Bits & Bites

The newest Kale Me Crazy opened earlier today in the recently renovated Buckhead Exchange shopping center on Peachtree Road near Grandview Avenue.  The Buckhead location joins six existing Kale Me Crazy locations in Atlanta including shops in Decatur, Inman Park and Sandy Springs. An eighth location is expected to open next month on Peachtree Road in Brookhaven, just south of TOWN Brookhaven. 

A new freestanding Dunkin' Donuts is planned for Lost Mountain Road near its intersection with Mackland Road in Powder Springs.  The new Donut shop will be built adjacent to the Kroger fuel center within the Varner Crossing shopping center.

The new retro-inspired Walgreens is now open in the Olympia Building in downtown Atlanta.  

Last Word, which co-owners Bernard Moussa and Matt Booth opened in the Old Fourth Ward at the end of 2014, has closed.  The restaurant was located on Highland Avenue between Highland Bakery and Parish.

A new Tropical Smoothie Cafe is coming to TOWN Brookhaven.  The approximately 1800 square foot eatery will open between Jefe's Tacos & Tequila (former Noche) and  Tin Can Oyster Bar (former Shucks).  In addition to TOWN Brookhaven, the Atlanta-based company is also opening new locations in Johns Creek, Kennesaw and Canton.  The Kennesaw location will be joined by previously announced tenants Taziki's, Chipotle, Capriotti's and RAK Outfitters in the new Owl Creek Commons center.  

The new Dior store at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta is scheduled to open next Monday, August 1st.  

The new AC Hotel by Marriott, adjacent to Phipps Plaza in Buckhead, is now planning a late August opening.  

American Cut and Regent Cocktail Club are planning to "soft open around Labor Day" at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta.  Both concepts were previously slated to have opened last summer but were delayed. The two concepts share the same space in the center with the steakhouse occupying the lower floors and the cocktail club on the rooftop.  Both concepts are owned by New York-based LDV Hospitality which already operate Dolce, an Italian restaurant and Corso, an Italian coffee shop at the Buckhead center.  Although the center as a whole has lived up to expectations, and a number of restaurants and retailers have closed, Dolce and Corso have been among the better performing tenants. 

Amorino Gelato plans to open its first Atlanta area location this coming Monday, August 1st at Lenox Square. The gelato shop will occupy a newly constructed kiosk alongside Bubbleology and in front of Victoria's Secret.  

Chef Nicholas St. Clair opened "Peyton's Pie Company" today in Suwanee.  Peyton's is located in a small strip center at 1039 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.  The new pizza shop replaced zpizza which closed earlier this year.  Interestingly, Peyton's features only one pie, a "Classic Margarita" pizza, for $14.  The idea is that guests can customize the Margarita in whatever way they choose from the dozen or so $2 topping options.    In addition to Peyton's, St. Clair's restaurant and development group also created Mavericks Cantina in Johns Creek and Antebellum, a southern restaurant in Flowery Branch.  According to Peyton's website, there are already plans for a second location in Flowery Branch, which a restaurant employee indicates will open "between the end of the year and next spring."