Bits & Bites

Memphis-based Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, which opened its first Atlanta area location last year in Peachtree Center downtown, is adding a second area location.  The next Gus's in metro Atlanta will open on Roswell Road, just south of Abernathy Road, in place of both Clay's Sports Cafe and InstaLoan.  Gus's will combine the two spaces (1,894 and to 1,925 square feet respectively) to form a single, nearly 4000 square foot space.  Clay's, a local wing institution for over 25 years, is expected to vacate its current space by the end of July.  A real estate source indicated that Clay's is in talks to lease another space along Roswell Road, and if all goes well, the new location could open before the end of the year.  Pending permitting, Gus's is expected to open in time for the holiday season and is reportedly already looking at adding as many as five other locations in metro Atlanta.  

A new Waffle House on Chamblee Tucker Road, just off I-85, is slated to open June 9th.  The current Waffle House restaurant, located next door at 2824 Chamblee Tucker Road, previously thought to be closing, will reportedly be converted into a catering/commissary facility.    A representative from Norcross-based Waffle House was unable to confirm the plans, but an employee at another nearby Waffle House contends the plans are in place for the catering conversion.   

Altar'd State, a Knoxville-based Christian clothing store, is coming to Perimeter Mall.  The store will occupy a nearly 4,500 square foot space adjacent to Mori Luggage & Gifts, on the second floor of the Dunwoody mall.    Designed to appeal to "mothers and daughters," the Altar'd State girl "can be 14-40," with the chain seemingly trying to emulate Anthropologie.   Altar'd State, which started in 2009, currently has about 70 locations including existing Atlanta area stores in Buford at the Mall of Georgia, Marietta at the Avenue West Cobb, and in Forsyth at The Collection at Forsyth.  A rather in-depth article by retail/fashion blog Racked last year delved into the secretive operation that is Altar'd State.      

A new LA Fitness is planned for Woodstock Road (Highway 92) in Roswell.  The new 37,000 square foot facility will be built near the intersection of Hardscrabble and Woodstock Roads, just north of the Manchester Place townhome community.  The new fitness facility will be built on roughly 5.3 acres and will provide parking for nearly 250 vehicles.   

Ford Fry's latest restaurant, a second Superica, his Tex-Mex offering, is reportedly on track to open June 13th at Buckhead Court on Roswell Road in north Buckhead.  The restaurant, which replaced a shuttered Outback Steakhouse, has been delayed a few times and was originally expected to open in May.  

Taka Sushi & Passion is now open at Gateway on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.  The popular sushi restaurant was forced from its original home on Pharr Road earlier this year (yay, more apartments!) after which it shared space with Cafe at Pharr on Peachtree Road ahead of its permanent relocation to Sandy Springs.    

Fish Hippie, a growing retail brand similar to Southern Tide and Vineyard Vines, has opened a signature shop in conjunction with Town & Country on Roswell Road in north Buckhead.  The store, similar to Lilly Pulitzer's Mint Julep in Peachtree Battle, focuses heavily on the Hippie Fish brand but also carries also complimentary brands such as Ariat and Barbour.    

Georgia's newest Bojangles' is scheduled to open Monday June 6th at 6922 GA Highway 85 in Riverdale.