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.
ECBA After Hours Networking
The East Cobb Business Association is holding its June After Hours Networking Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at Langley Family Chiropractic (4994 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 4).
Light refreshments will be served and each attendee will receive a complimentary new patient gift certificate that includes a consultation, nervous system and spine examination and x-rays.
The cost is $5 for members in advance and $10 at the door, and for non-members $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
The Cobb County Business Bootcamp invites all entrepreneurs to its Mix & Mingle, networking group. The next event is Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Marietta Melt Yard, 800 Whitlock Avenue (details here). Here’s more about how the events work:
“Whether you’re an established small business owner looking to grow your business or a new entrepreneur with a dream to build your business up, this event was created for you. Join other Cobb County entrepreneurs in this interactive group where you’ll get an opportunity to share more about your business and discuss partnerships and growth strategies. This group is open to anyone, including CCBB members and non-members, with no registration required.
“Our group runs on a modified version of the open networking format, so please be ready to share more about your business goals and ideal clients, while also presenting your 60-second elevator pitch and bring plenty of business cards to pass around! “
Future networking events are July 27, Aug. 24, Sept. 28. More details can be found here.
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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)
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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.
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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!
Let East Cobb News know what’s going on with your organization, or about any recognitions, to share with the community. We love to get photos and stories like the above, as well as calendar event listings and more.
We want to be the go-to source for all the many ways people in East Cobb are involved in the community.
It’s what we call The Power of Local, and we’d love for you to take part!
Pass along your details/photos/videos/information to: [email protected], and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
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Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.
Thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to hearing from you!
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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].
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Planet Fitness at East Cobb Station will be getting some new tenant neighbors soon as the retail center takes shape again.
For more than 65 years, a shopping center on Roswell Road near the Big Chicken has served as a retail gateway of sorts in East Cobb.
When it opened in 1958, the sprawling facility was called Town and Country Shopping Center. East Cobb wasn’t even a place name then, but a mostly rural area east of the City of Marietta that was beginning to sprout with suburban development.
The place names denoted that too: East Side Elementary School, Eastvalley Elementary School, Eastside Baptist Church, etc. This was the east side of Marietta, which was the absolute hub of Cobb County.
When our family moved to the “east side” in the early 1970s, Town and Country was as busy as the shopping malls that would soon replace it. After living way up in the Canton Road corridor when I was in grade school, I thought we moved to a big city.
My mother, who hailed from a small town in the Midwest, loved Town and Country—there was a Woolworth (and later a Woolco) and a JCPenney and a Dunaway Drugs, where we could eat at the luncheonette if we kids behaved, a Kinney’s Shoes store, as well as a Kroger. Who needed Cumberland Mall when everything was just a couple miles away?
When I was in high school, I enjoyed matinee films at the cinema—less than $5 a ticket!—at Town and Country. Years later, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution had its Cobb bureau located there (during a time in which I worked at the AJC downtown).
Since then, as development and affluent shoppers moved further east, and as East Cobb became even urbanized in some areas, Town and Country fell out of favor.
It was was rebranded as East Cobb Station, to add some labeling prestige to an area that was going through substantial cultural, socioeconomical and generational change. Harry’s Farmers Market took a stab in the 1990s in opening a magnificent store nearby that drew shoppers from all over north Georgia.
In recent years, East Cobb Station has been practically empty, although a Planet Fitness and a few other stores have moved in. It’s been a relatively lonely setting for the gym franchise, which has hung on in spite of the odds that the area, much less East Cobb Station, would mount the kind of recovery needed to sustain such a business.
But that slice of the East Marietta of my youth that has vanished to the wind of memories may be making something of a comeback.
Across Roswell Road at the Powers Ferry Road junction, the redevelopment of the former Harry’s site, with lots of housing, is underway. The Movie Studio Grill, which opened in 2017 as Harry’s closed, is banking on those prospects.
And Hendon Properties, an Atlanta commercial real estate firm that takes older properties and revamps them, is taking a chance at East Cobb Station too.
The firm bought the retail center in 2024, and announced recently that it’s adding some well-known names to its list of tenants. Anchored by a Lidl discount grocery store, East Cobb Station will include the return of Burlington Coat Factory, site of the Woolco and now the home of Andretti Indoor Karting & Games.
Also coming will be a Hibbett Sports store and a 7 Brews Coffee location.
Hendon’s track record has been a successful one, as it’s worked to overhaul properties in Brookhaven, Gwinnett County, Austell and Greenbriar Mall.
Elsewhere in East Cobb, Hendon has ushered in change at Sandy Plains Village, located at the county line with Roswell.
In-store retail has been a difficult transformation in this age of online and delivery sales (and now drones?), and big shopping centers have become massive casualties.
Reviving East Cobb Station won’t be an easy task. It’s more than 200,000 square feet of space that’s been so much of an eyesore, as eastbound vehicles pass by and stop instead at Avenue East Cobb, Merchants Walk and Parkaire Landing and others with more upscale options.
If the newest update of what had been Town and Country is to become a success, then the kinds of stores coming to East Cobb Station are encouraging; they appeal to shoppers of a variety of income levels, and for a variety of goods and services.
I’m rooting for that to happen, and if there’s a way to bring back the drug store luncheonette, it would be perfect!
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Bar 44, one of Marietta’s most recognizable restaurant and nightlife destinations, is stepping into the national spotlight following its feature on Paramount Network’s hit television series Bar Rescue, hosted by hospitality expert Jon Taffer.
The highly anticipated episode aired on Sunday, February 22, 2026, showcasing Bar 44’s journey through one of the most intense and transformative processes in the hospitality industry.
To celebrate this milestone moment, Bar 44 will host an official Watch Party and Live Event on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, inviting the community, supporters, and guests to experience the episode together in the very space where it all unfolded.
“We knew running a restaurant came with challenges, but this process exposed everything — the pressure, the stress, the personality clashes, and the tough conversations that usually happen behind closed doors,” said Gary Ellis, Co-Owner of Bar 44.
“When Jon Taffer showed up, there was no room for excuses. It was intense, it was uncomfortable at times, but it forced us to confront what wasn’t working if we wanted to survive and grow.”
“We are truly grateful for the opportunity for Bar 44 to be featured on Bar Rescue,” added Alade Aminu, Co-Owner of Bar 44.“The passion that Gary, Jon, myself, and our entire team have for this business was evident throughout the experience. While there were moments of tension in the beginning, they ultimately reflected a shared commitment to excellence. In the end, we were aligned in our mission — to deliver a quality establishment and an exceptional experience for our community and guests. I’m proud of what we accomplished.”
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A busy Publix grocery store in East Cobb will be closed for renovations starting later this month.
The Publix at Woodlawn Point Shopping Center at 1100 Johnson Ferry Road will be closed starting March 28, according to the Florida-based company.
The closure will continue for several months, and the renovations will include a complete overhaul of the interior and an expansion of the store’s space.
While there are signs greeting Publix shoppers near the entrance (see right), the company has not divulged details of the renovations.
East Cobb News has left multiple messages with Publix seeking more information.
The Publix store at Woodlawn Point anchors that retail center with nearly 56,000 square feet of space.
Its main Atlanta-area grocery rival, Kroger, is spending $23 million to renovate and expand its Parkaire Landing Shopping Center store that will remain open during the process.
The Kroger space will grow from 59,000 square feet to 85,000 square feet at Parkaire, less than a mile away from Woodlawn Point, and will include a fuel station.
Publix shoppers have several nearby alternatives during the Woodlawn Point closure, including a mile away at East Cobb Crossing (Roswell at Johnson Ferry Road), Piedmont Commons (Roswell at East Piedmont Road), Shallowford Corners (Shallowford Road at Childers Road) and Trowbridge Crossing (7525 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs).
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The empty space is where Kroger will be expanding, adjacent to the soon-to-be-reopened CycleBar. ECN photos.
The year-long Kroger renovations at Parkaire Landing Shopping Center are just getting started, and motorists will notice part of the parking lot has already been closed off.
It’s a section of the lot behind the Providence Dental Center outparcel on Johnson Ferry Road (formerly Engineered Smiles), and access is limited around that fenced-off area.
As we reported earlier this month, Kroger is investing $23 million to expand at Parkaire, and this has been the only East Cobb Kroger that doesn’t have a fuel station.
The store will grow from 59,000 square feet to 85,000 square feet—almost as large as the Kroger Superstore at Terrell Mill MarketPlace—and it will remain open during the renovations.
The key features of the expansion include an expanded produce department and an enlarged deli counter, a full-service Murray’s cheese counter and the addition of a sushi culinary kiosk.
Workers have torn down a section of parcels next to Kroger that will be added to the grocery store’s footprint. Those spaces included the former Tuesday Morning consignment shop.
The expansion will continue to CycleBar, a fitness center, which announced it was closing in early February. But in a social media message earlier this week, management said it was reopening, and it was offering free rides as part of its grand reopening March 27-29.
East Cobb News has left a message with CycleBar seeking more information.
Work on the future site of Kroger fuel center at Parkaire—right behind the Providence Denter Center—has begun.
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