Ford Fry Reopens Five of His Atlanta Area Restaurants for Takeout on Monday

After closing his 12 Atlanta area restaurants on March 26 so his Rocket Farm employees could “quarantine” for 14 days, Ford Fry is reopening three Superica locations, Little Rey, and no. 246 for takeout on Monday, April 13.

Fry tells Eater Atlanta, Little Rey and Superica were the “most adaptable” restaurants to pivot to takeout in the Rocket Farm group. Both already had online ordering systems in place.

He initially closed all four Superica locations, no. 246 in Decatur, Little Rey in Piedmont Heights, JCT Kitchen, Marcel, and the Optimist on the west side, BeetleCat in Inman Park, and King and Duke and St. Cecilia in Buckhead two weeks ago. While the Krog Street Market, Avalon, and Buckhead Superica locations all reopen next week, the Battery Atlanta location remains closed.

No confirmed cases were reported within the restaurant group when Fry asked his employees to quarantine.

“Our number one priority remains the well-being and safety of our team and our communities, and we feel we can re-open responsibly with lean, efficient teams to prevent further spread of the virus and ensure we are keeping our teams healthy and employed,” Fry says in a prepared statement. “...we felt that it was safer for all Rocket Farm employees to take the time to stay home for a full 14 days in order for us to streamline our processes and reopen without any health concerns.”

Rocket Farm employs 1,391 people and had placed 1,242 employees across Atlanta, Houston, Charlotte, and Nashville, on protected, unpaid leave a week prior to the March 26 closures. That number increased after closing all of Rocket Farm’s restaurants.

With the reopening of the three Atlanta area Superica locations, along with the Nashville restaurant, and of Little Rey and no. 246, Fry has rehired 99 staff members placed on leave in March. 1,143 employees still remain furloughed.

Here are the takeout hours for each restaurant:

Superica at Avalon
Wednesday and Thursday, 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Friday, 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Superica at Krog Street Market
Tuesday - Thursday, 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Superica in Buckhead
Monday - Thursday, 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Little Rey in Piedmont Heights
Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

no. 246 in Decatur
Wednesday and Thursday, 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Rocket Farm restaurant group is not alone in its decision to close for the health and safety of employees. The last two weeks saw several established Atlanta area restaurants close due to COVID-19, including La Fonda and Fellini’s Pizza, chef Anne Quatrano’s restaurants and Star Provisions market, Yeah Burger, Nakato, Chai Pani, and the Vortex. For most, the meager profits from takeout and delivery isn’t worth the risk to the health and safety of staff.

Chai Pani owner chef Meherwan Irani says the decision to close his Decatur restaurant came only after Congress passed the CARES bill and provided some guaranteed financial support for his staff. Banshee chef Nolan Wynn and his partners closed the East Atlanta Village restaurant two weeks ago after using up all of the perishable food for takeout orders. Faced with having to place a large food order to continue serving takeout, they chose to close the restaurant, as the financial reality didn’t make sense.

Check the Georgia Department of Public Health website for guidance and twice-daily updates on the latest number of reported COVID-19 cases.

• For Some Atlanta Restaurant Owners, Closing Becomes the Only Option [EATL]
• Keep Track of How the Coronavirus Is Impacting Atlanta’s Food Scene [EATL]