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Two Atlanta-area restaurants called it quits late last week, and it appears the coronavirus is likely to blame for both closures.
Longtime Buckhead restaurant and bar the Tavern at Phipps Plaza closed after 30 years at the luxury mall on Peachtree Road. Director of marketing for CentraArchy Restaurants group, Amber Steward, told the AJC the group’s decision to close the restaurant was “hard,” but ultimately came down to “timing and the pandemic.” Employees at the Tavern have been offered jobs at other CentraArchy restaurants, which includes Joey D’s Oak Room in Dunwoody and New York Prime in Buckhead.
The Tavern at Phipps has remained closed since the health crisis began in mid-March. According to Stewart, there is a possibility CentraArchy may reopen the Tavern elsewhere in Atlanta some time over the next two years.
Atlanta-based organic burger chain Farm Burger closed its Peachtree Corners location last week, What Now Atlanta reported Friday. Farm Burger’s website also lists the Peachtree Corners location as “permanently closed.” According to co-owner George Frangos, the closure is due to the “effects of COVID.” The restaurant opened in the Gwinnett County city 23 miles north of Atlanta last spring.
Farm Burger was founded in 2010 by Frangos and farmer and rancher Jason Mann. The Peachtree Corners restaurant marked the sixth Atlanta-area location for the chain at the time of its opening. Three months later, Farm Burger opened its seventh Atlanta location in Midtown inside the Southeast’s largest Whole Foods market. The burger chain’s website indicates that location will remain closed “until further notice.” Farm Burger’s five other Atlanta-area locations in Decatur, Grant Park, Buckhead, Dunwoody, and at Mercedes-Benz Stadium have all reopened for dine-in service as well as takeout and delivery.
Several Atlanta restaurants have permanently closed during the pandemic, following a devastating loss of revenue caused by dining room shutdowns and lack of rent relief.
In September, The Shed at Glenwood closed on Bill Kennedy Way after 12 years in the neighborhood. Earlier last month, beloved coffee shop Octane closed after nearly 17 years at its original location on Marietta Street. The Atlanta coffee brand was acquired by Revelator Coffee Company from founders Tony and Diane Riffel four years ago. Revelator also closed its two Buckhead cafes, Coffee and Ice Cream at Lenox Square Mall and Sweet Tooth Cafe at Phipps Plaza. Underground music and dance venue The Music Room and its barbecue restaurant Bone Lick Southern Kitchen also closed this month after eight years on Edgewood Avenue.
