East Cobb Business Archives

Some East Cobb businesses, restaurants not reopening for now

April 21, 2020April 21, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Drift Fish House and Oyster Bar

Even though they’ve been given permission to reopen in the next few days, some businesses and restaurants in East Cobb that have been closed due to shelter-in-place orders will wait to resume their full operations.

Among those staying closed for the time being are Seed Kitchen & Bar, Stem Wine Bar and Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar.

In a message to customers sent out Tuesday afternoon, owner Doug Turbush said that while Gov. Brian Kemp’s order lifting mandatory dining room closures of restaurants “is an encouraging sign, we feel it is not in the best interest of our employees, guests or our community to reopen at this time.”

Turbush completely closed all three of his restaurants on March 17, before Kemp restricted restaurants to takeout, delivery and pickup services only.

In his message, Turbush said the timing of reopening depends on getting safety gear, supplies and guidance “on how we can operate and interact with each other in such close proximity. We want nothing more than to open our dining rooms, provide for the people who work with us and get back to what we do best, but service considerations will take time to develop, implement and train.”

On Monday, Kemp said restaurants that meet a list of safety, hygiene and social-distancing criteria can reopen this coming Monday, April 27. The governor will provide more details for restaurants later this week.

Some restaurants that had prioritized dining room service had to adapt to the new measures. One of them, Brewsters Neighborhood Bar & Grille on Canton Road, also said Tuesday it would not be opening its dining room back up for now.

“We apologize, but we feel that this is the right decision at this time. We miss all of you very much and can’t wait to see everyone again soon!” the restaurant said in a social media message, adding that its curbside to go service would continue through May 1.

Kemp’s new measures will allow nail and hair salons, gyms and other “personal touch” businesses he closed last month to reopen on Friday, also if they meet safety criterial.

The new Spenga gym at Merchant’s Walk won’t be one of them. A message yesterday said that “we will not be opening at this time as we feel it is too soon. Your health and that of the staff is our top priority.”

Spenga, which shut its doors March 16, is also eyeing a May 1 reopen date, but that is tentative. Like many gyms and fitness facilities that have been closed, it has been conducting virtual classes and workouts with its clients.

Some businesses haven’t announced reopening dates as they prepare their staff and juggle schedules and appointments.

Among them is Intrigue Salon, which we profiled last week. After Kemp’s announcement Monday, the Johnson Ferry Road establishment said Monday that it will be opening again soon, but “we need to get the needed safety supplies and products to be up and running. . . . We have many procedures to implement before we start booking to keep everyone safe.”

Nancy’s Salon asked its clients to “please be patient with us as we organize our schedules, get the needed supplies, products and have safety measures to go get us started,” and that it would provide an update on its reopening date.

Tracy Kreiner Barnes, owner of The French Table, a furnishings and home decor store on Lower Roswell Road, said she would reopen “when the local CDC advises that it is safe for all of us,” and she will “personally monitor” what doctors and scientists recommend.

She ended her message to customers with the hashtag #livesbeforeeconomy.

The current Georgia shelter-in-place order expires on April 30, and a statewide public health emergency has been extended to May 13.

As of 7 p.m. Tuesday, the Georgia Department of Public Health has 20,166 confirmed cases of Coronavirus and 818 deaths. There are 1,230 cases in Cobb County and 60 deaths.

Georgia to allow some businesses, restaurants to reopen

April 21, 2020April 20, 2020 by Wendy Parker

*Seed Kitchen & Bar closed on March 17, before Gov. Brian Kemp ordered restaurants to discontinue dining room service. (ECN photo0*

Gov. Brian Kemp said Monday that some businesses in Georgia that have been ordered closed under his Coronovirus shelter-in-place order can reopen as soon as Friday if they meet certain safety guidelines.

Those businesses include hair salons, barber shops, bowling alleys, nail and body art service providers, massage therapists and gyms.

Starting Monday, theaters can reopen, and restaurants can serve in their dining rooms. Bars, nightclubs, amusement parks and live performance venues will remain closed for now.

Places of worship can hold in-person services, but they must be done “in accordance with strict social distancing protocols.”

Kemp held a briefing Monday at the Georgia Capitol with Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and House Speaker Dennis Ralston.

He said his decision to relax business closures was “due to favorable data and more testing” but that it will not be “business as usual” for those businesses that do reopen.

Among the factors Kemp referenced were the availability of hospital and intenstive-care beds—including a temporary hospital at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta—as well as increased testing capability in the state.

More than 80,000 Georgians have been been tested thus far. As of noon Monday, Georgia had 18,947 confirmed cases of Coronavirus and 733 deaths. Cobb has 1,174 cases and 54 deaths.

At Jim Miller Park in Cobb County, people no longer have to have a medical referral but they must have an appointment for a drive-up Coronavirus test if they show symptoms.

“Our small business owners are seeing sales plummet, and the company that they built with blood, sweat, and tears disappear right before them,” Kemp said. “These are tough moments in our state and nation. I hear the concerns of those I am honored to serve.”

Kemp said that all businesses that decide to reopen must meet “Minimum Basic Operation” criteria, including screening workers for fever and respiratory illnesses, wearing masks and gloves if appropriate, maintaining social distancing guidelines of six feet between persons and working in staggered shifts.

Restaurants, theaters and private social clubs must also meet the same social distancing and sanitation mandates in order to open on Monday.

“Unlike other businesses, these entities have been unable to manage inventory, deal with payroll, and take care of administrative items while we shelter in place,” the governor said.

Kemp’s shelter-in-place continues through April 30, and those who are sick or medically fragile should stay at home until May 13, when a statewide public health emergency is set to expire.

Some East Cobb “personal touch” businesses—in particular hair salons—have been telling their customers that when they reopen, all staff and customers will be required to wear masks.

Not long after Kemp’s announcement, East Cobb Barber Shop owner Dee Reitz said her store is opening Friday at 9:30 a.m. “with all hands on on deck!!”

She said customers will be given numbers to maintain social distancing edicts, and no more than six customers will be allowed inside at any time.

“PLEASE bear with us as we figure this out!! We are excited to be able to re-open,” she said on her business’ Facebook page.

Frenchie’s Modern Nail Care on Johnson Ferry Road said it also would reopen on Friday “with stringent protocols and only two guests at a time.”

Management at the East Cobb-McCleskey Family YMCA and Northeast Cobb YMCA branches said it was “carefully considering all the health and safety precautions and guidelines” to determine when they may reopen.

“We look forward to being able to open our facilities to our members as soon as we can ensure that it is safe to do so.”

Kemp said local governments cannot enact measures that are any more or less restrictive than what he is allowing to open back up for now.

“The private sector is going to have to convince the public that it’s safe to come back into these businesses,” he said.

As for churches, synagogues and other faith communities, Kemp said he’s urging them to continue to hold virtual worship events, as many have since early March.

In-person services were never prohibited, although they were limited to no more than 10 people following social distancing measures.

On Monday, Kemp said that “I urge faith leaders to continue to help us in this effort and keep their congregations safe by heeding the advice of public health officials. Of course, online, call-in, or drive-in services remain good options for religious institutions.”

How an East Cobb Waffle House aims ‘to keep our doors open’

April 17, 2020 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Waffle House

Like restaurants everywhere since the Coronavirus outbreak, the ubiquitous 24/7 Waffle House enterprise has had to scramble to accommodate mandatory dining-room closures and shelter-in-place orders while trying to stay in business.

After the Norcross-based company temporarily closed more than 600 restaurants—an unprecedented action in an unprecedented time—those that have remained open have a much smaller window of operations and staff.

There are nine Waffle Houses in the East Cobb area, and they’re all open for now, albeit with limited hours, typically from early in the morning to mid-afternoon.

The Waffle House on Sandy Plains Road at Post Oak Tritt Road is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and with barely a skeleton crew, consisting of manager Nancy Lynne Newton and three servers.

That’s it.

“I’m the cook, and on my days off, I volunteer to cook,” Newton said.

All of her workers on the second and third shifts—evenings and overnights—are on unemployment, at the very least until restaurants can resume some semblance of dining-room service.

Newton doesn’t know when that might be. Georgia’s shelter-in-place order limiting restaurants to takeout, pickup and delivery only has been extended to April 30, and the state’s public health emergency is due to expire on May 13.

Those orders could be extended again, as the state grapples with a COVID-19 caseload that’s approaching 20,000 and nearing 700 deaths.

At the Sandy Plains Road Waffle House, business “has definitely gone down,” Newton said.

“We are remaining optimistic. We’re doing everything we can to work with the community, and to keep our doors open.”

As an example of the former, she said some customers have donated to an “Adopt-A-Hero” program set up by Waffle House, to pay for the meals of medical workers and first responders.

Recently a police officer was a beneficiary of that generosity, and picked up a free meal—to go, of course.

“We want to do anything we can to help people like that,” Newton said.

Letting the public know her restaurant is open has been a big challenge. The parking lot is practically empty, but makeshift signs in the windows alert the public about its opening hours and the phone number to place an advance order.

Newton said customers can do that, or they can show up and order while in the store. The full menu also is available.

The store also has family-oriented specials—4 All-Star Special breakfasts and hashbrown bowls for $30 is just one. And if five families or more from a neighborhood get together and order at once, someone from Waffle House management will provide delivery.

Newton said to address safety and hygiene concerns, all caterings are individually wrapped. The restaurant is thoroughly cleaned “every hour on the hour” and after customers leave.

She said customers “have been absolutely phenomenal” about observing social distancing guidelines” while they are inside.

East Cobb hair salon connects with customers during closure

April 14, 2020 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb hair salon closure

When customers pulled into the Intrigue Salon parking lot on Johnson Ferry Road Saturday morning to pick up their supply of hair-care products, they were greeted by staffers wearing masks and bunny ears.

On the day before Easter, the playful gestures meant to encourage a sense of fun blended in with the somber new realities of the post-COVID-19 world.

Staff placed the products in the popped-up trunks of customers, who then drove away, all in the no-contact fashion that’s becoming the new normal for many businesses these days.

“We tell them this is for your temporary fix,” said Bonnie Bonadeo, Intrigue’s marketing director.

Like most “personal touch” businesses in Georgia—hair salons, barber shops, nail salons and spas—Intrigue has been closed to regular business for the better part of the last month.

In that time, owner Jeff South and his staff have held a few Saturday curbside pickup sessions for customers who order in advance.

It’s not just a way for Intrigue to do a spare bit of business for the time being, but for its clients to stay in touch, and do what they can until they’re allowed to come back in for a haircut and other hair treatments.

“We pride ourselves in our license to touch, but we can’t do that at all right now,” Bonadeo said.

She said for the two hours of the curbside pickup service, around 50 to 60 customers have come by.

They order their products—powders, conditioners and foams, for the most part—online. They’re not being sold anything that’s not advisable for them to use at home.

Instead, the daily hair products they take with them are meant to “help people feel better about themselves.”

It’s all part of what Bonadeo said is “making a very simple connection” to a customer base in an intensively customized and personalized industry, and one that’s in a very competitive market in East Cobb.

“For a small business, this is as valid as it can get,” she said.

Future curbside sessions are dictated by having enough customers order online.

Bonadeo also sends out e-mails with a light touch on occasion, another means of maintaining connections.

When a customer sent a note wondering how long the shutdown might last, Bonadeo sent out another e-mail with a giraffe and indicated “this long.”

A statewide shelter-in-place that ordered non-essential businesses closed has been extended by Gov. Brian Kemp at least through April 30.

Some other personal care businesses in East Cobb have tentatively announced reopening dates of May 1. Others are saying for now they may reopen on May 13, when a statewide public health emergency is set to expire.

When does Intrigue open again, Bonadeo said more patience will be necessary for customers. Social distancing guidelines are likely to limit staffing levels and how many customers can be accommodated at any given time.

“The priority is that we have to ensure that people feel safe coming back,” she said. “We all want to believe this is a temporary situation.”

How are you coping?

We’re writing a series of stories about how people in East Cobb are faring during the Coronavirus crisis—business owners, parents homeschooling their kids, personal caregivers, worshipping via Zoom, etc.

Let us know how your daily routine has changed, and what you’re doing during this uncertain time. E-mail us: [email protected].

J. Christopher’s temporarily closes at Pavilions at East Lake; updated Open for Business listings

April 13, 2020 by Wendy Parker

J. Christopher's East Lake

J. Christopher’s management announced Monday that it’s temporarily closed its restaurant at the Pavilions at East Lake (Roswell at Robinson Road west).

Its other locations in East Cobb remain open, including Woodlawn Square (1205 Johnson Ferry Road) and Powers Ferry Plaza (1275 Powers Ferry Road) remain open for takeout, pickup and delivery service only from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a week.

The Atlanta-based breakfast, lunch and brunch chain has closed eights restaurants thus far, with 16 remaining open.

Some other businesses keeping their doors open have been added to our East Cobb Open for Business Directory, which is mostly restaurants/food operations but other locally owned businesses as well.

The new listings include G’Angelo’s Pizza on Canton Road and Heywoods Provision Company at East Lake Shopping Center.

Also since our last update, the Cazadores Mexican Restaurant location on Sandy Plains Road has reopened, joining its Johnson Ferry restaurant for delivery, takeout and curbside service.

Send Us Your News!

If your business closed and is reopening, please e-mail us: [email protected] and we will place it in our East Cobb Open for Business Directory. We want to help local businesses get back on their feet with this free listing!

Contact us at the same e-mail address for news about efforts to assist those in need, health care workers, first responders and others on the frontlines of combatting Coronavirus in East Cobb.

Cobb Chamber holding business recovery webinar series

April 13, 2020April 13, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

The Cobb Chamber is addressing the difficulties in navigating a post-pandemic business climate through a “Business Recovery from COVID-19: Navigating Human Resources Changes & Challenges” webinar Tuesday, April 14, at 10:30 a.m.

Part three of the “How To” webinar series on business recovery will feature experts sharing methods for managing the many human resources changes and complexities, as well as how to motivate your team during this challenging time. This webinar is for business owners, managers, executives and human resources professionals. Attendees will also have a chance to ask questions.

Speakers for the “Business Recovery from COVID-19” webinar include, the following:

Mark Butler, Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner

Dave Cole, Partner at Freeman Mathis & Gary

Tammy Cohen, Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of InfoMart

Secret Holland, VP of Human Resources & Community Affairs at Gas South

John Loud, 2020 Cobb Chamber Chairman & President of LOUD Security Systems

Sharon Mason, President & CEO of the Cobb Chamber

To register for this virtual event, visit cobbchamber.org/events. There is no cost, and Chamber members and non-members are welcome to attend on a first, come first served basis, up to 500 attendees.

For recordings of the first two webinars from the “How To” series, visit the Cobb Chamber’s COVID-19 Resources page at cobbchamber.org.

For more information, contact Mandy Burton, Vice President of Member Development at [email protected].

Related content

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!

UPDATED: The Avenue East Cobb announces openings, closings

April 3, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Panera Bread The Avenue East Cobb

The Avenue East Cobb management announced late Friday afternoon that its stores that are non-essential will be closed through April 13, due to the Georgia shelter-in-place order issued by Gov. Brian Kemp.

The order begins is effective from 6 p.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. April 13.

“Select restaurants” at The Avenue will remain open, with takeout, pickup and delivery service only. They are Kale Me Crazy, Olea Oliva, Menchie’s, Panera Bread, Smallcakes and Tin Lizzie’s.

Other restaurants at The Avenue, including Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar and Stockyard Burgers & Bones, closed before the state order and a Cobb state of emergency declaration that goes through April 24.

The Michael’s craft store and the Simply Mac Apple computer store will remain open with reduced hours.

Non-essential “personal touch” businesses have been ordered to close, although many in East Cobb—hair salons, spas, barber shops, etc.—had already closed before that order.

During the shelter-in-place period, citizens are asked to stay at home, except to do essential shopping for groceries, food and medicines, to help with the care of children and the elderly in their families and act on behalf of the health and safety of those in their households.

East Cobb Open for Business: Cazadores and Mezza Luna reopen

April 1, 2020 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Open for Business

Updating our East Cobb Open for Business Directory:

Both Cazadores Mexican Restaurant (Johnson Ferry Road location only) and Mezza Luna Pasta and Seafood have reopened for takeout, curbside pickup and delivery.

Cazadores is open at 3165 Johnson Ferry Road from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., phone 770-641-8625. The Sandy Plains Road location is remaining closed for now.

Mezza Luna Pasta & Seafood (2100 Roswell Road) began takeout, curbside and delivery service Tuesday with a limited menu. Hours are Starting March 31, curbside pickup, takeout and delivery from a limited menu Monday-Saturday 5-10 p.m. and Sunday 12-9 p.m., call 678-214-5856;

On Friday, Marietta Coffee Company (1598 Roswell Road), will start walk-up and takeout orders daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., call 678-765-8885.

Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q was among the restaurants that has closed and was planning to reopen Tuesday, but is saying now that a mid-April “grand reopening” is being planned.

Send Us Your News!

Contact us at the same e-mail address for news about efforts to assist those in need, health care workers, first responders and others on the frontlines of combatting Coronavirus in East Cobb.

Tuesday’s post about local businesses and people volunteering their time and resources to feed health care workers is a good example of what we’re trying to highlight.

Thank you for your patience and for keeping us updated on your business.

East Cobb businesses providing meals for health care workers

March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb businesses health care worker meals

On Monday Smita Daya delivered 45 meals she prepared for health care workers at the Wellstar East Cobb Health Park.

The owner of the Olea Oliva! gourmet shop at The Avenue East Cobb, is staying open for customers who want to shop for her variety of olive oils, vinegars, spices, teas and related artisanal products.

But she’s also donating her time and resources to give a boost to those who are working around the clock to tend to those sick with COVID-19.

Another East Cobb resident, Alison Estella, who runs Rua Marketing, a digital agency, is donating her services for a fundraising drive that also is helping to feed medical professionals, at Kennestone and elsewhere.

Her GoFundMe drive started last week with a goal of raising $5,000, and she told East Cobb News Monday the outreach has netted close to that.

On Tuesday, more than 40 meals were delivered to the Kennestone ICU.

East Cobb businesses health care worker meals — *Lunches provided by Smita Daya of Olea Oliva! to East Cobb Health Park workers.*

But she’s not stopping now.

“We’re just trying to get Cobb County residents to donate,” said Estella, who’s also coordinated efforts to feed workers at the Wellstar North Fulton emergency unit and the Northside Forsyth Women’s Center.

The donations are used to place orders with several local restaurants, including Paradise Grill, XenGo Fusion Sushi and WZ Tavern in East Cobb (see video below).

When the meals are ready, Estella coordinates their deliveries to the medical locations.

“There’s a dual purpose here,” she said. Medical workers are fed, and “it keeps small businesses afloat. They need the business.”

Proceeds from the GoFundMe drive are also used to provide a 20 percent tip to the restaurant staffers.

“These guys are still alive, and they want to be able to pay their staff.”

What Estella ideally is looking for is not necessarily a few major donors, but many donors offering a few dollars in smaller amounts.

“This is so easy,” she said.

You can also nominate local essential medical facilities to receive the meals, and restuarants to prepare them.

The Cobb Chamber of Commerce has launched what it calls its Operation Meal Plan, which also solicits donations. Restaurants provide meals to be delivered to various non-profit organizations around the county associated with the Cobb Community Foundation.

The selected restaurants include Kouzina Christos in East Cobb. Here’s more from the Chamber about how to get involved in that effort:

For restaurants interested in participating in Operation Meal Plan, contact Nate Futrell, with the Cobb Chamber, at [email protected] and include the following information: point of contact for the restaurant, contact information and what the restaurant’s capacity is per meal request.

For non-profits in need of food for their clients, contact Melanie Kagan, with the Center for Family Resources, at [email protected]. After non-profits and restaurants sign up to participate, Kagan will coordinate orders between the groups, scheduling all orders the day prior.

For community members, groups or organizations that would like to contribute to Operation Meal Plan, all contributions are made through the Cobb Community Foundation and are tax deductible. Contribute here: https://bit.ly/2QNq6aB. Upon service delivery, restaurants provide an invoice so the Cobb Community Foundation can reimburse the at-unit cost.

Send us your news!

Let us know what you, your neighbors or others you know are doing to help one another and those in need as part of the Coronavirus response.

Just e-mail us: [email protected] with text, photos and other relevant information, and we’ll share it with the community.

Cobb launches COVID grocery store, restaurant public surveys

March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Cobb County government is asking for the public’s help in collecting resources using its Geographic Information Service (GIS) mapping tools about grocery store inventories and open businesses during the Coronavirus crisis.

A message that’s been sent out explains the purpose, and asks that you submit what you see at grocery stores when you go shopping, or use an open restaurant for takeout/curbside/delivery service:

“We want to help as many Cobb businesses to survive as possible, and we’re using the power of the people to spread the word!

“Which restaurants are offering take out? Go to our special map and let others know which restaurants are cooking up take out orders. Visit it here.”

Here’s the link for the grocery stores and inventory survey.

Other links to be found there include what customers are noticing in their stores from the previous 24 hours in terms of paper products, breads/foods, produce, and crowds/social distancing.

Thus far more than 400 people have filled out the survey, and results obviously will change frequently.

Here’s the link to survey about to available restaurant options, with answers also to be folded into a countywide data source.

They’re the latest additions to the county’s COVID-19 Community Hub resource page.

Cobb Chamber of Commerce to hold business recovery webinar

March 28, 2020March 28, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

The Cobb Chamber of Commerce has started an Economic Recovery Taskforce to develop and implement a strategic approach to proactively drive our community’s economic recovery from COVID-19. Taskforce members will meet weekly via video conference starting on Monday, March 30th.

“Many businesses are struggling with the impact COVID-19 has had on their organizations and their employees,” said John Loud, 2020 Chairman of the Cobb Chamber’s Board of Directors and president of LOUD Security Systems. “We want to drive initiatives that will lead the recovery that this community needs.”

“The Cobb Chamber has been focused on providing resources, advocacy and support to help our businesses and community through this difficult time,” said Sharon Mason, Cobb Chamber President & CEO. “This taskforce will help us take additional steps for a proactive strategy for economic recovery.”

Cobb Chamber Chair-Elect Britt Fleck will serve as the Chair of the Cobb Chamber’s Economic Recovery Taskforce. “We have brought together a diverse group for this taskforce that represents different organizations and industries in our community, especially sectors most impacted by COVID-19,” said Britt Fleck, Cobb Chamber Chair-Elect and Regional Director for Georgia Power. “We look forward to working with this taskforce for a strategic and thoughtful approach for overcoming this.”

In addition its kick-off meeting on March 30th, the taskforce’s first program is a webinar, “How To: Business Recovery from COVID-19” on Tuesday, March 31st at 10:30 a.m. Any business is welcome to join this free webinar by registering through the Cobb Chamber’s website at cobbchamber.org/events. There are up to 500 attendee spots available.

The March 31st webinar will be moderated by 2020 Chairman John Loud and with participants, such as Georgia Small Business Development Center Area Director Drew Tonsmeire. The webinar will focus on walking businesses through the recovery resources available, including the Small Business Administration loan application process, the federal stimulus CARES act and more.

And here are the task force members:

·        John Loud, Cobb Chamber 2020 Chairman & LOUD Security Systems President

·        Britt Fleck, Taskforce Chair, Cobb Chamber Chair-Elect, Georgia Power Regional Director

·        Greg Teague, Cobb Chamber 2022 Chairman & Croy Engineering President

·        Sharon Mason, Cobb Chamber President & CEO

·        Dana Johnson, Cobb Chamber COO & SelectCobb Executive Director

·        Jim Allen, The Atlanta Braves SVP of Corporate Partnerships

·        Patrick Borderlon Sr., Cobb Municipal Association President

·        Gary Bottoms, The Bottoms Group CEO

·        Tammy Cohen, InfoMart President & Chair

·        Kim Gresh, S.A. White Oil Company President

Don’t forget to support local businesses in East Cobb that are remaining open. Many of those listed in our East Cobb Open for Business Directory are restaurants, and many are adapting on the fly to provide takeout/curbside services.

We’re constantly adding to this listing, so if you’d like to add yours please e-mail us the information: [email protected]. Please include links to your website, social media platforms, etc.

Launching the East Cobb Open for Business Directory

March 26, 2020 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Open for Business While many businesses have closed during the response to COVID-19, we’re keeping an updated list of those that are staying open and have changed their hours and services to serve the public.

Our East Cobb Open for Business Directory can be found here, and we welcome your submissions. E-mail us at: [email protected] and we’ll add it to our directory.

We want East Cobb News readers to connect with local businesses that are working hard during this unprecedented time to keep their doors open.

Many of those businesses listed are restaurants, since they’ve had to adapt on the fly to the closure of dining rooms during the Cobb state of emergency.

But we’ll list all types of locally-run businesses as a community service to bring awareness for part of the vibrant backbone of our community during a time of great duress.

We’ll keep this going during the Cobb state of emergency and beyond, as this recovery will last for many weeks and months.

East Cobb business and restaurant closings/changes 3.25.20

March 27, 2020March 25, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Rosa's Pizza, East Cobb businesses alcohol compliance checks, East Cobb food scores

We’re keeping a running update on businesses—especially restaurants and retail—that are closing during the newly declared state of emergency in Cobb and/or are changing their hours and services.

More East Cobb business and restaurant closings 3.23.20

March 23, 2020March 23, 2020 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Taqueria Tsunami restaurant

We’re compiling this list and will be updating it all day, as businesses continue to close temporarily or change their hours and go to takeout or delivery only.

Much of this figures to change after the governor holds a briefing at 5 p.m. Monday and Cobb commissioners meet Tuesday morning.

If you’ve got information to share about Coronavirus-related closings, cancellations, postponements or other changes in East Cobb, please e-mail us at [email protected].

We’ll be doing a separate post on ongoing food drive updates for the needy, elderly and others.

Closings

Frenchies Modern Nail Care: As of Friday, targeting April 3 reopen date;
Marietta Fish Market: As of Monday;
Cazadores Mexican Restaurant: Both East Cobb locations, as of Monday;
East Cobb Tavern: As of Sunday;
Frankie’s Italian: Closed as of Monday;
Lemon Grass Thai Restaurant: Closed as of Monday;

Changing Hours/Services

Taqueria Tsunami East Cobb: Takeout and curbside delivery only, 4-9 p.m. daily;
Brewsters Neighborhood Bar & Grill: Takeout and curbside delivery only, starting Tuesday through April 6;
Catfish Hox: New hours 5-8:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and drive-through service only;
Zama Mexican Cuisine: Open 12-9 p.m., dine-in still open with curbside delivery available;
Chicken Salad Chick: Open 10-5 and curbside pickup is available;
Biscuits and More: Curbside pickup available;
Marietta Antique Mall: New daily hours 12-4 p.m.;
Paradise Grill: Dining room closed but curbside and delivery available;
Asahi Japanese Steakhouse: Open for curbside and takeout from 4-8:30 p.m. daily;
Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q: Curbside pickup is available;

More East Cobb business closings: Restaurants, theaters, retail

March 18, 2020March 18, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Merchants Walk Cinema, East Cobb business closings

Following the news last evening that Seed/Stem/Drift are closing temporarily, here are some more East business closings and changes that have been announced since then.

If you’ve got information to share, please e-mail us at [email protected]:

As we did yesterday, we’ll keep updating this throughout the day:

Aspens Signature Steaks and Seafood: Closed as of Tuesday;
Chicago’s Steak and Seafood: Closed as of Tuesday;
Williamson Bros. BBQ: All locations closed as of Tuesday until March 31;
Mezza Luna Pasta & Seafood: Closed as of Wednesday;
Merchants Walk Cinema: Closed as of Tuesday;
Park 12 Cobb Cinema: Closed as of Tuesday;
The Movie Tavern Roswell: Closed as of Tuesday;
Picture Show at Merchants Exchange: Closed as of Tuesday;
Ivy Lane Boutique: Closed as of Tuesday until March 29; online shopping availability coming soon;
Mansouri Dental Care: Closed until April 1;
K Squared Jewelry: Closed until April 1;
Kasha’s Hair Salon: Closed as of Wednesday;
LA Fitness: All clubs closed until April 1, including East Cobb locations on Roswell Road, Powers Ferry Road and East Piedmont Road.

East Cobb Biz Notes: New Publix store, Jiu-Jitsu academy to open

March 10, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Publix East Cobb Crossing

When we asked a Publix Atlanta regional official a couple weeks ago about a new store opening at the East Cobb Crossing Shopping Center, she said she couldn’t comment because she didn’t have any information.

But a representative for the retail center’s owner, East Cobb Crossing LLC, is confirming that the supermarket chain is adding what will be a seventh store in East Cobb.

The Shopping Center Group didn’t give an opening date for the new Publix, at the northeast corner of Roswell Road and Johnson Ferry Road, and next to Dick’s Sporting Goods. The company’s website indicates a fall opening.

For now, there’s still a For Lease sign in the front window. The same goes for a nearby freestanding building that had been a Del Taco and will be a Five Guys burger place (below). Five Guys East Cobb

East Cobb Crossing got county approval for site plan changes for the Five Guys last fall. The Shopping Center Group indicated that renovations will begin soon, also with estimated opening date in the fall.

Publix has two other stores in the Johnson Ferry corridor: At Woodlawn Pointe Shopping Center and at Shallowford Corners Shopping Center.

“This new location is really well-positioned in East Cobb to fortify Publix’ overall foothold in the market,” Brett Fuller, senior leasing advisor and associate broker for The Shopping Center Group, said in a statement. “The Woodlawn Pointe and Shallowford Publix locations book-end this new Publix location.”

The Shopping Center Group, based in Atlanta, represents shopping center owners across the country, including Parkaire Landing, Providence Square, an outparcel at Merchant’s Walk and Village East in East Cobb.

Atos Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Changes at Olde Mill Shopping Center

An East Cobb location of Atos Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is headed for the Olde Mill Shopping Center at Roswell Road and Old Canton Road.

The opening is in April, and the academy includes age-group instruction for kids, a women’s only class, as well as adult classes based on experience level. There are also open mat sessions, camps and private lessons.

In the same shopping center, the McDonald’s that fronts Roswell Road looks like it’s closed due to a building overhaul.

There’s no indoor ordering or dining, but the drivethru remains open for the next several weeks while the renovations continue.

McDonald's Olde Mill

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New Sprayberry-area cafe to open in spot of former Cafe 33

March 10, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Cafe 33 restaurant closes

More than two years after Cafe 33 closed near Sprayberry High School, a similar establishment is planning to open in the same space.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday granted an alcohol license to Siamak Mistaly, owner of the forthcoming Prestige Cafe (2595 East Piedmont Road, in the Sprayberry Collection Shopping Center).

There’s been a yellow sign in the vacant spot, a notice of appeal for an alcohol license that had previously been denied by the Cobb County License Review Board.

The denial was routine, given that the cafe location is within 600 feet of a school, park, library or place of worship, the minimum distance under county code for alcohol sales.

In this case, Prestige Cafe would sit 461 feet from the Masjid Ibad-Ur Rahman, a mosque at the adjacent Sprayberry Crossing Shopping Center.

Appeals of those denials are heard by commissioners, and at a public hearing at Tuesday’s commission meeting, commissioner JoAnn Birrell noted there wasn’t an objection to the cafe’s alcohol license from the mosque.

Several other businesses that sell alcohol are nearby, including Catfish Hox, Zama Mexican Cuisine, Willie Jewell’s barbecue, Kumo Hibachi Sushi, a Shell convenience store and the Sprayberry Bottle Shop.

Birrell also wanted to get more information about the Prestige Cafe’s hours.

Mistaly said the restaurant would be similar to Cafe 33 in the nature of its food offerings and will have more bakery-type items. In the evenings, it will be a hookah bar with live entertainment.

The hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Documents filed with the county indicate that the establishment intends to derive 60 percent of its revenues from food sales, and that IDs will be checked in the evenings after 8 p.m. for adult-only admission to the bar.

Mistaly said the establishment is a family-style operation that is family-owned, with the proprietors experienced in the coffee shop, bakery and bar business.

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East Cobb food scores: Goldbergs Bagel gets a failing score

March 10, 2020March 5, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Goldberg’s Bagel, East Cobb food scores

Goldbergs Bagel Co. & Deli got a failing score from Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health inspectors on Thursday after they cited the eatery at 1062 Johnson Ferry Road for several health code violations.

Goldbergs received a score of 65, which is unsatisfactory, and a notation of “U” is indicated in the full inspection report (you can read it here).

The violations included improper holding temperatures for food.

Specifically, partially-cooked chicken tenders were being held well above the holding temperature limit of 41 degrees fahrenheit.

What are called “TCS” foods—such as meats, produce and dairy products—also have temperature guidelines. Goldbergs was found to have held chicken and matzo soup below the 135-degree minimum for hot soups.

The eatery also did not properly label the discard dates for ready-to-eat TCS foods, including cream cheese in a walk-in cooler, open packages of deli meat and containers of rice, a repeat violation.

An employee handling trash also was found to have not washed hands before returning to the dish area.

Inspectors noted that all the above violations were corrected on-site.

Another repeat violation indicated in the report was the lack of a test kit for a high-temperature sanitizing machine for ware washing equipment.

When Cobb restaurants get failing scores, inspectors typically return to perform another inspection within a couple weeks.

Goldbergs got an “A” score of 93 on its last inspection last September. In June and July of 2019, Golbergs got “C” scores of 70 and 76.

Another well-known East Cobb restaurant that got a low health score recently was reinspected this week.

Ted’s Montana Grill got a “C” score on Feb. 4, with violations that included no paper towels in the dish washing area and no proof of procedures for employees on how to respond to vomiting or diarrheal events.

When inspectors returned to Ted’s on Wednesday, they gave the restaurant an “A” score of 91 and found only a TCS food storing temperature violation for ribs, horseradish cream sauce, butter and sour cream.

The report noted the violation was corrected on-site, the ribs and sour cream were discarded and the horseradish cream sauce was placed on ice.

Ted’s three previous inspections, dating back to 2017, all had “A” scores.

“Ted’s held a mandatory retraining course for the entire team to ensure this does not happen again,” said Eddie Hensley, the director of operations for Ted’s at East Cobb, in a statement issued through a Ted’s spokeswoman.

“Food safety and training are of the utmost importance to the team at Ted’s Montana Grill, and our guests will always be our number one priority. We assure you that incidents such as this are no indicator of the high level of standards and proper training we have established.”

Other food scores this week

Arby’s
4367 Roswell Road
March 5, 2020 Score: 91, Grade: A

McDonald’s
2371 Delk Road
March 5, 2020 Score: 100, Grade: A

East Cobb Biz Update: More Sandy Plains Marketplace openings

March 5, 2020March 4, 2020 by Wendy Parker

First Watch, Sandy Plains Marketplace

A couple more restaurants are opening their doors, or are about to, along with the Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q that christened the Sandy Plains Marketplace.

On Monday, MOD Pizza began serving with a fast-casual menu (peruse it here) and had a grand opening. The 12-year-old Seattle-based chain, with 400 restaurants in the U.S. and United Kingdowm, now has seven locations in Georgia and its first in the East Cobb area.

Hours are Sunday-Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

A few doors down, the First Watch breakfast-lunch-brunch eatery (here’s the menu) announced it’s opening Monday, March 16.

Based in Florida, First Watch has more than 200 restaurants in 26 states, including 12 in Georgia (one is in Kennesaw).

On Saturday, the Hollywood Feed organic pet supplies store at Sandy Plains Marketplace is opening with 20 percent discounts. The hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

The Clean Juice smoothie bar is continue to hire for an April opening. That’s also the target month for the GreenWise Market that we noted last week, but a specific date is TBA.

Kroger gas stations coming

While a fueling center run by Kroger across the Street at Sandy Plains Village is under construction, work will begin soon on another Kroger gas station in East Cobb.

Reader Kevin passed along the photo below of a portion of the Pavilions at East Lake at Roswell Road that’s being torn down for the gas station.

It’s where a Panera Bread restaurant once was located, and another restaurant had to move to make room.

The Ege Sushi restaurant is now located on the other end of the Pavilions, near J. Christopher’s and Kayhill’s Sports Bar and Grill.

An existing Kroger gas station is at the Shallowford Falls Shopping Center at Johnson Ferry Road.

Tommy Nobis Center named a Top Workplace in Atlanta

March 4, 2020March 4, 2020 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

TOMMY NOBIS CENTER (a Marietta-based nonprofit) has been awarded a Top Workplaces honor by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for the second consecutive year. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by Energage, LLC. The anonymous survey measures several aspects of workplace culture.

Tommy Nobis Center has been a staple of the Marietta community for more than 42 years. They are being recognized for their strong culture and for being a great place to work.

President & CEO, Dave Ward said, “We set and achieve audacious goals every year while also investing heavily in a robust culture with a focus on fun and innovation.”

About Tommy Nobis Center
Since 1977, Tommy Nobis Center has helped more than 25,000 individuals find independence and workplace success by empowering people through employment. It envisions supportive communities where people with disabilities are afforded the opportunity to work. For more information, please visit http://www.tommynobiscenter.org, or follow Tommy Nobis Center on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

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