New Color Coming To Buckhead

V-103 morning show co-host Frank Ski is getting into the club business. Opening on the backside of a new Selig Enterprises property at 3275 Peachtree Road, Color Lounge & Restaurant has been in the planning stages for months if not years and just recently passed the NPU-B (Neighborhood Planning Unit-Buckhead) for a second time. Occupying a strange space on the lower level of the rear of the shopping center that where both Orvis and Verizon Wireless relocated from elsewhere in Buckhead, the concept certainly will be an interesting addition to the mix in the immediate area. Repeat Atlanta!

Nan Not Scared of High Space, Plans to Open "Vertigo"

Atlanta Magazine's Covered Dish reports that Nan and Charlie Niyomkul of Nan Thai Fine Dining and Tamarind Seed would be opening a new eatery caught Repeat Atlanta off guard but we now have uncovered new info on the would be eatery. Located in what was once our friend Gary Mennie's Taurus restaurant, "Vertigo" will feature traditional Thai barbecue and is said to be opening by late November, though its official opening is likely not to take place till the first of the year. The eatery's location and name are especially fitting as its located on the second level on Selig Enterprises' Brookwood Place in SoBu. Repeat Atlanta!

It's de facto... Artefacto Closing In Buckhead

After a splashy opening just over three years ago, Artefacto is throwing in the towel in Buckhead. The Brazilian furniture retailer's bi-level location at Two Buckhead Plaza, with great Peachtree Road exposure, seemed the ideal location for this retailer, but apparently it just wasn't meant to be. The store's president and owner Paolo Bacchi's dream for his company to be a success in Atlanta seems to have fallen short, but South Florida on the other hand, has been successful for them. A new Aventura location will open within the next few weeks. While the Atlanta location was not meeting sales expectations, it seems that South Florida consumers have been less affected by the economic downturn. Artefacto Atlanta is currently running a sample / closeout sale with savings of up to 70%. The store is to close for good no later than mid-August. Repeat Atlanta!

Carol's Daughter Taking Old Whitehall Jewelers

Lenox Square adds to its lineup of personal care retailers with the addition of Carol's Daughter. Located on the first level, the store will occupy the space most recently home to Whitehall Jewelers. When the Lenox Square store opens later this fall it will be the chain's ninth, though the line is sold at Sephora as well as select Dillard’s and Macy’s. The line's tagline, “beauty by nature” is meant to represent just that, the fact that their beauty products are all made from natural ingredients. Carol Price’s daughter, Lisa Price began peddling her homemade hair and body products at local flea markets in the early 1990’s. A few years later she opened what would become her flagship boutique in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene. The success of her initial retail outpost led to national media coverage including The View and on Oprah. African-American herself, Price has won numerous awards for her entrepreneurial spirit including the National Black MBA Association's Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2000. With an ever growing African-American population in DeKalb and Fulton counties, the new Lenox store is sure to be a hit with locals, not to mention the large numbers of out of state visitors that frequent in Lenox on the weekends. Let’s hope Carol’s Daughter is the diamond in the rough that Lenox has been looking for to fill their vacant space. Repeat Atlanta!

Emerald Coast Coffee Roasting Soon at Terminus

Rumors that Emeril Lagasse was returning to Atlanta with a coffee and pastry concept seem ludicrous to say the least. His previous eatery closed amidst much criticism with regard to his lack of cooperation with local media and being panned by local critics. Speculation has been that he would launch a new coffee shop and pastry cafe in Cousin's Terminus 100 development, though it seems wires may have been crossed with this story. What is opening at Terminus 100 is Emerald Coast Coffee & Grille. A concept developed by veterans of The Coca-Cola Company, the Terminus location will be the chain's sixth and is scheduled to open later this fall. With limited "fast-casual" offerings in the immediate area other than F20 in the neighboring Sovereign tower as well as Jimmy John's in REALM, its likely this concept will perform well. The one fear may be the Caribou Coffee across the street on Peachtree and the Starbucks across the street on Piedmont in the disco Kroger shopping center. Time will tell if in fact this concept can survive in Terminus. Here's to hoping they got a sweet deal on the rent all things considered. Repeat Atlanta!

Gordon Biersch Brewing Soon in Buckhead

After months of renovations, Gordon Biersch will re-open what was Rock Bottom as their namesake Gordon Biersch July 13. With new seating, a new bar and a new look, this brewery is ready to serve up brewskies to thirsty Buckhead residents. Repeat Atlanta!

Fond of La Fonda Latina? New Location Opens In West Midtown

Max's Pizzeria opening on Marietta Street got me thinking about the old Slice on Howell Mill. On my way to ESPERANZA and Whynatte's The Rooftop Jump Off at Six Feet Under, I was shocked to see the old Slice suddenly had a new inhabitant. After what looks like a partial demolition of the left side of the structure, La Fonda Latina has opened. The building was shifted around a lot as it appears to now have the kitchen in the rear of the right side with the left side now an open air patio. What had been an uneven and spotty parking lot has now been repaved with new signage as well. The Latin eatery from the people that brought you Fellini's Pizza, Repeat Atlanta was told the eatery has been open for about a week. Many Fellini's around town have a La Fonda next door, this seems to be the complementary La Fonda to the Fellini's at the corner of Howell Mill and Collier Roads. Repeat Atlanta!