Edgewood Avenue Bar Mother Closes Permanently Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mother Bar and Kitchen closes permanently after eight years on Edgewood Avenue, according to a Facebook post. The bar, which has been closed since late-March, could not overcome the crippling financial effects caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Considering the multi-use nature of Mother, we knew there would be many logistical issues of how to make things work financially while keeping our customers and our staff safe and healthy,” the post reads. “The bottom line though is that our business really needs a large group of people in a tight space to be profitable, and even a scaled back operation would still be very difficult and potentially dangerous given our narrow space.”

As of June 16, Georgia restaurants are no longer required to limit the number of people in a dining party or adhere to capacity limits per square foot in the dining room. However, bars are only allowed up to 50 people or 35 percent total capacity. Like restaurants, Georgia bars must also comply with a set of over 30 state-mandated health and safety requirements to operate.

Part of a thriving bar and nightlife scene along Edgewood Avenue in the Old Fourth Ward, Mother often hosted DJs, karaoke nights, and held events featuring local musicians and artists. Mother joins a growing list of Atlanta-area restaurants and bars unable to recover from the devastating loss of revenue over the last few months caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and a lack of rent relief or support from landlords.

Eater Atlanta reached out for more details on the closure.

Adding to the financial pressures already being felt by Atlanta restaurant and bar owners, several establishments are choosing to temporarily close after learning employees have tested positive for the virus. Little Rey in Piedmont Heights, Firepit Pizza Tavern in Grant Park, Redbird on Howell Mill Road, and the Brookhaven outpost of Pure Taqueria reported multiple staff members testing positive for COVID-19. All four restaurants closed for deep cleanings and to test employees. Georgia restaurants and business are not bound by law to disclose to the public when a member of staff tests positive for COVID-19 and are not mandated by the state or Georgia Department of Health to close. Closing is voluntary.

COVID-19 cases have continued to rise in Georgia over the last month. The Georgia Department of Public Health recorded the highest daily increase in COVID-19 cases since mid-April on June 20 — around 1,800 new cases in a single day, with a significant increase in cases over a two-week period.

Stay home if sick. Check the Georgia Department of Public Health website for guidance and updates on the latest number of reported COVID-19 cases.

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