The owner of Craig Automotive on Lower Roswell Road announced over the weekend that the business has closed, after 26 years.
A social media message written on behalf of owner Tom Craig said that he is retiring, and that a sale will be held this weekend for all of the garage equipment.
The shop specialized in repairs and maintenance for Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
“It is with a heavy heart we are closing the doors to Craig Automotive. With that being said we also say cheers and hello retirement!,” the message stated.
“What started as a small shop grew into much more than a business—it became a place built on trust, hard work, and relationships that I will always be grateful for. I’ve had the privilege of working on your first cars, your family vehicles, and sometimes even your kids’ cars years later. That kind of loyalty and connection is something I never took for granted.”
The equipment sale will take place Friday from 10-3 and Saturday from 9-2 at Craig Automotive (4750 Lower Roswell Road). The items include balancers, a hydraulic press, frion machine, a brake lathe, office equipment and more, and interested buyers are asked to bring cash.
“Thank you for trusting me with your vehicles, for your conversations in the shop, for your referrals, and for allowing me to do what I love right here in East Cobb for over two decades,” Tom Craig’s message continued.
“This community supported me through good times, tough times, and everything in between, and I am deeply thankful for every customer who walked through my doors. While I may be closing this chapter, the memories, friendships, and pride in the work we did here will stay with me forever.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you, East Cobb. It’s been an honor to serve you.”
There also will be a retirement party at the Craig Automotive location Friday, Jan. 16 from 4-7 p.m.
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!
Tropicups, a vegan bakery that features scratch items made with no egg, dairy or animal products, will be holding its grand opening on Saturday.
It’s located at 2525 Shallowford Road, Suite 100 (at Steinhauer Road), and the event is from 1-5 p.m. The festivities include free samples, prizes and gift cards and other activities.
The store also offers products without soy, nuts and glutens.
Tropicups is owned by Renee de Gannes Penn, who grew up in the Caribbean and with her family began a vegan lifestyle.
The shop features gourmet cakes and other desserts, including cupcakes, brownies, lemon blueberry bars and muffins.
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!
Cobb County is launching a limited-time amnesty period to help businesses operating in unincorporated Cobb come into compliance with county licensing requirements. Through Jan. 30, individuals and businesses engaged in commerce within unincorporated Cobb County can obtain a 2026 Occupation Tax Certificate — commonly known as a business license — without incurring back taxes, penalties, or interest.
The Board of Commissioners approved the amnesty period to support local businesses and ensure that all entities doing business in the county are properly registered. This requirement applies to independent businesses and county vendors providing goods or services under county contracts.
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!
A few days after its sister, Giulia Italian Bakery, opened at Avenue East Cobb, Luga Italian Eatery has opened its doors.
It’s in the former Drift space (4,400 square feet) and is serving dinner only this week, from 5-10 p.m. Starting Monday, Luga will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
Operated by brothers Ben and Seth Gjuka, Luga features a one-page seasonal menu of antipasti, salads, Roma-style pizzas, and house-made pastas.
Giulia opened on Friday and is the second such-named bakery opened by the Gjuka brothers, following the original Peachtree Corners location. Specialty coffees and teas, Italian bakery items, sandwiches, pizzas and foccacias are on the menu.
Giulia is open at Avenue East Cobb daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Gjurkas began in the restaurant industry as teenagers in Europe, primarily in Italy. After settling in the Atlanta area, they began their own food ventures in outlying Peachtree City and Newnan, where they have been living.
They started Positano Pizza Napoletana in both of those suburban areas, and there is a third location in Mableton.
There’s not an opening date set yet for another forthcoming restaurant at Avenue. Tenku Sushi Elevation will be opening in one of the new “jewel box” buildings that was part of Avenue East Cobb’s recent redevelopment.
Tenku’s first restaurant, in Woodstock, offers a variety of Japanese dishes that include nigiri and sashimi, signature rolls, robata grills, omakase, and flame-seared marinated octopus.
The Avenue East Cobb location will have a rooftop bar.
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!
Another Cobb County location for Whataburger will open in East Cobb next Monday.
The Texas-based hamburger chain announced that the restaurant will open on Monday, Dec. 1, at 9 a.m. at 3550 Sandy Plains Road.
That’s in the former O’Charley’s space, and Whataburger will be open 24/7, 364 days a year, serving breakfast items from 11 p.m. to 11 a.m. daily.
The only day of the year it’s closed? Christmas Day.
The first 100 customers on opening day will get free Whataburger swag bags and either a free Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit or Breakfast Taquito (both available till 11 a.m.)
It’s been a little more than a year since Cobb commissioners approved a site plan change for Whataburger, which also has a location on Cobb Parkway in Akers Mill Square that opened in July.
Whataburger also has two locations near Town Center and KSU and just over the Cobb line in Woodstock and in Roswell.
Whataburger has been converting the former O’Charley’s building into a 7,000-square-foot fast-food restaurant with double drive-through service.
Stipulations approved for the O’Charley’s rezoning in 1999 included restrictions against those uses.
“Since that time, the world has become a different place,” said Kevin Moore, an attorney for Whataburger, explaining back in August 2024 about a built-up corridor with several commercial and retail complexes.
O’Charley’s closed in 2023 on former Gordy Family land that is subject to an architectural control committee, which approved landscaping before county commissioners formally signed off on the Whataburger property conversion.
“Instead of a dark O’Charley’s, we have a brand new Whataburger.”
Whataburger also had plans to open in Vinings but withdrew a rezoning request this fall after community opposition arose.
That wasn’t the case with the East Cobb location, situated on a busy outparcel at Sandy Plains and Shallowford Road.
“We’re so proud to be the team introducing Whataburger’s bold, fresh flavors to the people of Marietta,” Whataburger Operating Partner Jeffrey Bollman said in a company release.
“No more trekking to Buford or Alpharetta. You can get your Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits, Bacon & Cheese Whataburgers and Dr Pepper shakes, right here at 3550 Sandy Plains Road NE. We made this Whataburger restaurant for you, just like we make every order exactly the way you like it.”
The East Cobb Whataburger will have 85 local employees the company calls “family members.”
In addition to drive-through and dining room service there also will be curbside pickup and delivery via the Whataburger Appand Whataburger.com.
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!
Michael Paris, his wife Kim (in black blazer) and their family at Indian Hills Country Club. Photo courtesy of Cobb Chamber.
Submitted information and photo:
The Cobb Chamber’s East Cobb Area Council has selected Michael Paris, President and CEO of the Council for Quality Growth,as its 2025 Citizen of the Year. The Citizen of the Year Awards are given to honor an individual whose impact through the years will be recognized and regarded with pride throughout the area as a role model. These outstanding citizens are chosen for their definable, exceptional deeds, with which he or she has made their community a better place to live. Awards are given based on local area nominations. The 2025 East Cobb Citizen of the Year award was presented at the East Cobb Area Council breakfast at Indian Hills Country Club.
2025 East Cobb Citizen of the Year
Michael Paris, President & CEO, Council for Quality Growth
Michael Paris, a Cobb County native, took the helm at the Council for Quality Growth in late 2003 and has worked to expand the Council and to spread its mission of promoting balanced and responsible growth throughout the metro region and the state. Paris’ steady leadership, quiet influence, and deep commitment have shaped nearly every part of the East Cobb community.
Paris is involved in numerous community and professional activities. His affiliations include the Board of Directors for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, as well as volunteering for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, the Cobb County Planning Commission, and The Extension. He is a member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, the Urban Land Institute, an Association Member of the Board of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors, and a graduate of both Leadership Cobb and Regional Leadership Institute.
For more than three decades, Paris has been a driving force behind the growth and impact of the YMCA in Cobb County, helping establish new branches, strengthen vital programs, and ensure thousands of families have access to opportunities that enrich their lives. Recently, Paris served on The Extension’s Capital Campaign Committee, raising funds for the 2023 addition of their 56-bed men’s dormitory. Tyler Driver, Executive Director of The Extension, said “He helped the organization raise $7,000,000 in record time so we can serve more people. In the process, the trajectory of the families he has touched is forever changed. They have opportunities they never felt possible because he believed they deserved their best future too.” Throughout his years in Cobb, Paris has consistently put service above self in all he does, dedicating himself to helping improve the quality of life in East Cobb.
For more information about Area Councils, contact Katie Guice at kguice@cobbchamber.org or 770-859-2334. Thank you to Series Presenting Sponsor, Kaiser Permanente, Program Sponsor, Cobb Community Foundation, and Citizen of the Year Award Sponsor, Capital City Bank.
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!
We’ve had a message in for a couple weeks about this, and just got confirmation today about two long-awaited twin Italian-themed restaurants/eateries at Avenue East Cobb:
“This Friday, Giulia, an authentic Italian bakery and patisserie, opens at East Cobb’s favorite gathering spot, building on the success of its first location at The Forum Peachtree Corners. Known for its commitment to natural, high-quality ingredients, Giulia serves signature pastries such as delicate croissants and savory sandwiches alongside expertly crafted coffee drinks from bold espressos and smooth macchiatos to frothy cappuccinos. The 900-square-foot space is nestled between Barre3 and Luga, the owners’ forthcoming Italian restaurant.
“Following Giulia’s debut, the Gjuka brothers will introduce their newest concept, Luga, opening to the public on November 24. Spanning 4,400 square feet, the Italian restaurant pairs casual elegance with layered textures, natural materials, and lush botanicals to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Its seasonal menu showcases fresh antipasti, crisp salads, Roma-style pizzas, and house-made pastas – each crafted with the same dedication to quality that defines the brothers’ culinary approach.”
That message came from Jamestown, Avenue’s property manager. It’s been a little more than a year since the Gjuka brothers announced they would be occupying the former Drift space with accompanying concepts.
Giulia’s hours are daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., similar to the Peachtree Corners location.
There’s not an opening date set yet for another forthcoming restaurant at Avenue. Tenku Sushi Elevation will be opening in one of the new “jewel box” buildings that was part of Avenue East Cobb’s recent redevelopment.
Tenku’s first restaurant, in Woodstock, offers a variety of Japanese dishes that include nigiri and sashimi, signature rolls, robata grills, omakase, and flame-seared marinated octopus.
The Avenue East Cobb location will have a rooftop bar.
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!
Following up a story from late September about a firethat swept through a small East Cobb retail center, and as the clean-up process continues:
The Bookmiser bookstore is in the process of moving books, shelves and other items from the store at Village East center (3822 Roswell Road) for a temporary relocation.
That’s needed so fire remediation can take place, and owner Anell Gerson, her staff and others have been packing up.
A special 50 percent off sale for used and new books continues from 12-5 Sunday, and all sales are final. Bookmiser also is not doing any trades or taking any book donations for the time being.
Here’s what Gerson shared last weekend about what will happen after that:
“At some point, we will have to vacate the premises (as does every tenant in the center), and your volunteer help will get us closer to shopping center remediation and ultimately our return to full business.
“Empty boxes are waiting to be filled up. There will be a limited number of shifts per day, and they will fill up quickly. So if you miss out on this opportunity, we promise there will be more help needed either before our final departure, or upon our return and unpacking.”
The fire broke out at the Owl computer repair shop next door, and Bookmiser sustained extensive smoke and soot damage.
The other businesses facing Roswell Road also have had to close, and have had differing and sporadic operating hours.
They include the 348 Studio fitness center, a Chopstix Chinese restaurant, an upholstery store, a wax studio and nail salon.
There is one business at Village East that has remained open, and that’s the Stitched store around back, and down the hill. It’s a fabric and gift store that opened earlier this year, and the fire did some minor smoke damage.
But it is open during regular hours, and has been holding some Bookmiser events since the fire.
In the meantime, Gerson is asking Bookmiser customers to continue supporting the store in other ways:
Need a book? Email us at realbookmiser2@gmail.comor call 770-509-5611. We’ll check if we have it, if it’s in sellable condition, or if we can order it for you.
Shop online: Through our Bookshop.org storefront, you can order new books delivered straight to your doorstep. Prefer audiobooks? Visit our Libro.fm store for digital listening.
Gerson opened Bookmiser in 1998 in space on Sandy Plains Road near Woodstock Road, then opened at second location in East Cobb at the present location on Roswell Road. The original location closed in 2018.
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!
Town Center Community held its fourth annual State of the District at the Governors Gun Club in Town Center, Ga. on Oct. 28. The event, hosted by Town Center’s Community Improvement District (CID) and its non-profit placemaking partner, the Alliance, brought together industry leaders, community members and key stakeholders to discuss the district’s 2026 vision and celebrate the winners of the 2025 Townie Awards.
This year’s program explored how the strategic reinvention of retail and commercial properties can strengthen neighborhoods, drive innovation and foster more resilient, inclusive communities. Key topics included the role of partnership and collaboration in redevelopment, how underutilized large-scale properties can become transformational assets, and national and regional trends in placemaking, mixed-use, and adaptive reuse.
2025 Townie Award Honorees
This year’s awards program honored leaders who have been a part of Town Center Community’s rich history and have made significant contributions to Town Center’s success, including:
Townie Award Honorees
Town Center Champion – Cobb County Precinct Commander Major W.A. Mitchell and his team of officers at Precinct 1
Commercial Champion – Ecologie Vintage
“Our event this year underscores the importance of redevelopment for the long-term success of our community,” said Tracy Styf, executive director of the Town Center Community Improvement District. “As we look to the year ahead, we’re eager to position the district as a regional destination for mixed-use development and look forward to working with all partners to make our vision a reality.”
Highlights of this year’s program included a fireside chat featuring Ellen Dunham-Jones, professor and director of the Urban Design Program at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Sarah Nurmela, Mayor Pro Tem from the City of Westminster, Colorado, and director of planning and development for the Town of Erie, Colorado, along with a community update from Tracy Styf.“Town Center proves what’s possible when collaboration meets commitment.
As we move into 2026, updating our Master Plan will be a key step in shaping how we grow and thrive over the next decade, ensuring Town Center continues to evolve as a place where people want to live, work and connect,” noted Britt Fleck, vice chair of the CID board of directors.
During the event, Town Center Community announced more than $130,000 has been raised for the Lanie Ship Hoover Fund, which supports future trail, park, and greenspace projects in the Town Center area.
This year’s Presenting Sponsor was:
Kennesaw State University
This year’s Gold Sponsors included:
Capital City Public Affairs
Council for Quality Growth
Croy Engineering
Kimley Horn
Son & Son’s
This year’s Silver Sponsors included:
Brightview Landscapes
Cobb Chamber
Cooper Carry
Croft & Associates
Dentons
Denyse
LGE Credit Union
Pond & Company
Rainey & Vaughan LLC
Vulcan Materials Company
About the Town Center Community
Town Center Community is comprised of the Town Center Community Improvement District (CID) and its nonprofit partner, the Town Center Community Alliance.
The Town Center CID, established in 1997, is focused on safety, beautification, economic growth, and infrastructure improvements within the district. For larger infrastructure projects, the CID leverages its funding to complete the critical first steps like planning, studies, and initial concept design that make projects more competitive for federal, state, and local funding.
Established in 2015, the Town Center Community Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on bringing quality-of-life improvements and programs to the Town Center Community. The Alliance is run by a board of directors and relies on donations from the public, community partners, corporate sponsors, and the Town Center CID to fully fund and develop projects and programs. From public art and aesthetic fixtures to small parks and bikeshare, the Alliance helps attract businesses and residents to the area, boost economic development and shape a sense of community.
Together, the Town Center CID and the Alliance work to make Town Center Community one of the most accessible, prosperous and exciting areas in Metro Atlanta.
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-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority has announced a new name for Georgia’s premier mid-size convention venue for tradeshows, meetings and special events: Cobb Convention Center-Atlanta.
Formerly Cobb Galleria Centre, the venue is rebranding in the midst of a transformational, $190 million renovation and expansion project. The expansion is scheduled to be completed in early 2027.
‘While the Galleria name served us well for more than 30 years, we feel this new name better reflects our location and purpose,” said Jerry Nix, Chairman of the Authority, owner and operator of the convention center. “As we modernize to better serve our customers and guests, our name has been updated as well.”
By incorporating both Cobb and Atlanta into the new name, the Center will clarify its geographic identity as a prominent landmark in Cobb but also a premier venue for visitors who identify with the Atlanta location. This clarity in market positioning also extends to adding the word convention into the name, which clearly identifies the venue’s primary function of hosting conventions, trade shows and large-scale events.
The renovation and expansion will happen in phases. While the convention center is currently closed, it will reopen for business in January 2026 in the exhibit halls and ballroom.
Cobb Convention Center will be open throughout 2026 and will continue to host trade shows, expos, meetings, conventions and social events in the exhibit halls and ballroom. The expansion project will continue until early 2027.
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!
Interested in becoming a vendor with Cobb County? If so, you don’t want to miss the upcoming free seminar, How to do Business with Cobb County Government and Cobb County Schools, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Cobb Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta. Registration is required as seats are limited.
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!
Cobb Travel & Tourism’s annual Cobb Foodie Week saw record-breaking participation and engagement this year, celebrating the county’s diverse culinary scene. Held September 6-13, the event achieved impressive year-over-year growth across nearly every category, reflecting the community’s growing appetite for local dining experiences.
This year’s event featured 72 participating restaurants, marking a 26% increase from 2024, and offered 75 exclusive meal deals – a 32% jump from last year. Participants went above and beyond with 1,832 digital pass sign-ups (up 73% from last year) and 300 meal deal redemptions throughout the week.
“Cobb Foodie Week continues to highlight the incredible talent and creativity within our restaurant community,” said Holly Quinlan, President & CEO of Cobb Travel & Tourism. “Each year, we see more residents and visitors engaging with the event, both in person and online, which speaks to how strongly people connect with Cobb’s culinary experiences.”
Cobb Foodie Week has become a signature celebration for food enthusiasts and local chefs alike, offering an opportunity for diners to discover new favorites while supporting the county’s thriving culinary scene.
For more information about Cobb Foodie Week and other upcoming events, visit CobbFoodieWeek.com or follow @TravelCobb on social media.
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 East Cobb Business Association, in conjunction with the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and the Cobb County Public Safety Foundation, is asking for donations for its 13th annual Public Safety Appreciation Celebration.
It’s an evening in which officers and staff of Cobb Police Precinct 4 and their spouses enjoy food, entertainment and relaxation. The festivities include gift cards and other items to be given away.
The ECBA says it prefers gift cards, “especially gas cards, big box stores, restaurants and AMEX, VISA/MC gift cards” in amounts of $25, $50 or $100.
“Help us make sure that EVERY Precinct 4 officer will receive a special door prize,” says Susan Hampton, the event’s coordinator.
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 Wednesday she got to do another one, at the Marietta Square, as part of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s “Give Our Schools a Hand” celebration.
That includes the Cobb and Marietta teachers of the year leaving their handprints in a designated place near the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre.
According to the Chamber, GOSH began in 1988 “not only to show appreciation for teachers in the community, but also to encourage area businesses, parents, and civic groups to take an active role in enhancing the quality of education.”
Dillard also will be driving a vehicle for the next year provided by the Voyles Automotive Group.
Later this month, on Oct. 29, Dillard and other school-level teachers of the year in the Cobb school district will be honored with a pep rally in front of local students.
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 robotic massage station at Pause Studio at Avenue East Cobb is designed to be an aid to human-powered massage.
Artificial intelligence is becoming a factor in more and more areas of society, including the health and fitness industry.
When Lisa Benson, co-owner of Pause Studio at Avenue East Cobb, recently sent out media invitations to try out an AI-generated robotic massage, it stoked my curiosity.
And also a little bit of concern. What in the world would that look like? More importantly, what would it feel like? So I went over there last week for a demo, and to learn more about what it all entails.
Benson and her husband Evan—he’s a former Pope High School football player—opened Pause late last year. She said one of the motivating reasons for her behind the business was wanting to get a better handle on her own health coming out of COVID-19, and to try an holistic approach.
Pause specializes in a variety of spa and wellness services, including float therapy, cryotherapy, IV medical therapy,cold plunge, sauna, and LED light therapy
So when she heard about the robotic massage device developed by Aescape, a New York company that uses AI to aid massage treatment, she got curious too.
(Here’s another football footnote—former New England Patriots quarterback great Tom Brady, a longevity fanatic extraordinaire, is Aescape’s chief innovation officer.)
The device has been available in some health facilities in big cities, and when Benson went to try it out, she was convinced Aescape would be a good fit for her studio.
“This is nothing more than filling in the gaps,” Benson said about the utility Aescape, which is meant to complement human massage and extend body recovery.
“It’s not meant to be a replacement.”
Benson helped me get situated in the typical head-down posture for a massage. What you see is an electronic screen in which you control what happens—settings for pressure, target areas, duration and even music.
I selected a low-pressure setting targeting my upper back—it gets a little tight—for about 15 minutes. By the time I was wondering whether I would survive this unknown experience, I had forgotten about the music.
In a few moments, the device was up against my back, putting a little too much pressure. So I lowered it, as it moved its way around, and down, my back region.
The application was smooth and consistent, and while you knew there weren’t human hands there, the effect was similar.
After 15 minutes, I felt as good as I can recall having had a massage for that duration. My session was decidedly mini in nature; the sessions available at Pause are 30 and 60 minutes.
Patients can see ahead of time, and as the massage is underway, exactly where the robot is be working—where it’s told to go.
Benson says Pause is the first suburban health studio in the Southeast to have the Aescape machine, and it blends in to an objective for her growing business to have “everything under one roof.”
“Bringing this technology here means local families, athletes, and professionals can now access world-class recovery right in their own community,” she said.
For more information about AI robotic massage at Pause, click here.
Business birthdays
This weekend will be a busy one for a number of East Cobb businesses throwing birthday bashes.
For Atlanta Swim Academy (732 Johnson Ferry Road) it’s a really big celebration—the swim school’s 40th anniversary bash from 2-4 p.m. A free public party includes food, giveaways, games and activities, face painting and even a dunk tank, but note—there won’t be any swimming classes going on.
Check the graphic below for more information, and there’s no need to sign up. Everyone’s welcome.
At Inspire East Cobb, a fitness and wellness studio at Paper Mill Village, festivities for its 4th anniversary start at 10 a.m. Saturday with a community yoga class at the plaza area of the Avenue East Cobb, followed by refreshments from nearby Round Trip Brewery at 11 a.m.
If you’re taking part in the class, you’ll need to bring your own yoga mat and some water.
There also will be raffle prizes from local businesses, and other fun and activities. Here’s a link to purchase tickets.
Also on Saturday, Soma Power Yoga (137 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 2130 ) will mark its second anniversary with free classes from 8:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., but you’ll need to sign up at this link.
After the classes, there will be free treats from Playa Bowls. See the graphic below for more.
Send Us Your Business News!
And if you’re with an East Cobb business with news like this to announce, please let us know!
Pass along your details/photos/videos/information to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, 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.
We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file, but d0 send them as attachments to your email.
Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.
If you’d like to promote your business with East Cobb News—this community’s only daily, all-online news source—please check our general information about advertising, and get in touch: advertising@eastcobbnews.com.
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!
If you’re looking to meet and mingle with local business owners, the first week in October is for you.
The East Cobb Business Association and the Northeast Cobb Business Association will be holding business expos three days apart.
For business owners, it’s exposure to the public. For the public, it’s a way to learn about who’s behind the scenes at their favorite stores and service providers.
The ECBA Expo is Tuesday, Oct. 7 from 4:30-7 p.m. at Wellstar East Cobb Health Park (3747 Roswell Road) and is in a more streamlined format. Organizers are calling it a “mini” format, with about 20 or so businesses and vendors on hand.
All of those tables have been sold out, but non-exhibitors can still sign up online for $5 at this link. Tickets at the door are $10 (both prices are for ECBA members and non-members).
Two days later, on Thursday, Oct. 7, the Northeast Cobb Business Association Expo will be held from 5-7:30 p.m. at Piedmont Church (570 Piedmont Road).
The format is similar, but admission for the public is free. Among the exhibitors are WorkSource Cobb, the Cobb County government Economic Development office and the Small Business Development Center at KSU.
On Friday, Oct. 10, the Professional Women of East Cobb will hold their monthly luncheon at J. Christopher’s at Woodlawn Square (1205 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 114) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $25 for ECBA members and $30 for non-members and registration must be completed online in advance.
The main ECBA luncheon is Oct. 21 from 11:30-1, also at the Wellstar East Cobb Health Park. The guest speaker is Liz Bachman of Wildflower Social Media, who specializes in helping small businesses with their marketing strategies.
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!
Cobb firefighters quickly put out an electrical fire at the Owl Repairs store on Roswell Road Sunday morning, but businesses in a retail center are closed.
The Bookmiser bookstore in East Cobb is one of several businesses in a small retail center that is closed temporarily after a fire broke out there on Sunday
Bookmiser owner Annell Gerson sent out a message Monday morning that her business would be closed “until further notice” to in-store customers due to smoke damage.
Her space is at the Village East strip center at 3822 Roswell Road, at the intersection of Robinson Road East.
She said the fire broke out at the Owl computer repair store next door, and “generated a tremendous amount of smoke which permeated every small business in the center causing extensive smoke and soot damage.”
Other businesses there include the 348 Studio fitness center, a Chopstix Chinese restaurant, an upholstery store, a wax studio and nail salon.
Lt. Stephen Bennett of Cobb Fire and Emergency Services told East Cobb News that fire started in the workshop for the telephone repair business at Owl Repairs and the cause is still under investigation.
Gerson said the fire broke out Sunday morning, when all the businesses were closed.
“The fire was confined to the room of origin and smoke damage was confined to the phone repair business,” Bennett said. “There was a strong odor-of-smoke in the suites connected to the fire suite.”
On its Facebook page, Owl Repairs showed a video with firefighters on the scene (screengrab above), and said the fire was electrical in nature. “Then the variety of electronics caused the store to go up in endless flames.”
A narrator on the video added that “this place is burned down. . . . We could use all the community support as we attempt to recover.”
Bookmiser sustained extensive smoke and soot damage due to the fire that broke out at Owl Repairs.
Owl Repairs urged its customers to to shop at its other location on Bells Ferry Road.
“Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you, we are also devastated,” the message said.
Gerson said her Bookmiser inventory includes more than 35,000 books, and that “although we have begun steps to improve air quality and clean up, much more work remains to be done.”
She encouraged her customers to shop online, via its Bookshop.org and Libro.fm partners. Bookmiser book club events that are held at Bookmiser will temporarily be meeting at Stitches, a quilting store behind Village East.
“In most cases, book clubs will meet there or at another location which will be communicated to book club members by Annell,” the Bookmiser message stated.
Gerson opened Bookmiser in 1998 in space on Sandy Plains Road near Woodstock Road, then opened at second location in East Cobb at the present location on Roswell Road. The original location closed in 2018.
All of the businesses at Village East were closed Monday, and some were doing smoke mitigation work.
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!
Jacques Navant, president of the Auto Glass Safety Council, left, and Glenn Fell of Wyndshyld Auto Glass.
Submitted information and photo:
The Auto Glass Safety Council (AGSC) has officially announced that Glenn Fell, president of Wyndshyld Auto Glass has become the first person to earn the newly created AGSC Certified Glass Calibration Specialist designation. The certification, introduced for the first time last week during Auto Glass Week ’25, marks a groundbreaking advancement in the safety of customers having their auto glass replaced.
Fell is the first to complete the certification process, which included training and testing and distinguished himself by earning a perfect score on the certification exam.
The ADAS-Glass Calibration Certification program was developed by the Auto Glass Safety Council to recognize and credential professionals who demonstrate advanced expertise in the critical process of glass calibration—an essential element in ensuring safety and functionality in modern vehicles equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).
“Glenn’s accomplishment sets the bar for excellence in our industry,” said Jacques Navant, AGSC president. “Becoming the very first Certified Glass Calibration Specialist demonstrates both his leadership and his commitment to advancing safety standards in auto glass service.”
Approximately 110 individuals participated in the first certification training and testing. For more information about the Certified Glass Calibration Specialist program, please visit www.agsc.org.
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!
Nancy McKinney, owner of the Fat Lady Baker cafe in Northeast Cobb, tells us that she was among the restaurant victims of what’s apparently a burglary spree earlier this week.
She sent us the surveillance photo of who she said is the suspect, and who “used a crowbar to get through the back doors and stole cash” and was hopeful of someone being able to identify him.
Another nearby business was robbed as well, the Aapka Food Adda Indian restaurant that’s adjacent in the same shopping center, she said. McKinney mentioned that a Mexican restaurant in the Shallowford-Trickum area also was robbed, “but the police were not sure if that is related yet.”
Sgt. Eric Smith, public information officer with Cobb Police, told East Cobb News that detectives are investigating to see if the three restaurant burglaries are related, and that a suspect has not been identified.
He said the other robbery was at El Serranto Taqueria, at 2520 Shallowford Road.
Fat Lady Baker sells bakery products and prepared meals to the public, and is open during daytime hours Tuesday-Saturday.
It’s in the same retail center with other small businesses, including Montana’s Bar and Grill and the Mzizi coffee shop.
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!
Last month we noted that a number of East Cobb restaurants and eateries will be taking part in Cobb Foodie Week, a promotion of Cobb Travel and Tourism, and that’s slated to run starting Saturday through next Saturday, Sept. 13.
A number of the local restaurants are at Avenue East Cobb (4475 Roswell Road), which released the following details about what each place there will be promoting:
Peach State Pizza: 10% off all food items
Press Waffle Co.: Buy One Waffle, Get One Waffle 50% Off
Round Trip Brewing: 15% Off Any Adult Entrée
Smallcakes 20% Off A Six Pack Of Cupcakes
Tin Lizzy’s Cantina: Buy 2 Tacos, Get 1 Free
Tin Pin: Free $5 Game Card With Purchase
And here are the others:
Biscuits and More (3162 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 140), 20 percent off any order of $20 or more.
Camps Kitchen and Bar (Paper Mill Village), free garlic knots with purchase
Cuban Diner (1484 Roswell Road), 10 percent off one entree
Green Coyote Cantina (Paper Mill Village), free queso with purchase
Marlow’s Tavern (Merchants Walk), $10 Off Order Totaling $30 Or More
Marlow’s Tavern (Sandy Plains Shopping Center), $10 Off Order Totaling $30 Or More
Mezza Luna Italian Restaurant (Pavilions at East Lake), $5 off any house wines
Pho Hoa & Jazen Tea (Market Plaza), Free 16oz Milk Tea With The Purchase Of Any Large Pho
Seed Kitchen & Bar (Merchants Walk), Three-Course Meal For $45
You can sign up for a digital pass to redeem at any participating restaurant throughout the county.
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!
All of those tables have been sold out, but non-exhibitors can still sign up online for $5 
victims of what’s apparently a burglary spree earlier this week.