HUD'S CORNER - Page 2
The Research Continues...

THE SCOOP - Page 3
The Research Continues...

by hud report staff

Richard Blais has left Home. Well, sort of. In early September he resigned from his position at Here To Serve Restaurants’ Home Restaurant & Bar on West Paces Ferry where he has been top toque since it opened in April of this year. Next, Blais will be designing the menu for the new upscale hamburger restaurant, Flip, proposed for Atlanta’s Westside near the Waterworks. It’s rumored that the modern-esque burger joint in Midtown will be the world’s first liquid nitrogen milkshake bar... On October 1st, Six Feet Under moves around the corner to the Jane Lofts building at 437 Memorial Drive, putting down new roots. The Jane Lofts were built in the 1920s by Southeastern Elevator Company and used as an elevator factory. In the ‘70s it was bought by US Elevator and word-on-the-street says a former controller at the factory is looking forward to ‘sitting in his old office’ when the new Six Feet Under opens... Also, by October 31st Six Feet Under’s former space is expected to be the new home of Tin Lizzy’s latest location... Bodega Gastronomia, a 12 seat chef’s table and wine cellar, is being added in Virginia Highland’s Pura Vida Tapas Bar’s basement. Chef/Owner Hector Santiago’s addition to his red-hot tapas bar will serve 9 courses of small plates on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and is opening in November... Latest rumor says chef Chris Yeo (partners with Chris ‘Ludicris’ Bridges at Straits in Midtown) may also be adding his Sino Restaurant concept to Atlanta. The original Sino is in San Jose, CA and Sino’s website says Sino is opening in Las Vegas in November ‘08 but no mention of the possible Atlanta site. Visit www.sinorestaurant.com for updates... The Dallas, TX-based high-end sandwich & salad chain, Baker Bros. American Deli, is also said to be scouting Atlanta for locations. Sources say they are looking at affluent areas, such as Dunwoody, for space in centers anchored by major grocers and hope to open their first unit by March or April of ‘09.

More to come...

Seems 5 Seasons Brewing at the Prado in Sandy Springs and landlord, The Sembler Company, have reached an agreement about the lawsuit filed by 5 Seasons for ‘business lost during redevelopment of The Prado.’ The two have agreed to keep the terms confidential. Also in the 5-Seasons-news, when their latest location opens in early ‘09, it’s rumored it will be the largest brewpub in the Southeast. The 17,000-square-foot restaurant and brewery going into the Brickworks at Midtown West will cover three floors, have three separate bars, private event facilities and indoor and outdoor seating for 400. David Larkworthy will serve as Executive Chef and continue the farm-to-table concept... The Buckhead Room (formerly Carbo’s Café) is now operated by the owners of Park Tavern. Chastain’s restaurant is said to be opening soon on the first floor and the bar is currently open during the week... This is a quote we found about the new Lift Restaurant proposed for the former Derek Lawford Pubs’ Prince of Wales location on Piedmont Road: “Full restaurant and bar with live entertainment and seating for 100.”

Additions...

Greene’s Fine Foods, featuring gourmet sandwiches, candy, nuts and gifts, has opened in the old post office in downtown Decatur on East Trinity Place... La Pietra Cucina, a progressive Italian restaurant featuring executive chef Bruce Logue (Vivace, Babbo), is operating a 50 seat ‘Trattoria’ Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner until mid-October at 1545 Peachtree Street (former Mid City Cuisine location). We have heard that when they have their seating capacity of 175, they will add dinner and Brunch on Sundays... Atlanta wine retailer, Chris Hinton, a former NFL football player, has opened a new wine store at the intersection of Roswell and Abernathy Roads in Sandy Springs called Hinton’s Savvy Cellar. It is a 6,000-sq. ft. retail space that offers beer and spirits as well as Hinton’s typically superior wine, along with some accessories.

In remembrance...

In 1947 Harold Hembree, Sr., along with wife Hugh, started a little Barbecue joint called Harold’s Barbecue on McDonough Blvd. in the Grant Park area of Atlanta. Harold passed away in 1958 and Hugh, along with her four children, carried-on the family business. Over the years, Harold Hembree, Jr. took the reigns as it became a destination and served the likes of President Jimmy Carter, Govenor Lester Maddox and comedian Jeff Foxworthy. Harold, Jr., 76, passed away in early September after a long battle with cancer.

Sign of the times?

Fox Sports Grill, located in Atlantic Station has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Owners are B&B Restaurant Ventures, LLC and Fox Broadcasting Co. B&B also faces a class-action lawsuit from employees alleging unfair workplace practices and owes the Atlantic Station landlord more than $112,000... Opening in the summer of ‘07, what was to be the ‘OK Cafe for the Southside,’ The Academy Grill on Virginia Avenue in College Park has shuttered its doors... The Clubhouse at Lenox Mall, part of the club-inspired restaurant chain originally developed by investors such as actors Kevin Costner, Robert Wagner and pro golfers Jack Nicklaus and Fred Couples, closed its doors on September 14, 2008... Alot is being said these days about the three-restaurant chain Crescent Moon Eatery. After Rob Atherholt sold the concept earlier this year to Global Restaurant Group, LLC, it wasn’t long before lawsuits started popping up from vendors and landlords. Recent sources are now saying Global has filed for Chapter 11. As of this printing the Mall of Georgia Crescent Moon’s number has been disconnected and the web pages for the Northlake and Mall of Georgia locations are missing from the website. The information for the original location on W. Ponce de Leon is still up, www.crescentmooneatery.com. Previously there were rumors that new locations would be opening in the Lindbergh area and the latest was planned for Auburn Avenue. No word on their progress?... Last month we reported the closing of YellowFin Chop House in Alpharetta ‘due to the economic times.’ Sadly, this month has seen the closing of the 5-year-old sister location, YellowFin on Canton Street in Roswell, as well. The website, www.yellowfinblueroom.com, reports the Roswell space will reopen soon as Indigo featuring chef Todd Hogan... In our September issue we reported that Gateway Development (owners of The Globe on Fifth Street in Midtown) had given Fifth Group a management contract to manage the restaurant. We have recently learned Gateway decided not to continue and has notified the staff the restaurant will be closing in two weeks.