Angus Brown and Nhan Le Are Opening a Coffee Shop, Too

Angus Brown and Nhan Le previously announced plans to open Ama, a small seafood restaurant in Virginia-Highland, and now the chefs have revealed they're working on a coffee shop as well. 8 Arm will take over the former Atlanta Motorcycles & Repair space at 710 Ponce de Leon Avenue, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

In addition to shedding light on 8 Arm, Brown also told the AJC Lusca will close much earlier than anticipated. The duo originally planned to shutter their Brookwood Hills restaurant early this year, but then decided to keep it open until June. Now, the final day of service will be February 14. Earlier plans called for the Lusca space to be converted into a catering facility, but now it's been sold and will transform into a new restaurant for an unidentified buyer.

Matt Mullins is moving on from Lusca to run the coffee program at 8 Arm. The shop will serve breakfast and lunch fare in addition to the "tight coffee menu," and Brown reportedly hopes to have it open in March.

The updated timeline for Ama calls for a June launch at 716 Ponce de Leon Place NE. Once it begins service, the 45-seat, walk-in-only restaurant will offer grilled seafood, crudo, pasta, charcuterie, and seasonal vegetables. There will be an oyster bar as well. Lusca head bartender Timothy Faulkner will run the bar program, serving cocktails that are "elegantly austere and offbeat." Lusca sommelier Lauren Walton is in as wine director, and her list will highlight small-production bottles.