish seems to have it all, with an "Eatzi's" like grocery selection along New Orleans style po' boys available to go not to mention the second level restaurant with New Orleans-style classics and live jazz piano. After being pushed from a scheduled January opening, Parish is now set to open in April.

5 Seasons Brewing Adds A Third Location

5 Seasons Brewing, currently with its original location at The Prado in Sandy Springs as well as a second location in Alpharetta on Old Milton Pkwy. will open a third location this year. Originally scheduled for an "early 2008" opening it seems that the opening may instaed occur closer to mid-late Spring. Located in the Brickwork's development in West Midtown, the restaurant will be multiple levels and should be a welcome addition to this growing community.

W Atlanta Downtown Lands BLT Steak

BLT Steak from chef Laurent Tourondel ("BLT" being Bistro Laurent Tourondel) has been announced to be the featured restaurant at the W's new Atlanta Downtown hotel. Sure to give F.A.B. a run for its money, is this French inspired modern American steakhouse. BLT is scheduled to open in December.

Spice Market Arrives At W Midtown

Jean-Georges Vongerichten's world renowned eatery Spice Market opened recently at the newly remodeled/renamed W Midtown (the former Sheraton Colony Square) Atlanta is the latest stop on his "Culinary Concepts" company's world tour. Future sites are said to include both Dubai and Barcelona.

Taco Mac Close To Opening New Midtown Location

Taking the space formerly occupied by both Stool Pigeons and Joey's, Taco Mac will soon open their first midtown location. With the closure of Jocks and Jills at 10th and Peachtree, this seems to be a good time for Taco Mac to open. This location being in the street level of the Metropolis Condo building.

Pizza Fusion Hopes To Take Slice Out Of Atlanta Pizza Market

South Florida based Pizza Fusion will open later this year in The Astoria at the Aramore, a mixed-use development with retail, office and condominiums in the heart of Buckhead. Pizza Fusion will be the first LEED-certified restaurant in Georgia and combines an organic menu with a detail-oriented environmental business approach in chic, fast, casual environments. Pizza Fusion serves gourmet pizzas, focaccia sandwiches, salads, desserts, beers, wines. Pizza Fusion also offers health conscious alternatives for people with selective diets and food allergies, including gluten-free, vegan and lactose free options. phenomenon

North Face To Open Buckhead Flagship

Popular outerwear maker, The North Face is said to be in the final stages of signing a lease for a flagship retail location in Buckhead. Located in the Whole Foods shopping center on West Paces Ferry Road, The North Face would occupy the space that formerly housed the popular "Le Madeline" until it closed last year. If the lease is finalized soon, expect the store to be open by September.

Mick's On Peachtree To Reopen as "VITA"

Closed for over a year, the former Mick's on Peachtree at Bennett St. will soon reopen with a new name and flare! The new restaurant, owned by Tony LaRocco, will be called VITA and is set to open this week. Many Atlantans know Tony as the guy who brought us Fratelli di Napoli (located on a lower level, directly behind VITA)

Maxim Prime Checks In At Glenn Hotel

Developed by Maxim Magazine, and world-renowned restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow of China Grill Management, this new twist on the traditional steakhouse will be the first of several Maxim Prime Steakhouse locations to open nationwide. Occupying the lobby and rooftop of the Glenn Hotel on Marietta St., their opening may be delayed slightly due to the recent tornado that tore through the CNN / Centennial Olympic Park area this past week. From what can bee seen from the outside, it seems as though a great deal of time was spent in designing this unique establishment to differentiate itself from others. According to the Director of Operations, the restaurant will be open for dinner next Friday, March 28, but will eventually serve breakfast and lunch as well.

Raving Brands Has Sights Set On Taking Shane's Rib Shack National

In what seems like the boldest move thus far, Atlanta based Raving Brands has hired Atlanta-based retail marketing agency Miller Zell to create a complete retail communications program as well as hiring New York-based marketing services agency Momentum Worldwide to oversee creative development including outdoor, print, radio, digital and nontraditional executions, as well as retail marketing promotions. In what seems to be one of the more "watered-down" of the Raving Brands concepts, Shane's has changed significantly since its McDonough "shack" days (pictured above) What was once a neighborhood BBQ joint is now being put in strip centers, mall food courts and other "cookie cutter" like locations. Similar things were done to another Atlanta institution (currently under Raving Brands control), that being "The Flying Biscuit Cafe", now found in the bottom of a parking deck in Buckhead!
Repeat Atlanta!

If You Build It, They Don't Always Come

National Sports Memorabilia chain Field Of Dreams has shuttered their Lenox Square location. In the mall for many years, it never seemed to have too many people in the store. Maybe due to their excessively high prices, or maybe no one is that into memorabilia. Whatever the reason, the store has closed with no obvious signs that a relocation is imminent. After closures at other malls including Gwinnett Place and Town Center at Cobb, there is but one Atlanta area store left, now in its third location within the same mall: North Point.

Bvlgari (Bulgari) Coming To Lenox Square

Italian jeweler and luxury goods retailer, Bvlgari (Bulgari) has plans to open a new store on the first floor of Lenox Square. Rumored to be taking the vacant Whiehall Jeweler space as well as the current Mori Luggage, Judith Leiber and Betsey Johnson spaces, the store would stretch from the mail hallway down the side of the luxury wing across from Godiva. Expect for official word on this recent development in the coming weeks.

Judith Leiber To Relocate At Phipps From Lenox

High end designer Judith Leiber will be relocating their boutique from SIMON's Lenox Square property to their Phipps Plaza property across the street. This move may or may not be related to a new tenant that may be moving into the vacant Whitehall Jewelers next door. With the high price of Leiber pieces, it seems to be a good move for them to be in the ritzier Phipps Plaza.

Mama Fu's Gets A New Daddy

Atlanta based Raving Brand's troubled Mama Fu's Asian House has been sold for an undisclosed amount to its largest franchisee Austin, Texas based Murphy Adams Restaurant Group. Murphy purchased the franchise rights for the U.S. and Mexico and already owns five locations with a sixth in development. Never able to garner a following locally, many of Mama's restaurants locally and elsewhere have closed. Launched in 2003, with a location on Peachtree Rd. across from Piedmont Hospital, Mama's gained similar momentum to that of its then more established sibling, Moe's Southwest Grill (Sold last year to FOCUS Brands), but has since fallen on hard times and has seen franchise interest wane significantly. Many franchisees were unhappy with Raving Brands, and in 2006 sued the company as well as its founder Martin Sprock, alleging fraud and breach of contract. The current status of the lawsuits is unknown but is was made clear that Murphy Adams would not inherit any liabilities. Never a fan of the concept myself, I prefer Doc Chey's and Tin Drum.

El Pollo Loco goes "loco" for Atlanta

Irvine California based El Pollo Loco has big plans for the south and Atlanta franchisees seem eager to be a part of it all. Known for their citrus-marinated, flame-grilled chicken, El Pollo Loco is on the move in and around the metro area! Back in 2006 an agreement was signed with Fiesta Brands (team of former Church's Chicken and Cinnabon executives) to bring 50 franchised locations to the greater Atlanta area, the first of which opened in Hiram last year. Now, closer in, (Buford Highway @ Clairmont Rd.) to be exact, a new structure has been erected ( on the site of a former gas station) and I have uncovered that it will be the newest location of El Pollo Loco. Sure to be a hit along this largely Hispanic stretch of Buford Highway, expect to see it open by early April.

Dallas Austin Set To Get "Rowdy" With The Apparel Market

Super Producer Dallas Austin, who has worked with some of the most successful musical acts is taking that enthusiasm and creativity to a new clothing venture dubbed "Rowdy". Hyped for what seems like years, the brand has been picked up by exclusive Atlanta boutiques such as Blue Genes and the launch party location, Bill Hallman.

SIMON Finally Lands H&M

Swedish retailer H&M is in the midst of a major push for the Atlanta market. After announcing the openings of an Atlantic Station flagship ( now delayed) as well as a store at Northpoint Mall, SIMON Property Group has signed H&M for spaces at both Town Center Cobb and Mall of Georgia. With Atlantic Station delayed till May and Northpoint well on its way, expect to see Town Center and M.O.G. open shortly before Thanksgiving.

Jittery Joe's Coffee Makes Short Lived Debut In Atlanta

Athens, Georgia based coffee joint Jittery Joe's had made an early exit from the metro Atlanta market. Just over a month ago, a brand spankin new location was opened in the a street level space in the new GSU student housing complex, "The Commons" on Piedmont Ave. While there are Starbucks up the road, as well as Saxby's coffee, they are both a fair walk. Despite all this, and the captive student audience, Jittery Joe's has ceased operations and the store is bare. No official word on the reason for the closure, though one students' theory was that they distributed to many "promo free" coupons to students and were never able to turn a profit.

Dantanna's To Open Downtown Location

Dantanna's, a popular Buckhead sports bar is in the final stages of negotiating a second location in CNN Center downtown. In a site not yet available, as Jocks and Jills is still treading water after filing for bankruptcy last March. Expected to close shortly, the Jocks and Jills space would give downtown visitors and sporting event attendees 3 unique locales in which to enjoy pre or post game food and drink. Concentric's STAT's restaurant opened a few months ago just down from the G.W.C.C. on Marietta St. , Taco Mac will soon open in CNN Center and now Dantanna's.

Something Cookin' In Former Mick's on Bennett Street?

The former Mick's on Bennett St, which closed about a year ago appears to have a new restaurant taking shape. Extensive exterior work was in progress last week and it appears the interior is having a makeover as well. More info coming soon!

Yet Another Homegrown Yogurt Joint, juicygreen Making Its Way ITP

Juicygreen, a chain of healthy yogurt shops with offering similar to those of other Atlanta establishments such as Yoforia and the soon to open Yogurberry. With two locations open in Alpharetta and Norcorss, juicygreen has plans to expand their concept, actively scouting potential sites in Buckhead and Downtown. I'd expect Buckhead to be first, possibly in Peachtree Battle or in the lower level of the new Lindbergh Vista apartments at the intersection of Sidney Marcus and Piedmont.

Apple Store Making A Move At Midtown?

Rumor has it that Apple may be scouting a Midtown location, most recently mentioned is the possibility of Apple's interest in the former Grape at Peachtree and 10th (999 Peachtree) Stay tuned for additional updates. Repeat Atlanta!