Two Big Restaurant Closures Rock Decatur and East Atlanta Village

Taco Mac closed suddenly this week in downtown Decatur, while the Glenwood is preparing to bow out of East Atlanta Village by the end of September.

Taco Mac closed suddenly this week after 22 years on West Ponce de Leon Avenue in downtown Decatur, Decaturish first reported.

A note taped to the front door of the restaurant indicates Taco Mac officially closed Tuesday, September 19, due to the lease expiring on the property. The notice also states Taco Mac is seeking new positions for its Decatur employees within other Taco Macs around Atlanta and metro Atlanta.

“While it is always a difficult decision to close a restaurant, we are committed to finding immediate placements for all eligible managers and team members,” a statement provided to Eater reads. “We will continue to invest in our other 27 restaurants and maintain our commitment to growing the brand into new markets.”

New locations of Taco Mac are slated to open in Macon and Conyers.

The first Taco Mac opened in Virginia-Highland on North Highland Avenue in 1979, where it remains today. Over the past four decades, the sports bar has grown into a local chain known for its lengthy beer list and brewniversity, wings, and tacos, with multiple locations now open throughout Atlanta and the surrounding suburbs.

In 2018, Taco Mac was purchased by Fresh Hospitality, lead by CEO and longtime T-Mac diner, Harold Martin, Jr. The Lindbergh City Center location of Taco Mac in Buckhead, adjacent to the Lindbergh MARTA station, closed after 15 years in 2021. The closure of that location was blamed on “safety challenges” and “a recent uptick in crime” in the area.

Lindbergh City Center, which has since been rebranded to Uptown Atlanta, is currently under redevelopment by the Rubenstein Partners and home to a handful of new restaurants, with more restaurants opening in the coming months.

Fresh Hospitality also took over ownership of Mary Mac’s Tea Room on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Midtown at the end of 2020.

In other closure news, an Instagram post from the Glenwood announced the closure of the sports bar and pub after nearly two decades in the heart of East Atlanta Village. An employee of the bar also confirmed the impending closure. No reason is provided for the decision to close the bar, but weekly events such as Wednesday night trivia, Thursday karaoke, and Sunday poker night are still on until October 1.

The Glenwood is also asking people to send in photos and videos taken at the bar over the years to share on social media before it closes.

Eater reached out for more details on the reason for the closure. Check back for updates.