Take a Look Inside Hattie B’s Hot Chicken-Atlanta

Prepare for six levels of hot chicken heat. Nashville’s Hattie B’s is finally open in Little Five Points (L5P). And, if hot chicken isn’t enough, owners Nick Bishop Sr. and Nick Bishop Jr. helped save an utterly cool building from becoming a Dunkin’ Donuts, or worse, meeting the wrecking ball.

Atlanta isn’t known for being the great protector of historic properties. It’s an all-too-often occurrence to see buildings with historic value torn down in favor of a parking lot or another mixed-use complex filled with overpriced apartments. Fear rippled through the Little Five Points community a few years back when the building at 299 Moreland Avenue, originally a 1950s Phillips 66 gas station, went up for sale.

The Bishops were searching for properties in Atlanta for their next Hattie B’s outpost when they came upon Little Five Points Coin Laundry—the building’s last tenant. “We saw it and had to have it. It had so much potential. It reminded us of our original location in Nashville,” Bishop Jr. says.

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Hattie B’s

The father-son duo spent time gathering feedback from residents on the building and how they saw Hattie B’s fitting into the neighborhood. No one wanted to see the structure go. Neither did the Bishops.

“I love that bat wing out front. We knew it would be a great patio. The large garage bay windows (which no longer open) are perfect for letting in all the light and for looking out over Moreland,” Bishop Jr. says of what first attracted them to the building.

The patio at Hattie B’s-Atlanta seats 56 people and includes a grassy area to play a quick round or two of cornhole. The Bishops eventually plan to add a minimal enclosure to the patio to protect against the weather when needed without sacrificing seats.

In addition to the covered patio, the 2700-square-foot restaurant accommodates up to 80 people inside and includes a dedicated parking lot with 19 (free) spaces—a rare amenity in L5P.

The Atlanta menu also features a selection of local beers. Scofflaw, Creature Comfort, Wild Heaven, neighboring Wrecking Bar Brewpub, Gate City, Orpheus, and Arches are on regular rotation as well as Terrapin and SweetWater. Hattie B’s does not have its liquor license yet but, a representative says they expect it to come through soon.

Only one feature is being added to the building’s exterior; a mural on the large, white wall facing the parking lot. The Bishops plan to hire a local Atlanta street artist.

“I didn’t really know the depths of Atlanta’s street art until I starting digging into it and saw an entire website of people’s work. We’ve been talking to a few artists about what we want on the wall, but we’ve not settled on anyone yet.”

Bishop Jr. is eager to get the project started.

After nearly a year of unforeseen delays, Hattie B’s and the Bishops are ready for their Atlanta debut. The father and son are encouraged and excited by all of the enthusiasm surrounding the Atlanta opening. They say the rehab of the old Phillips 66 station was a collective effort between Hattie B’s and the neighborhood.

“We worked to maintain the integrity of this building -- whether it’s the lighting under the canopy, or the garage bays. It takes time when you’re renovating an historic structure because you want to honor the history of the building while modernizing it, but it’s well worth it.”

Hattie B’s is supplying water for those waiting in line and King of Pops will be onsite giving away popsicles on Thursday and Friday during the grand opening. Call-in (to-go) orders and online ordering will launch August 1.

Open Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• This Is Not a Drill — Hattie B’s Definitely Opens Next Thursday [EATL]
• It’s Almost Here: Atlanta Chefs Snap Pics of Hattie B’s New Sign [EATL]
• Hattie B’s Pushes Back Its Atlanta Opening [EATL]
• It’s Official: Hattie B’s Hot Chicken Is Coming to Set Atlanta on Fire [EATL]

299 Moreland Avenue NE, Atlanta. hattieb.com.