The restaurant industry landscape is constantly in flux, and amid grand openings, the city is seeing a wave of closures, from small businesses to legacy and popular restaurants. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Part of Atlanta’s charm lies in its diverse food scene, from the rich culture to the bold flavors. The saying often goes that “Atlanta isn’t a real place,” and what makes it unique is the bustling dining and drinking spots on every corner of the city’s neighborhoods, built to satisfy every palate. Lucky for locals and tourists alike, there’s never a shortage of places to visit, especially when new businesses are rolling in every month. However, the landscape of the restaurant industry is constantly in flux, and with grand openings, the city is seeing a wave of closures from small businesses to legacy and popular restaurants.
Here is a roundup of updates on your local favorites, recently opened restaurants, and upcoming restaurants.
Local UpdatesRodney Scott’s BBQ
668 Metropolitan Pkwy SW
Atlanta continues to experience a wave of surprising closures, with many restaurants and local favorites shuttering their doors with little notice. On May 3, the Rodney Scott restaurant group announced that all of Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog barbecue locations across multiple states have temporarily closed their doors until further notice. James Beard-award-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott opened the first location of the restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2017. Since then, it has expanded to Alabama and Tennessee, with its Georgia location opening in Atlanta in July 2021. Situated in a converted auto repair shop on Metropolitan Parkway, the restaurant served up South Carolina-style whole hog barbecue, ribs, chicken, and popular Southern sides.
Hero Doughnuts in the Summer Hill section. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta VoiceHero Donuts
33 Georgia Ave SE
The Summerhill neighborhood has undergone rapid redevelopment in the past few years and is considered one of Atlanta’s oldest and fastest-growing neighborhoods. Along the corridor of Georgia Avenue, small businesses and local restaurants have made a home for themselves, from Little Tart Bakeshop to Maepole. And while it seems to be thriving at a glance, it is experiencing its own wave of closures that adds to the deeper conversation about Atlanta’s restaurant scene. The eatery has “temporarily closed” signs at both of its Atlanta restaurants after opening its first location in Summerhill in 2020. It is under the umbrella of Pihakis Restaurant Group, a Birmingham restaurant group that is currently facing millions of dollars in lawsuits, contributing to the closure of both Hero Donuts and Rodney Scott’s.
How Crispy Express
Dining and Cooking