Buckhead Italian Spots Bar Americano, Bar Crema Close After Six Months

Italian restaurant Bar Americano and its adjacent coffee shop Bar Crema closed on Saturday night just shy of six months at the East Andrews district in Buckhead. Owners Brooks Cloud, Julian Goglia, and chef Mike Blydenstein of 10 Apart restaurant group made the announcement via Instagram. The partners also own whiskey bar The Pinewood in Decatur, The Mercury at Ponce City Market, and bar and late night taco spot Deep End in the Old Fourth Ward.

The trio opened both Bar Americano and Bar Crema in November 2017 on the heels of the opening of Deep End. That bar took over the former 4th & Swift space across from Ponce City Market.

Cloud alluded to a possible reason for the closures of the two East Andrews spots in a comment he made on Saturday’s Instagram post, “Not enough people liked what we were doing - the team did their best but sometimes it just doesn’t go the way you hope.”

Instagram

Opening the two restaurants within weeks of the opening of Deep End seemed like an ambitious undertaking. However, Cloud told Eater Atlanta in an interview last November he hoped they would fill a void in the Buckhead dining scene, which is known for dive bars, clubs, and pricey restaurants. Bar Americano and Bar Crema planned to be an all-day eating and drinking option for the area.

“We want to offer comfortable and casual yet refined dining. A place to relax any time of day with coffee, a cocktail, or even just popping in for some pasta and a great glass of Italian wine after work.”

Chef Adam Waller (formerly of Bocado) has lead the kitchen at Bar Americano since its opening. Prior to the restaurants’ Saturday night closure announcement, Empire State South (ESS) owner chef Hugh Acheson named Waller as the next executive chef of ESS following the departure of Joshua Hopkins on Friday. Hopkins is planning to open his own restaurant.

As far as why the restaurants closed so quickly, Goglia tells Eater Atlanta they were simply “dealt too many bad hands back to back. It’s a concept that we truly believed in, but here we are.”

Goglia says their biggest goal for the immediate future is to find positions and maintain insurance for the staffs of Bar Americano and Bar Crema.

“Thankfully, most of the team has been moved into new positions internally. If anyone has openings at their restaurants, let us know! We’d love to ensure new homes for everyone as soon as possible.”

• East Andrews Gets Two New All-Day Dining Options Today [EATL]
• The Pinewood Team Will Open Bar Americano and Bar Crema This Month [EATL]
• The Pinewood Team Is Working on Two Italian Projects in Buckhead [EATL]
• What to Expect at Deep End, The Pinewood Team’s Soon-to-Open O4W Restaurant [EATL]