A Beer Garden Is Planned for Irwin Street Market [Updated]

Following the departure of O4W Pizza for Duluth, Irwin Street Market is making some changes. Owner Jake Rothschild is converting some of the market's patio space into a concept centered around a beer garden and barbecue, reports Creative Loafing. Lingering Shade will be adjacent to the BeltLine, and it's "inspired by O4W visionaries Kwanza Hall and John Morrison."

Lewis Jeffries, a local CPA, is reportedly behind the project. It isn't clear if Jeffries will serve as pitmaster, or what style of barbecue Lingering Shade will offer. The beer garden side of the concept will keep things close to home by pouring suds from 12 local breweries. Current plans call for an August debut.

When O4W Pizza owner Anthony Spina revealed plans to vacate Irwin Street Market, which sits on the corner of Irwin and Sampson streets in Old Fourth Ward, Rothschild told Eater Atlanta he would "talk to the neighborhood and find out what they really want." Now, he tells Creative Loafing the pizzeria will soon be replaced by three eateries that are "unlike anything else in Atlanta." However, details are scarce.

Appa's, a Korean fusion concept, has been popping up at the market recently, serving poke bowls and sushi burritos, and it will continue to do so on Sundays through the end of July.

Update: Rothschild tells Eater Atlanta previous reports of barbecue being part of the Lingering Shade concept were miscommunicated. Instead, the beer garden will include "a super cool bar menu." As for Appa's, Rothschild said he hopes it will be one of the forthcoming anchor restaurants, but "we are giving them breathing room to get their sea legs first."