East Cobb resident and technology entrepreneur Ken Leebow has come out of retirement to write his latest book, 100 Incredible Things You Can Do With AI, which is already off to a strong start.
With artificial intelligence dominating the news, Leebow’s new book is designed to make AI practical, understandable, and useful for everyday people and businesses. He is also giving presentations on AI, including his featured program, “Building Your AI Dream Team,” where he demonstrates an AI product he calls “AI on Steroids.”
Leebow is also pleased to announce that he has established a veterans scholarship program connected to the book.
For additional information, contact Ken Leebow or visit Leebow.com.
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Sunny Brook Stables has been operating on five acres on Roswell Road near Avenue East Cobb and will be moving to larger space in North Fulton.
Sunny Brook Stables, which offers horse riding lessons and other equestrian training, is leaving East Cobb.
Dr. Grania Gothard Holman, the owner and founder of the five-acre facility on Roswell Road east of Johnson Ferry Road, made the announcement Sunday that Sunny Brook will be relocating soon to North Fulton.
“While our address is changing, the heart of Sunny Brook remains exactly the same,” Holman said in a message on Sunny Brook’s Facebook page.
“For years, families have trusted us to introduce children to horses through thoughtful riding instruction, horsemanship, camps, and a community built on kindness, confidence, and stewardship. Our new home allows that vision to grow.”
She said Sunny Brook will be occupying expanded facilities at Fortitude Farm, a horseback training center in the Alpharetta-Milton area.
Sunny Brook also operates Heart Horse Retirement, Rehab & Rescue, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to the care of older horses, and which also will be making the move.
“We are incredibly grateful to every family, volunteer, supporter, and friend who has helped shape Sunny Brook into what it is today,” Holman said. “Now, we look forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces as we begin this next chapter together.”
Sunny Brook and Heart Horse will be reopening in August, she said, and enrollment is open.
“Although the address is changing, the values are not,” Sunny Brook Stables owner Dr. Grania Gothard Holman said.
Sunny Brook has leased the five acres at Roswell Road, located between a subdivision and East Cobb Presbyterian Church and close to Avenue East Cobb.
The land was recently put up for sale as a residential lot with an asking price of $3 million, and is already under contract, according to its MLS listing.
Holman told East Cobb News that the new location for Sunny Brook will provide “additional riding space, and a covered arena that will allow for more consistent lessons throughout Georgia’s changing weather. Most importantly, it gives us the opportunity to continue building the safe, family-centered riding program that has always been at the heart of Sunny Brook.”
She said Sunny Brook and the non-profit will be able to “grow together” and expand beyond its focus on riding lessons for youngsters.
“The next chapter will also include expanded opportunities for adult riders, clinics, retreats, educational experiences, and community involvement, while continuing to support the mission of Red Heart Horse,” Holman said.
“Although the address is changing, the values are not.”
Sunny Brook will continue to offer one-on-one, small-group and private riding instruction, with an emphasis on horse care and helping riders build meaningful relationships with the animals.
“Our vision has always been about more than teaching people to ride,” Holman said. “It has been about creating a place where horses and people both have the opportunity to grow. Some horses need retirement, rehabilitation, or rescue. Some children discover confidence for the first time. Some adults find their way back to horses after years away. This new home gives us the opportunity to continue serving all of them.”
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Leadership Cobb, the Cobb Chamber’s premier leadership development program, has selected 60 new participants for the 2026-2027 class.
Founded in 1983, Leadership Cobb brings together diverse business and community leaders for a 10-month journey focused on personal and professional growth.
The program accomplishes this through leadership training, teambuilding, and educational experiences highlighting our community’s greatest success stories and most significant ongoing challenges.
The 2027 Class:
Coleman Alford, Atlanta Braves Baseball Club
Rhonda Anderson, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office
Tee Anderson, Capstone Communities, LLC
Norman Barnett, Magistrate Court of Cobb County
Kayla Bedwell, CROFT & Associates
Trevor Beemon, Cobb Landmarks & Historical Society, Inc.
Cole Blackwell, Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority
Tara Boockholdt, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Barbie Brown, The Brown Agency
Cassandra Brown, City of Mableton
Patina Brown, City of Marietta
Shaneak Brown, Comcast
Keynun Campbell, Marietta Sixth Grade Academy
Cory Chipman, Freeman Mathis & Gary LLP
Jessica Coane, Cobb Travel & Tourism
Natalie Dale, Georgia Department of Transportation
Carlos Searcy, The Los and Lisha Legacy Foundation
Slade Sellers, Sterling Seacrest Pritchard
Angie Smith, Mission 1:27
Jodi Taylor, Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC
Kristen Trice, Wellstar Health System
Fred Tull, JE Dunn Construction
Brent Turner, Calvary Children’s Home
Amy Welchel, Welchel Enterprise
Tim Willis, Summit Heating and Air
Andy Gaines, Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre, and Tricia Newton, Waterworks Atlanta, will be co-chairs for the 2026-2027 program year. Daniel Cummings, City of Marietta, and Rachel Rogers, Cobb Travel & Tourism, will be the vice co-chairs for the 2026-2027 program year. This year’s class theme is “Me | Us | We.”
The Leadership Cobb class of 2027’s Yearlong Presenting Sponsor is Kennesaw State University Coles College of Business MBA Programs; Legacy Sponsors, CDH Partners, Cobb Travel & Tourism, Accounting Consultants of Cobb, Mauldin & Jenkins, Johnson & Alday, Croy Engineering, and Genuine Parts Company; and Champion Sponsors, Corient, Brasfield & Gorrie, and Atlanta Braves. For more information about Leadership Cobb, contact Kai Lawrence at 770-859-2346 or [email protected].
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Butch Carter, owner of the Honest-1 Auto Care Center, was the 2025 East Cobb Citizen of the Year.
Submitted information:
The Cobb Chamber is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Citizen of the Year Awards. The Cobb Chamber, in partnership with cities, business associations and various civic partners throughout the community, come together each year to select and recognize outstanding, service-minded individuals across Cobb County. These citizens are chosen for their definable, exceptional deeds, with which he or she has made their community a better place to live.
These awards are presented as a part of the Cobb Chamber’s Area Council programs, and will be presented to individuals in Acworth, Austell, Cumberland, East Cobb, Kennesaw, Mableton, Marietta, Powder Springs, Smyrna, Town Center and West Cobb.
Nominations are now open through Friday, August 28 at https://tinyurl.com/mtexbjfj. Thank you Presenting Sponsor, Capital City Bank. For more information on the Citizen of the Year Awards, contact Katie Guice at 770-859-2334 or [email protected].
About the Cobb Chamber
At the Cobb Chamber, we believe in the power of ambition. Through our wealth of programming and partnerships, we unite the region’s most innovative, informed, and determined people so that they can achieve more. And through our advocacy and initiatives, we ensure that our county is a healthy place to do business. While our members span industry, background, and experience, we share a common desire: to see Cobb County flourish. For more information, visit www.cobbchamber.org.
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A new Big Frog custom t-shirt store opened recently in East Cobb at the Pavilions at East Lake Shopping Center (2100 Roswell Road, Suite 2186).
In lieu of a traditional ribbon-cutting, owners Ben and Lydia Olu-Harding launched a fundraising campaign to assist homeless students in the area.
The “Room for Everyone” campaign thus far has raised more than $2,000 out of a targeted goal of $10,000, through sales of t-shirts at the store.
Several hundred local students are homeless, according to the campaign, which will designate portions of shirt sales as proceeds for those students in the Wheeler High School community.
The Olu-Hardings are partnering with Grace Church Marietta and four local ministries—Family Promise, Simple Needs, The Table on Delk, and Garments of Grace.
Last weekend, they activated the campaign, and the shirt sale proceeds will continue through the end of June.
On their Facebook page, Lydia Olu-Harding said “this is why we chose Big Frog as our leap into small business ownership . . . Immediate community impact driven by our business. Proud and honored to join forces with Grace Marietta to make a difference right in our backyard.”
She also said that “if you are thinking you don’t really need another t-shirt but you want to support our cause, your shirt can be donated to Garments of Grace to help the same community that needs an extra hand.”
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Several signs are taped near the entrance bearing the messages we’ve heard in recent days from several readers: The LA Fitness gym at Merchants Exchange (4400 Roswell Road) is closing as of July 20.
There wasn’t a reason given for the closure, but the signs addressed to members said they can use any other LA Fitness location, and directed them to the Sprayberry Square location (2550 Sandy Plains Road).
There’s also an LA Fitness in East Cobb at 1453 Terrell Mill Road.
East Cobb News has left a message with LA Fitness seeking more information about the Merchants Exchange closing.
LA Fitness is the second major tenant to leave that retail center recently; Dance Stop Studios closed in May after being in business for more than 50 years, due to the owners’ retirement.
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Daniele Furfaro and his wife Bella have received a variety of honors in the three years they’re run Mezza Luna in East Cobb.
At the end of May, Mezza Luna owner Daniele Furfaro announced his restaurant at the Pavilions at East Lake Shopping Center will be changing names and getting a menu make-over as well.
What he had rebranded Mezza Luna Furfaro Italian Restaurant to distinguish it from the original Mezza Luna restaurant in Smyrna will soon be known as Trattoria Bella.
“We are changing names because we don’t want be confused about the other Mezza Luna,” Furfaro told East Cobb News. “And plus, we going to update the menu and bar drinks and decorate over the restaurant.”
The changes will take place gradually over the summer, and the restaurant (2100 Roswell Road, Suite 2198) is remaining open.
Bella Furfaro, who like her husband is a native of Italy, is the namesake of the rebrand, and she oversaw Mezza Luna’s recent dining room upgrade.
In an East Cobb Newssponsored post in February, Furfaro explained that he added his name to the restaurant because diners thought the two spots were still had the same owners. He was originally a partner in the East Cobb business before becoming its owner in 2023.
The Furfaros also have been busy moving their family, which includes two daughters, to East Cobb after living in Woodstock.
“Mezza Luna Pasta & Seafood remains your neighborhood Italian table in Marietta: handmade pastas, seafood, wine, cocktails, and service that makes dinner feel personal,” the restaurant noted on its website. “Trattoria Bella is the next chapter, carrying the same spirit into a refreshed experience” that is “a subtle rebrand inspired by the same family passion and a more elevated evening out.”
In May, Mezza Luna sponsored a table at the Taste of East Cobb for the first time, and won the Best Taste award.
Furfaro has been teasing to the rebrand with short videos on the restaurant’s new Facebook page, and on Thursday the soft opening continues with a five-course wine dinner, “An Evening of Coastal Elegance.”
New pop-up farmer’s markets
After more than three years of home delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables (we featured them here in 2022), an East Cobb produce business is giving shoppers a chance to enjoy a retail operation once again.
Holland Botanical, which delivers to the greater East Cobb area on Tuesdays for advance orders only, recently started a pop-up market on the weekends.
It takes place Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Jackie’s Fine Wine and Spirits (3140 Johnson Ferry Road), and during the week publishes the lineup of available items.
Holland Botanical originally began as a pop-up in the nearby Shallowford Falls Shopping Center, then switched to delivery only during COVID.
Coming this Friday, the Mabry Farm market opens daily from dawn to dusk (4480 Wesley Chapel Road), featuring blackberries, blueberries and apples grown on the premises. Later in the summer, they expect to have tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers avaiable.
Payment is via a cash deposit box at the top of the orchard, or by Venmo.
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Several months after its building was destroyed in a fire, the owners of the Chin Chin Chinese restaurant in East Cobb are in the process of relocating.
Chin Chin Chen Asian Fusion will be opening in the former Zaxby’s space at 3030 Johnson Ferry Road, near the Northeast Cobb YMCA and Walmart.
The premises is still being renovated, with a construction dumpster located near the front. There’s no further information available about when the restaurant will open; East Cobb News has left a message with Qing Yun Chen, the applicant for the relocated business.
According to Cobb County business license information, Chin Chin Chen applied for an alcohol license in April. Cobb property tax records also indicate that the building was purchased in February by Yung Heng LLC, an entity with an address the same as Chen’s.
Chin Chin had operated for nearly three decades in a building on Johnson Ferry Road near Parkaire Landing that caught fire last September and was severely damaged. An online fundraiser begun by Sabrina Gao, daughter of co-owner Jasmine Chen, raised several thousand dollars as the family vowed to rebuild.
Chicago’s closes
Not far from the Chin Chin Chen site another longstanding East Cobb restaurant has apparently closed for good.
Chicago’s Steaks and Seafood, which was open for more than 35 years in various locations, closed its doors on Saturday at the Shallowford Crossing Shopping Center (4401 Shallowford Road at Johnson Ferry).
Social media messages in recent weeks speculated about the closing, especially after Chicago’s received a failing health inspection in March, The restaurant later received a ‘B’ score on a follow-up, with ownership acknowledging the issues but saying they had all been addressed.
After that, Chicago’s regularly updated its social media channels to reflect menu changes and live music acts, but did not indicate anything about closing.
Its last Facebook post on May 23 promoted live entertainment. A message on Chicago’s Google listing indicates it’s closed temporarily, but there are no signs on the exterior of the restaurant.
East Cobb News has left multiple messages with Chicago’s management seeking information but has not received a response.
Chicago’s was a popular venue for upscale dining in East Cobb and with live entertainment and cocktails at a speakeasy lounge.
Ownership has changed hands twice since 2017, with the latest acquisition in 2022.
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The Wig Dr. Boutique and Mastectomy Center, an East Cobb business that provides wigs and related post-mastectomy care and services for cancer patients, is a recipient of an American Express “shop small” grant for small businesses.
The grants are for $20,000 and help businesses “grow, innovate and support their local communities,” according to an American Express release.
The grant program, done in conjunction with Main Street America, an economic development and historic preservation organization, is providing $10 million in grants to 250 small businesses to honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this summer.
The Wig Dr. (website) is owned by Dr. Erica Gamble, who said the grant will “help us expand our Mobile Confidence Care Unit, bringing wigs, mastectomy products, fittings, and compassionate care directly to underserved communities. For many clients facing cancer treatment, hair loss, or recovery after surgery, transportation and access can be major barriers. This investment will help us meet people where they are and provide meaningful support, education, and confidence-restoring care directly in their communities.”
She said that “our mission has always been about more than wigs or products. It’s about restoring dignity, confidence, and hope during some of the most vulnerable moments in a person’s life. Support from the Amex Shop Small Grants Program will allow us to deepen our impact across the community and continue showing women and families that they are seen, supported, and never alone in their journey.”
The Wig Dr. is located at 4939 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 202.
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At East Cobb News, storytelling is what we do. Every day for nearly nine years now, we have proudly told the stories that are important to East Cobb residents on a variety of subjects, to keep them updated on what’s happening in the community.
But our storytelling mission includes letting readers know about the small and local business owners in East Cobb who form the backbone of our community.
East Cobb’s a big place, and there’s a lot of competition for customers and clients in almost every kind of business.
There are also so many ways to get your message out, and it can be bewildering to sort it all out.
Business owners have to wear a lot of hats, and marketing their businesses can be a challenge.
At East Cobb News, we’d love to tell your story to East Cobb’s most engaged audience. We offer a variety of digital advertising products—display, newsletter and sponsored posts—that effectively and affordably tell your story.
If you want to let people know who you are, and distinguish yourself from the competition, hit the “yes” button below, fill in your e-mail address and we’ll get back to you promptly.
We’d love to hear your story, so we can tell it to the rest of East Cobb.
At East Cobb News, we want to help you tell your story and Discover the Power of Local!
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From L-R: Cobb Chamber President/CEO Sharon Mason; Proda Technology founder/CEO Marissa Maldonado and Cobb Chamber Chair Melissa Cantrell. Images from the Cobb Chamber Marquee Monday. (Photo: Mooreshots LLC)
Submitted information and photos:
The Cobb Chamber named Proda Technology the 2026 Small Business of the Year at its Small Business of the Year Awards Luncheon, presented by 1885 Grill and S.A. White Oil Company.
Proda Technology is a nationally recognized, cybersecurity-focused managed IT firm — serving organizations across the United States. They’ve grown from a small founding team to more than 35 professionals. From 2023 to 2025, Proda experienced revenue growth by 50 percent. Their charitable giving has nearly doubled over that same period.
Their growth has been driven by three core principles: Investing in exceptional people; continuously improving operations; and staying relentlessly focused on protecting the businesses and communities they serve.
As the Chamber’s 2026 Small Business of the Year, Proda Technology will compete in the state’s small business of the year competition.
Competitive Application and Selection Process
To be considered for the Top 25 Small Businesses of Year, each hopeful candidate submits an application to the Cobb Chamber. The applicants must prove an increase in sales or unit volume, provide examples of innovation, discuss adversity and challenges, and thoroughly detail their community involvement. Applications are analyzed and considered by a group of independent community business leaders and affiliates of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
After all of the submitted applications are judged and rated, five finalists are selected based on their numerical score. The five finalists are then put through a second step in the application process – a site visit by an independent panel of judges. The visit is meant to be a fresh, in-person opportunity to present the ideals, practices, values and day-to-day operations discussed in their initial application.
2026 Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year
The Cobb Chamber honored the following Top 25 Small Businesses at the 2026 Small Business of the Year Awards:
41 South Creative
InfoTank
The Butcher on Whitlock
Johnson & Alday, LLC
Clementine Creative Agency
kirpop
CMIT Solutions of Atlanta Southern Crescent & Atlanta Northwest
Manay CPA Inc
DeNyse Companies
Modo Modo Agency LLC
DynamiX Web Design, LLC
The Music Studio Atlanta
Eclipse Networks
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Essayon Construction Group
Perfect Image
Essex Consulting LLC
Proda Technology, LLC
FruiTea Bubbles Café
Riverside EpiCenter, LLC
Gaston Street Eats Co.
Summit Heating and Air
Georgia Roof Advisors
Warner Fuller Consulting
Gillis Law Firm, LLC
2026 Business to Watch
In order to recognize the impressive accomplishments of many new Cobb businesses, the Cobb Chamber expanded its Small Business of the Year program to include the Businesses to Watch awards presentation. These are businesses that were launched less than three years ago and have already achieved substantial growth. Esteem Dental Studio was named the 2026 Business to Watch.
Minority-Owned Business of the Year
The 2026 Minority-Owned Business of the Year was awarded to Essex Consulting LLC. The award recognizes a small business that has attained outstanding business achievements and exemplifies the significant contributions made by minority-owned businesses in the country.
Woman-Owned Business of the Year
The 2026 Woman-Owned Business of the Year award recognizes a small business that has attained outstanding business achievement and exemplifies the significant contributions made by women-owned businesses in the country. The 2026 award was awarded to Manay CPA Inc.
Veteran-Owned Business of the Year
The 2026 Veteran-Owned Business of the Year award recognizes a small business that has attained outstanding business achievement and exemplifies the significant contributions made by veteran-owned businesses in the country. The 2026 award was awarded to Essayon Construction Group.
Family-Owned Business of the Year
The 2026 Family-Owned Business of the Year award recognizes a family-owned business owner for excellence in leadership and achievement. The 2026 award was awarded to DeNyse Companies.
Small Business Hall of Fame
The 2025 Small Business of the Year, 1885 Grill, was also honored during the awards program. The reigning small business of the year is inducted into the Small Business Hall of Fame, which includes all county and state winners of the Small Business of the Year award from Cobb County since 1982.
Community Service Excellence Award Winner
The Community Service Excellence Award is presented to a small business that has made a significant contribution to its community through impactful works of service. Modo Modo Agency LLC was awarded the 2026 award.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
During June and July, family-friendly movies will be shown for free at the plaza at Avenue East Cobb.
The movies will be shown starting at 6 p.m., rain or shine.
A few rules of the road that Avenue management has asked people to keep in mind:
We kindly ask that guests refrain from touching the screen or stepping onto the stage during the film. Failure to comply with this rule will result in being asked to leave The Plaza.
Movie showings are free for all guests & seating is open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. Guests are encouraged to bring extra chairs & blankets.
No outside food or beverage is permitted, but takeout from our onsite restaurants is encouraged. Click HERE to view our on-site dining options.
Movie Schedule:
Thursday, June 4th: Wicked (2024)
Thursday, June 11th: Wizard of Oz (1939)
Thursday, June 18th: Beauty and The Beast (1991)
Thursday, June 25th : Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Thursday, July 2nd: Shrek (2001)
Thursday, July 9th: Cars (2006)
Thursday, July 16th: The Little Mermaid (1989)
Thursday, July 23rd: Tangled (2010)
Thursday, July 30th: The Princess and The Frog (2009)
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
The U.S. Small Business Administration has declared the week of May 3-9 to be National Small Business Week across the country.
As a small business, East Cobb News encourages readers to patronize their favorite local businesses, especially those that are locally owned and operated, and are independent businesses to boot.
The SBA estimates that there are more than 36 million small businesses (50 employees or less) in the U.S., which is more than 99 percent of all companies.
Those small businesses employ more than 62 million people, nearly half of all private-sector workers, and generate 43 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
In East Cobb small businesses make up the backbone of our local economy, from service providers to restaurants to home repair and landscaping businesses and more.
During this week, take some time to support your favorite local small businesses. Next week the Cobb Chamber of Commerce will honor its 2026 small businesses of the year.
And if you’d like to support the only daily news source in East Cobb that brings you all the local news that you love, you can provide your financial support today to East Cobb News.
While we bring you the news without a paywall, we do appreciate reader donations that are totally voluntary. For more information and to set up your donation, click here.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
The Cobb Chamber Marquee Monday series continues on Monday, May 11 at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre with the 2026 Small Business of the Year Awards. The luncheon will celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions of Cobb’s top small businesses.
During the program, we will recognize the:
2026 Small Business of the Year- announced at the event
2026 Hall of Fame Inductee, 1885 Grill
Business to Watch Winner, Esteem Dental Studio
Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year
Woman-Owned Business Award Winner- announced at the event
Minority-Owned Business Award Winner- announced at the event
Veteran-Owned Business Award Winner- announced at the event
Community Service of Excellence Award Winner- announced at the event
Registration is now open through Wednesday, May 6. Doors open at 11:15 a.m., with the program starting at noon and concluding by 1:15 am. Tickets are $50 for Cobb Chamber members and $75 for non-members. Attendees may register for the event at https://tinyurl.com/56uebadv. Parking is available at The Battery Red Deck for free up to two hours. For further parking options, please refer to the Battery Atlanta Parking Guide. A security screening will be required at check-in.
The Marquee Monday Series is presented by Superior Plumbing, Three-13 Salon Spa & Boutique, Verizon, Coca-Cola Roxy & Live Nation Special Events, Delaware North, Pure Melon, and Classic Tents & Events. The Small Business of the Year Awards are sponsored by 1885 Grill, S.A. White Oil Company, CDH Partners, Pickleball Kingdom South Cobb, Comcast, KSU Small Business Development Center, Eclipse Networks, Genuine Parts Company, VyStar Credit Union, Kennesaw State University’s Family Enterprise Center, 524 Creative, Manay CPA, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Banking Company, Cobb County Economic Development, Delta Community Credit Union, CROFT & Associates, BrillantBox, Preferred Personnel, Renasant Bank, and Johnson & Alday.
For more information about the Marquee Monday event series or the Small Business of the Year Awards, contact Jani Dix at [email protected]or 770-859-2335.
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Bravo Company Roofing, a veteran-owned residential roofing company headquartered in Acworth, has announced the opening of its second location at 4343 Shallowford Road, Building 100, Suite 181, Marietta, GA 30062. To mark the expansion and give back to the community it serves, the company is launching a search for a local veteran, or the widow or widower of a veteran, who is in need of a full roof replacement or significant roof repairs — at no cost to the recipient.
The new Marietta office expands Bravo Company Roofing’s footprint across Cobb County and the greater northwest metro Atlanta region, strengthening service to homeowners in Marietta, Kennesaw, Acworth, Woodstock, Roswell, Alpharetta, Cartersville, and Dallas. The company specializes in architectural asphalt shingle roof replacements and repairs, gutter installation, and free drone-based roof inspections — a safer, more accurate way to assess storm, wind, and hail damage without walking the roof.
Operation Home Cover: Memorial Day 2026 Roof Giveaway
Through the program, Bravo Company Roofing will donate labor and materials for either a full architectural asphalt shingle roof replacement or, depending on the scope and condition, a combination of significant repairs for the selected recipient(s). Eligible candidates include veterans of any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as surviving spouses of veterans, who own and occupy a home within the company’s service area and who are in genuine need.
Nominations are open to the public. Friends, family members, neighbors, churches, veterans’ organizations, and first responders are all encouraged to nominate a deserving homeowner. Self-nominations are also welcome. Nominations can be submitted at https://bravoroof.com/heroes and will be accepted through Friday, May 15, 2026. The recipient will be announced on or around Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026, with the roof work scheduled in the weeks that follow.
“When we looked at where to put down our second set of roots, Marietta was the obvious answer — we already take care of families all over Cobb County, and opening here lets us respond faster when a homeowner calls,” said Wes McClure, Owner of Bravo Company Roofing. “But a new location isn’t just about business. A lot of the homeowners we meet have spent their lives serving the rest of us — veterans and the spouses who stood behind them. Giving one of those families a safe, dry roof over their head is the right way to say thank you and the right way to introduce ourselves to our new neighbors.”
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Dr. Melissa Wikoff, founder of Peachtree Hearing, has beenawarded the prestigious designation of Distinguished Fellow of the American Academyof Audiology (DFAAA) through the James F. Jerger Program of Distinction, one of the highest honors in the field of audiology.
The DFAAA designation recognizes audiologists who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, sustained contributions, and a meaningful impact on the profession beyond their clinical practice. Recipients are selected by a national review committee for theirexcellence across multiple areas, including leadership, clinical expertise, and community outreach.
Dr. Wikoff’s work has focused on advancing tinnitus care, expanding access to hearing healthcare, and community service. She has served in national leadership roles, including two terms on the Board of Directors of the American Tinnitus Association, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Audiology Practice Standards Organization. She currently serves locally on the board of directors at City Springs Theatre Company.
“I am incredibly honored to receive this recognition,” said Dr. Wikoff. “This profession has given me the opportunity to change lives every single day. My passion for audiology began at a young age after watching my grandfathers, both World War II veterans, struggle with hearing loss and miss out on meaningful moments with their families. That experience has stayed with me and continues to drive my commitment to ensuring that no patient feels that same sense of isolation.”
Through her private practice, Peachtree Hearing, Dr. Wikoff has become a recognized leader in tinnitus treatment and hearing healthcare. Her work extends beyond the clinic through national education initiatives, international collaboration, and extensive community outreach.
Among her most impactful efforts is a program she founded to provide hearing aids and ongoing care to Holocaust survivors in the Atlanta community, along with accessibility initiatives such as open-caption movie events, theater accessibility advocacy, and public education campaigns on hearing health.
The Distinguished Fellow designation reflects not only Dr. Wikoff’s professional accomplishments, but also her ongoing commitment to elevating the standards of care within audiology and improving the lives of those with hearing loss.
Dr. Wikoff will be formally recognized at the American Academy of Audiology Annual Convention.
Send Us Your News!
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Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go
The long-awaited Tenku Sushi restaurant at Avenue at East Cobb is closer to opening its doors.
Jamestown, the retail center’s management company, announced Monday that the grand opening has been set for Tuesday, April 28.
The Japanese restaurant, officially known as Tenku Sushi Elevation (for the rooftop bar that it features) is the second Tenku Sushi, following the original location in Woodstock, and will occupy one of the Avenue East Cobb’s “jewel box” standalone spaces.
It includes 2,500 square feet of space with a main seating area, sushi counter and the rooftop bar.
The menu “highlights fresh fish sourced directly from Japan and premium Japanese wagyu, alongside expertly crafted nigiri and sashimi, signature rolls, robata grills, and curated omakase offerings,” according to a company release.
More details about the Avenue Tenku Sushi location and its menu, can be found at this link.
On Friday Tenku Sushi had its initial inspection from Cobb and Douglas Public health and received a score of 100.
The redevelopment of Avenue included two “jewel box” spaces aimed at restaurant space. The first jewel box was occupied mostly by Press Waffle Co., which closed in February. A smaller portion of that space is occupied by the L’Occitane en Provence beauty store.
Tenku Sushi’s opening hours will be Monday-Thursday from 12-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday from 12-10:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Tenku Sushi is located at 4475 Roswell Road, Suite 1900. For information call 770-575-0873 or e-mail: [email protected].
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
The future of early childhood education in East Cobb took a major step forward today as Celebree School of Marietta at Shallowford officially broke ground at its new location, 3930 Shallowford Road.
The celebratory event brought together community leaders, educators, family, and friends to mark the beginning of construction on a school designed to provide a nurturing, family-focused learning environment for young children. Representatives from the Cobb Chamber of Commerce—including Elizabeth Colletti, Jesus Martinez, Kimberly Harmon, and Alex Reed—were in attendance, alongside Celebree School leadership, CEO Richie Huffman and COO Allison Tsomos.
The Marietta location is owned and operated by Jyoti and Rajesh Solanki, marking their first Celebree School franchise. For Jyoti Solanki, the milestone represents the realization of a lifelong dream rooted in her years of experience as an early childhood educator.
“It has always been my dream to open a school that feels like family, where I can bring my passion for educating young people and know that we are helping grow people big and small,” said Jyoti Solanki.
Jyoti, who spent over a decade as a Pre-K teacher, was joined at the event by former students ranging from elementary through high school, as well as former colleagues, directors, and mentors who have been part of her educational journey. Their presence underscored the lasting impact of her work in the classroom and the strong community ties that will help shape the new school.
Set to open in July 2026, Celebree School of Marietta at Shallowford will offer programs for children from as young as six weeks old through Pre-K, with a focus on comprehensive early childhood development in a safe, engaging, and supportive environment.
Enrollment is now open, with special incentives available for the school’s first 50 “Founding Families.” These include a scholarship for the first 12 months, one complimentary week of vacation, and additional exclusive gifts and bonuses.
Celebree School is known for its commitment to fostering a sense of belonging, education, and personal growth among its students. The Marietta location aims to continue that tradition while serving families throughout the East Cobb community.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go
On Tuesday a Kroger store in East Cobb will be the venue for the launch of a celebrity food product, and with two of the leading TV stars of the 1970s on hand.
Patrick Duffy and Linda Purl will appear at the Kroger at MarketPlace Terrell Mill (1310 Powers Ferry Road) on Tuesday for a meet-and-greet with customers as Duffy’s Dough, an exclusive line of bake-at-home artisan breads, is launched.
The event is from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, with 100 percent of profits from sales of Duffy’s Dough that day supporting hunger relief. Kroger also will make a donation to Meals on Wheels Atlanta.
Duffy and Purl, who are now in their 70s, have been a couple since 2020. He was famous for his role in “Dallas,” and she was a regular on “Happy Days” and “Matlock.”
The Duffy’s Dough recipe comes from a neighbor of Duffy’s mother, who devised an “unadulterated sourdough starter passed down by the original Alaska Gold Rush miners,” according to a release from Kroger.
“The variety of breads made from that starter has graced Duffy tables ever since, bringing the family together through the simple, shared joy of baking.”
Those varieties include Sourdough Loaf, Multigrain Sourdough Loaf, Artisan Sandwich Roll, French Dinner Roll, and Sourdough Demi Baguette.
“Duffy’s Dough is a family legacy that lives on in every recipe for customers to enjoy at the dinner table,” Duffy and Purl said in a joint statement. “This collaboration with Kroger on our shared mission will give a window of hope to nourish families across the country as we work to end hunger.”
Among the organizations working with Duffy’s Dough include No Kid Hungry and Meals on Wheels America
The first 100 customers on Tuesday will receive a Duffy’s Dough product and a $25 gift card.
Duffy’s Dough products are on sale at Kroger stores in Georgia, East Alabama, and South Carolina.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go
Patients and clients won’t notice any changes, the but ownership of Northside Hospital’s East Cobb Medical Center is changing hands.
Stonemont, an Atlanta real estate investment firm specializing in healthcare real estate and industrial development, has purchased the 103,184-square-foot medical office building on Johnson Ferry Road at Olde Towne Parkway.
The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported that Stonemont secured a $32.5 million loan from Webster Bank to complete the acquisition from Northside, which opened the facility in 2018 on land that had been the Fountains at Olde Towne Shopping Center.
The four-story building houses Northside’s Imaging, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Primary Care and Urgent Care providers, Dermatology and Surgery Associates, East Cobb Spine and Sport Chiropractic and other physician specialty practices.
The building, which has a 400-space parking lot, is 100 percent leased.
According to Cobb property tax records, the total appraised value of the building and property, which covers more than 12 acres, is around $34 million.
“Our collaboration with Northside Hospital reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to healthcare throughout the region,” said Matt Stone, President of Stonemont’s Healthcare Real Estate division, in a statement.
“East Cobb Medical Center is an exceptional facility in a thriving community, and we’re pleased to add it to our growing healthcare platform.”
Stonemont invests in major healthcare complexes across the country, and a company release said its healthcare portfolio exceeds $375 million.
In Cobb County, Stonemont owns the Atlanta Riverview commercial development in Mableton, which includes 216,400 square feet of space.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go
