If You Don't get Ghetto in the Hood, You'll Hate Yourself Later!

With the rumor that Ms. Ann of Ann's Snack Bar was calling it quits, the typical three hour wait has become a whopping five or more as of this past Thursday afternoon. Repeat Atlanta's Repeatant, Caleb, decided that the only way to uncover Ms. Ann's true plans was to sit at one of her eight stools and ask her himself. FOX 5's Suchita Vadlamani and Justin Gray accompanied him on his quest to uncover the truth about Ann and her world-famous "Ghetto Burger." Though originally it was Suchita's idea to go, he had planned on making the trip himself. Inside the covered porch area, they waited in an informal line as those who went directly to the serving counter were rejected by Ms. Ann and told to get in line. Four hours in, Suchita had to throw in the towel to attend a charity event. (She claimed it was for the kids). Finally, five hours had passed and they were finally seated. They began throwing out questions and uncovered that Ms. Ann is indeed selling her property and will stay open for her "source of income" until "someone buys, and it ain't goin' cheap." A Ghetto Burger was ordered to go for Suchita (minus bacon, which is actually a double cheeseburger, Ms. Ann informed us. Don't tell Suchita though, because she thinks she had a Ghetto Burger! Shhh!.) Justin and Caleb both ordered the Ghetto Burger Combo: $9.50 including french fries, the biggest and sweetest lemonade you'll ever taste, and of course, the biggest burger you'll ever have. Caleb and Justin were each able to eat half and took the rest home. On their way out, Caleb asked Ms. Ann what she eats for dinner. Her reply, "nothin'!" Click for the original post. Repeat Atlanta!

Have you gotten Ghetto at Ann's Snack Bar? If so, tell us about your experience in the comments section! If you haven't been, go! The wait is worth the experience of a lifetime!

Cuerno gets trampled in the Running of the Bulls! Closing Sunday at 905 Juniper

U Restaurants Cuerno eatery will close this Sunday after never achieving the sales figures necessary to remain open. A contemporary Spanish eatery, Cuerno was never the hit that founder Riccardo Ullio had envisioned when he opened it in January of 2008. Located at 905 Juniper in midtown, its sister restaurant Beleza next door will remain open for now but its future is in question by many with Cuerno's closure. The one successful eatery for Ullio appears to be Fritti, still a favorite in Atlanta and thought of by many as having the best pizza in the city. A few doors down, Chocolate Pink Pastry Cafe is open but is for sale. However, if a sale is not made soon, the store may have to go unsold and close! Repeat Atlanta!

Lenox Square 'bout to get up in yo' grill! Lenox Square Grill Opening Soon!

CentraArchy, a local restaurant company, is launching a new eatery at Lenox Square. Opening in the space that once housed The Clubhouse eatery, Lenox Square Grill will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and is scheduled to open later this fall. CentraArchy also operates the Tavern at Phipps along with New York Prime at Monarch Plaza and a number of other eateries around the southeast. Though Repeat Atlanta originally received word that The Grand Luxe Cafe would open in the same space, the economy seems to have cut some locations for the chain, a new concept by its parent company, The Cheesecake Factory. SIMON also has been making a push for local businesses to take space in its malls as national chains have curtailed expansion plans. Cutbacks have been especially visible in the luxury segment which has hurt Phipps more so, with a large amount of vacant space, most notably the closed GAP stores and the closed NIKETOWN. Repeat Atlanta!

Adrenalina Runs Out of Energy At North Point Mall

Adrenalina, a Florida-based water sports retailer has delayed its anticipated opening of its North Point Mall location what seems like indefinitely. Originally scheduled to be open last June, then delayed to Fall, then early 2009, then summer 2009, now...? Another location that was announced at the time the Atlanta store was first mentioned, the Plano, Texas location recently opened but the Atlanta location remain MIA from the Adrenalina website and has been removed from the North Point Mall website, previously listed as "Coming Soon." According to a representative from North Point Mall, Adrenalina is no longer opening. Though there may have been a number of factors that contributed to Adrenalina not opening, its highly possible that concessions and incentives offered to them from mall owner General Growth Properties fell through as a result of GGP's Bankruptcy filing. Repeat Atlanta!

Owners Behind Carpe Diem Seize Former Allegro Space

The former Allegro on Dutch Valley is said to be becoming a new concept from the people that have brought you Carpe Diem, Apres Diem, Carroll St. Cafe and Village Pizza Co. The new eatery is said to be in an "infancy stage" in terms of development but rumor has it they may opt for a second location for their Carpe Diem eatery. Another eatery is also planned for Buford Highway in an unknown location. Repeat Atlanta!

Phipps Plaza Debacle

On a recent trip to Phipps Plaza, I was shamefully treated by Simon Properties employees, Brown & Company Jewelers, and the Atlanta Police Department. ( Lower right: Asst. Director Public Safety Curtis A. Pulliam)

On my way to purchase a Theory suit from Saks, I decided to snap a photograph of the new retail space occupied by Brown & Company. I pulled out my iPhone to take a picture of the exterior of the store. The next thing I knew, someone from Brown & Company jumped up from her desk, ran out to where I was standing, and screamed at me. "What do you think you doing taking pictures of my store? What are those pictures for? You'd better stop taking pictures!" Stunned, I answered "for my personal use," not giving it a thought because it is something I had never been questioned for doing before. Suddenly, the police officer from within the store approached me in the same manner and said, "You better stop taking those pictures or I am going to arrest you!" At this point, my mouth had fallen to the floor in disbelief. I could not believe that I might be arrested for casually taking a picture in the mall. I asked why I couldn't take pictures, and the officer informed me that it was against mall policy. Still in disbelief, I asked to see the policy and informed both the police officer and the employee that I would delete the photos as soon as I saw the policy because I was unaware of it. Moments later, another Atlanta police officer, W. Crossen, approached me with SIMON employee (mall cop) Mathew Lewis. Officer Crossen demanded to see my ID. Meanwhile, mall cop Lewis radioed others about the situation. I told mall cop Lewis that I would gladly delete the photos upon seeing the policy. He informed me that he would be taking me to the posted policy. At this point, with my ID in the possession of officer Crossen, I was taken down the elevator to P2. On the elevator ride, mall cop Lewis said "We will be escorting you off the property immediately." Other mall shoppers were watching the entire ordeal on the elevator as well. We reach P2 and I was shown the policy. I was asked by mall cop Lewis how I came to the mall today, by MARTA or by car. I informed him that my friend had driven (Mark Edge), but had parked on P3. I then asked for each of their names. Crossen responded by saying "Here is my name tag, if you are even capable of spelling." After recording their names, mall cop Lewis exclaimed that it was taking too long for my friend to arrive. “This is taking too long. You are coming with us to the security headquarters.” As I sat there, Crossen asked that I give him my ID again. Lewis began to fill out paperwork as Crossen treated me like a common criminal asking absurd questions and belittling me. "Do you even have a high school diploma?" I informed Crossen that I was a GSU student. "Must not take much effort then to get accepted. What do your parents do anyway?" My Dad has been in the military for 23 years, I told Crossen. "They obviously didn't know how to raise you." At this point I was infuriated. I can't remember all of the derogatory and belittling statements made by mall cop Lewis and officer Crossen. Every other word included some smart comment calling me uneducated and stupid. I was then firmly asked by mall Cop Lewis to sign a document. I demanded to know what I was signing and said that I would require a copy. He said that a copy would not be made available and that I'd better sign it. At this point, officer Crossen demanded that I sign it or he would arrest me for non-compliance with authority.

Curtis A. Pulliam, SIMON Properties Assistant Director of Public Safety entered the room. He also demanded that I sign. As I look over the document, I notice that it has my Dad's name instead of mine, apparently because the ID I provided was my military ID with my father's name as well as mine. They did not even know whom they were detaining, but I am the one lacking a high school diploma! I continue reading to learn that I am banned from Phipps Plaza for a year (well, actually my Dad is). Finally, Pulliam makes a copy and I sign. I unlocked my iPhone, deleted the pictures I had taken, as Pulliam looked over my shoulder. Another mall cop snapped my picture. I grabbed my copy and headed for the car.

I am requesting a written letter of apology from SIMON Property Group and re-admittance to Phipps Plaza so I can continue to be a law-abiding citizen and once again stimulate the economy.
- Caleb J. Spivak

UPDATE: As of May 26th, 5:30 pm, Phipps Plaza General Manager, Dewayne Herbert called me on my personal cell phone to asses the situation. He apologized and made clear that the ban placed on me from admittance to Phipps Plaza would be removed.

Invitation only! Brown & Company Gold Party?

Brown and Company has taken what was once a museum of fine goods and made it more like the Buford Highway flea market. Opening in the space on the second level next to the American Cafe that was once Uncle Tai's and most recently was XDC Motorsports, the space had been empty since January. As the economy has plummeted, it seems that Phipps has been reduced to taking the approach of lower end malls and leasing to whomever. Giving free rent and or reduced rent to entice tenants to re-locate or open additional concepts in the mall is good for SIMON in the short run but will hurt the mall's reputation in the long run. Local concept Jedal, an Italian footwear store, opened a few weeks ago and is an interesting addition, but this Gold Store is pathetic! To have what amounts to a "permanent gold party" in a mall dedicated to luxury and exclusivity is foolish to say the least.

But wait, there's more! As many know, each story on Repeat Atlanta is accompanied by a photo that relates to the story, and recently we have been taking our own pictures on location. Keeping with this initiative, Repeat Atlanta's Repeatant was on location at Phipps Plaza on his way to shop at Sak's. He stopped by Brown and Company to take a quick picture and that's when the fun began. Expect a full report of what we are calling the 'Phipps Plaza Debacle' shortly! Repeat Atlanta!