East Cobb Business

East Cobb businesses on display at East Cobb Business Association Expo

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ECBA Expo

Nearly 50 East Cobb businesses were represented Wednesday at the 2nd East Cobb Business Association Expo at the Olde Towne Athletic Club.

In addition to receiving business cards, brochures and other items for “swag bags,” attendees at the expo engaged in a relaxed and informal networking event.

Attendees purchased raffle tickets for giveaways, with the proceeds going to the ECBA’s upcoming public safety appreciation dinner (previous East Cobb News post here).

The ECBA is also offering year-end membership specials ($95 for 2018, with free membership for October, November and December 2017). The deadline to sign up is Dec. 31. For information contact ECBA Membership Chair Pam Oldaker at pam@powerofpam.com or 770-354-0243.

The ECBA expo’s corporate sponsors were Olde Towne Athletic Club and Brand Bank, and the following businesses had tables:

ECBA Expo, East Cobb businesses
Jim Harris of Money Concepts hands out door prizes, with the proceeds from raffle tickets benefitting the ECBA’s Public Safety Appreciation Dinner. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)
  • Cobb Financial Planners
  • Money Concepts
  • Movie Tavern
  • WellStar East Cobb Health Park
  • East Cobb Travel
  • Vann Whipple Milligan, P.C
  • Restor-It
  • Your Tax CFO
  • Aegis Alarm & Integration
  • Fidelity Bank
  • Houston Hall Publishers
  • Thrive Wellness Center
  • Mozley, Finlayson & Loggins, L.L.P.
  • Bethea Insurance Group
  • Atlanta I.D.
  • Erickson Technical
  • Atlanta Communities
  • Pam Oldaker Real Estate
  • Seniors Helping Seniors
  • Astrology Source
  • Innova Brain Rehabilitation
  • J & M Roofing
  • TC Productions
  • Carpet For Less
  • Saint Leo University
  • Wine Shop at Home
  • Online Technology Associates
  • Allstate Greg Cavellier Agency
  • The Solana East Cobb
  • Minuteman Press
  • And Thou Shalt Read
  • Reinhardt University
  • Farmers Insurance
  • East Cobber magazine
  • The Current Hub magazine
  • North American Health Plans
  • Honest-1 Auto Care
  • State Farm Ron Sprouse Agency
  • Zija International

The East Cobb Business Association holds monthly luncheons, after-hours networking and other events and is involved in various community projects. The next luncheon is Oct. 17 at Indian Hills Country Club (registration here).

ECBA Expo, East Cobb businesses

East Cobb Business Association Expo set for Olde Towne Athletic Club

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ECBA Expo

Ever wanted to learn more about local businesses in East Cobb, especially those that are involved in community activities?

The East Business Association expo takes place Wednesday, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Olde Towne Athletic Club (4950 Olde Towne Parkway), and is free for the public to attend.

It’s the second year for the event, which kicked off in 2016 at the WellStar East Cobb Health Park.

Local businesses purchase tables with information, demonstrations, goodie bags and other items for visitors to take with them. Although there is no charge to the public for the expo, registration is recommended and can be done online at this link.

The expo, which also includes a networking event, will have drawings, giveaways, free food and more. A portion of the proceeds from the expo will go toward the ECBA’s public safety appreciation award dinner later this month (previous East Cobb News post here).

The ECBA, which meets monthly and has other networking events, incorporates public and community service projects into its mission. The luncheons take place the 3rd Tuesday of each month at Indian Hills Country Club. For more information, visit the ECBA website.

Solar panels at East Cobb veterinary clinic offer promising benefits

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Montrose Animal Hospital solar panels
Solar panels on the roof of Montrose Animal Hospital were installed in July. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

Dr. James Davis was admittedly an unlikely advocate of solar energy when he began researching the topic. Since 2011, Davis has been the owner of the Montrose Animal Hospital, an East Cobb veterinary clinic, and was looking for cost savings, as many business owners do.

While the benefits of solar energy have been touted by environmentalists, Davis, who says he personally believes in nuclear energy, kept an open mind.

He noticed that as the cost for purchasing solar panels was coming down, the energy savings were going up, as far as he could discern from government estimates that he found during his research.

“I’m not exactly a save the planet guy,” Davis said, “but if I can save a little money and the planet at the same time, then I’m all on board.”

Montrose Animal Hospital, solar panels
Dr. James Davis of the Montrose Animal Hospital keeps track of energy production from the rooftop solar panels with an app on his mobile phone.

In July, his clinic on Woodlawn Drive was equipped with solar panels on the roof that produce enough electricity to seriously cut into energy use. He said the panels already are reducing the clinic’s electricity bill, which had averaged around $1,700 a month, by around 45 percent.

He said about 20 percent of Montrose’s electric bill is for lighting, and the solar panels could reduce that to four percent.

“I’ve done a lot of analysis, and it makes more sense for businesses” to adopt solar solutions, he said. In addition to federal tax credits he said that another advantage to having the panels “is zero maintenance.”

But deciding to make the switch is still a sizable investment, and one with a longer term payoff. After making a down payment, Davis secured a loan for the panels, similar to buying a home, purchasing them from Creative Solar USA in Kennesaw.

“The costs are coming down, they’re more affordable,” he said. “We could make the payments.”

The solar panels at the 7,000-square-foot Montrose clinic are projected to have a break-even effect in about six-and-a-half years. Davis said he also tracks other local businesses that have solar equipment, and said he’s found “surprisingly few” in the East Cobb area.

Montrose Animal Hospital, solar panels
The clinic’s solar production momentarily dropped to zero during the eclipse.

Davis, who also operates the Shiloh Veterinary Clinic in Kennesaw, follows solar production figures on a mobile phone app included his purchase of the panels. He familiarized himself with its features just in time to track the energy drop that came on the solar eclipse on Aug. 21.

The Montrose staff celebrated the event with a barbecue in the clinic’s back yard. Davis looked at his app, and noticed solar production was “basically was at zero” as the eclipse passed over Georgia on a bright, sunny afternoon.

Another tool Davis uses is Google’s Project Sunroof, which estimates available sunlight for a particular location.

As his new solar investment continues to evolve, tracking data like that will be helpful, not only because solar production generally falls in the winter months, but also because he’s considering buying panels for his other clinic.

Harry’s Marietta store closing Oct. 5 as movie theater plans continue

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Harry's Marietta store
Harry’s Marietta store has been part of Whole Foods since 2001. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

What was announced earlier this year has become official: The Harry’s Marietta store is closing, and its last day of business is Wednesday, Oct. 4.

That’s because Whole Foods, which acquired Harrys in 2001 but allowed the farmers market concept to retain its name, is opening a new store in Kennesaw. That location opens on Friday, Oct. 6.

Harry’s was once the anchor of a shopping center at 70 Powers Ferry Road, at the intersection of Roswell Road, that opened in the 1990s, featuring Builders Square and Sports Authority stores and a Revco/CVS drug store. But after those businesses closed, Harry’s became the lone occupant of what was later named Harry’s Plaza.

Harry's Marietta store
A sign near the exits of Harry’s Marietta store.

Harry’s downsized its original space in Marietta following the opening of the East Cobb Whole Foods store at Merchants Walk in 2012.

Plans for the Harry’s relocation were in the works for months before Whole Foods recently became a wholly owned subsidiary of Amazon. The Studio Movie Grill, a Dallas-based company that operates big-screen cinemas with beer and restaurant fare, announced in January it would be redeveloping Harry’s Plaza.

Construction of the Studio Movie Grill is underway in the former Sports Authority spot, with a November opening tentatively scheduled.

Harry’s Plaza is in the vicinity of a larger, more gradual redevelopment of the Roswell Road corridor along Interstate 75. On the other side of the interstate, a new Waffle House has opened at Frey’s Gin Road and older commercial buildings in that area have been torn down.

All of this redevelopment is within the confines of the city of Marietta, which has been aiming to to revitalize certain portions of its eastern edge.

Harry's Marietta store
The former Sports Authority store is being turned into a Studio Movie Grill location.

 

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Renamed Cobb Chamber golf tournament slated for Indian Hills CC

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Cobb Chamber of Commerce

The Cobb Chamber of Commerce has announced that its annual fundraising golf tournament will return to East Cobb’s Indian Hills Country Club next month, and under a new name.

The Cobb Chamber/Taylor English Classic will take place Oct. 23, with a cost of $265 for individuals or $1,000 for a foursome (click the link for more information, including registration). The proceeds will go to the Cobb Chamber Foundation to fund leadership training, education programs, building maintenance and equipment needs.

The name change reflects the title sponsor, Taylor English Duma LLP, an East Cobb-area law firm located off Powers Ferry Road near Windy Ridge Parkway.

Marietta-Cobb Career Expo is next week; includes readiness workshops

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Details about the Marietta-Cobb Career Expo are being distributed to the public by Cobb County Government:Marietta Cobb Career Expo

Learn how to sharpen up your resume and interview successfully at free readiness workshops and then put those skills into action during the Marietta/Cobb Career Expo. WorkSouce Cobb staff will host Expo Readiness Workshops 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 12, at the Cobb County Civic Center. Topics will include career expo success, resume writing, interviewing, netserving, job search over 40 and resume critique. Registration is required. Register by visiting worksourcecobb.org. For more information, call 770-528-4300.

The Marietta/Cobb Career Expo will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 14, at the Cobb County Civic Center. Employers including Atlanta and North Georgia Building Trades Council, Bank of America, Cana Communications, Carmax, Caraustar, Georgia Tech Police, Hooters, Lockheed Credit Union, Omni Hotel, Verizon, Roswell Police Department and Walden Security will be in attendance looking for qualified candidates. The Civic Center is located at 548 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta. 

East Cobb Civic Association gives nod to Taqueria Tsunami site plan proposal

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Taqueria Tsunami East Cobb

A follow-up to the story we reported here Monday about a proposed Taqueria Tsunami in East Cobb going up in the old Caribou Coffee/Einstein Bagel space on Johnson Ferry Road: It’s gotten a recommendation of conditional approval by the East Cobb Civic Association.

During its monthly business meeting Wednesday, the group voted to recommend approval of a site plan amendment being proposed on behalf of Fork U Concepts, the Marietta company that runs the six-restaurant Latin-Asian fusion concept chain, but with some stipulations.

Those recommendations include the district commissioner (Bob Ott) signing off on building renderings for the new restaurant, a landscaping plan for the property and front signage, none of which have been submitted to the Cobb Zoning Department.

The 0.70-acre tract at 1275 Johnson Ferry Road has been vacant since Einstein Bagels left in 2015. The land was first zoned for commercial use in 1978 as a Krystal fast-food restaurant (Caribou replaced it in 1995 and closed in 2013).

Amor Design Group, an architectural design firm submitting the application, wants to revise the site plan to remove the drivethru window used at the former Caribou location, in order to increase parking. The proposal calls for a parking expansion to 42 spaces that would include restriping.

The ECCA, which represents more than 90 homeowners associations and other individuals, is a citizens group that provides advisory opinions to the Cobb Planning Commission and Cobb Board of Commissioners on zoning and land use cases. While it wields no official power, its influence is frequently considered (Ott is a former ECCA president), especially when community opposition arises.

One other thing to note about the Taqueria Tsunami case: It’s considered “other business” in Cobb zoning parlance since it’s a site plan amendment proposal, instead of a pure rezoning matter.

Therefore, this case doesn’t need to go before the Cobb Planning Commission and instead will be heard by the Cobb Board of Commissioners on Sept. 19.

A zoning case that was on next Thursday’s Cobb Planning Commission agenda but that has been continued until October is the proposed redevelopment of the former Mountain View Elementary School (Z-053-2017). The nearly 14-acre tract would be converted into a mixed-use complex of restaurants, grocery, retail, banking and other commercial uses.

According to Jill Flamm of the ECCA, the applicant, Brooks Chadwick Capital LLC, is asking for more time to work with the community.

She also briefed ECCA members on other zoning and land use cases that have no new information to report. They include another high-profile September case, proposed by Lidl Grocery (OB-016-2017) to redevelop the Park 12 Cinema on Gordy Parkway, and a proposal by S & B Investments to add a drivethru window at the Starbucks Coffee location near Paper Mill Village, at 31 Johnson Ferry Road (OB-028-2017).

The ECCA has recommended denial of the Lidl Grocery application and supports the Starbucks addition.

Also on Wednesday, the ECCA voted to hold an application by Blair Waldron to amend a site plan for 1.28 acres on the north side of Roswell Road, just west of East Piedmont Road, to allow for a 16,000-square-foot medical and dental office building.

The land is located between a Bank of America branch and the East Cobb United Methodist Church. The proposed building would house Waldron Dentistry, which is currently located at 3020 Roswell Road, near Old Canton Road.

Flamm said no renderings have been submitted, and there are 34 pages of stipulations to consider. Much of that stems from a litigation settlement in 1999. Here’s the file information on OB-041-2017 from the Cobb Zoning Department, which hasn’t done a staff analysis for the application since it came in after the Aug. 4 commenting deadline.

Sage Woodfire Tavern announces September opening for Windy Hill location

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Sage Woodfire Tavern Windy Hill

More East Cobb restaurant news, following Monday’s posts about Loyal Q/Sugar Benders and a proposed Taqueria Tsunami in the Johnson Ferry corridor: the new Sage Woodfire Tavern location at Windy Hill Road and Powers Ferry Road is opening next week.

The hiring process is underway, and social media accounts have been started (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) for the new restaurant, located in the old Houston’s space at 3050 Windy Hill Road.

According to the office of Cobb Commissioner Bob Ott, a ribbon-cutting and open house reception for invited guests is scheduled for next Thursday, Sept. 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with service to the public starting at 4 p.m.

This will be the third Sage Woodfire Tavern location, along with Alpharetta and Dunwoody. It’s located in restaurant space that has been vacant since Houston’s at Wildwood closed in Jan. 2013.

That’s also in a Powers Ferry corridor that’s been challenging for restaurants in recent years. TGI Friday’s and Sal Grosso are among the more notable casualties, along with Houston’s. An exception is the Rose & Crown Tavern, which opened in 2010 at 1391 Powers Ferry Road, just north of the new Sage Windy Hill.

The opening of nearby SunTrust Park earlier this year has been a magnet for new eateries located in The Battery, adjacent to the new stadium for the Atlanta Braves, and in the surrounding area.

The Infinite Dining Group which runs the Sage Woodfire Tavern also operated the Sage Social Kitchen & Bar in East Cobb, which closed in April after being open for only a few months. Previously the location of Chequer’s and Houlihan’s, that space in the Merchants Festival Shopping Center (1401 Johnson Ferry Road) remains vacant.

Across the parking lot, the Black Swan Tavern is preparing for opening with a date yet to be determined (previous East Cobb News coverage here). A liquor license approval is still pending.

Taqueria Tsunami restaurant eyed for former East Cobb Caribou Coffee location

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Caribou Coffee East Cobb, Taqueria Tsunami

An early check into a really busy September Cobb zoning calendar (especially in East Cobb) revealed this agenda item: the growing, Marietta-based Taqueria Tsunami Latin-Asian fusion restaurant concept may be headed this way.

An application in the “Other Business” section, OB-039-2017, has been filed by Amor Design Studios on behalf of Fork U Concepts, which runs six Taqueria Tsunami locations, including the Marietta Square, Roswell, Woodstock, Athens and soon in Sandy Springs.Caribou Coffee East Cobb, Taqueria Tsunami

The East Cobb location would be at 1275 Johnson Ferry Road, where Caribou Coffee and an Einstein Bros. Bagels operated side-by-side.

Caribou Coffee closed in 2013, and Einstein Bros. Bagels followed in 2015.

The Cobb Planning Commission will hear the application next Thursday, Sept. 7.

Amor Design Studios, an Atlanta architectural design firm, has filed a site plan amendment which states the following intent:

“Fork U Concepts would like to improve the property by deleting the drive-thru [of the former Caribou store] and increasing the number of parking spaces by restriping the parking lot.”

The proposed site plan changes (below, click to see larger image) call for 42 total spaces, 32 of them standard-sized spaces. The total land size for the building and parking is 0.70 acres.

Taqueria Tsunami East Cobb site planThere’s no preliminary staff zoning analysis for the moment since the application was filed on Aug. 15, after the Aug. 4. deadline for comments.

Some major East Cobb redevelopment proposals are also on the September calendar, and we’ll have more in forthcoming posts:

  • Z-053-2017, by Brooks Chadwick Capital, LLC, which would rezone the former Mountain View Elementary School location on Sandy Plains Road for a retail, restaurant, bank and grocery store development;
  • OB-016-2017, by Lidl US Operations, LLC, to tear down the Park 12 Cinema on Gordy Parkway and build a Lidl grocery store, a proposal that’s been delayed several times (see previous East Cobb News story) and has community opposition;
  • Z-012-2017, by SSP Blue Ridge, LLC, to rezone 21 acres northwest intersection of Terrell Mill Road and Powers Ferry Road for a mixed commercial and residential development anchored by a Kroger grocery story. This application also has been continued.

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EAST COBB RESTAURANT NEWS: Loyal Q opens; Sugar Benders to welcome Cafe at Pharr soon

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Loyal Q and Brew

Loyal Q and Brew (website; Facebook page) opened Aug. 17 at the Parkaire Landing Shopping Center (4880 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 850, between Sellars Goodyear and Ted’s Montana Grill), once it got a distance waiver from the Cobb BOC to serve alcohol.

The barbecue concept, which specializes in smoked meats, was started by two former Taco Mac executives, ex-CEO Bob Campell and ex-chief operating officer Susie Addo.

Loyal Q is open for dinner only during the week (Mon-Thur 5pm-10pm; Fri 5pm-midnight) and serves lunch on the weekends (Sat 11am-midnight; Sun 11am-10pm). Phone: 678-921-0456.

Down the road at Paper Mill Village, longtime Sugar Benders Bakery owner Veronica Estrada has put up a sign indicating the forthcoming arrival of a Cafe at Pharr location that will share space with her business (255 Village Parkway, Suite 240-A, just around the corner from Camp’s Kitchen).

She’s estimating the new joint location will open in mid-September. Cafe at Pharr, which specializes in gourmet salad and sandwich lunch fare (here’s the menu), has been expanding around metro Atlanta from its original site in Buckhead. This will be its first location in Cobb County.

Sugar Benders Bakery

Nail Design relocates within East Lake Pavilions Shopping Center

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Nail Design, East Lake Pavilions

The Nail Design salon that’s been located at the East Lake Pavilions Shopping Center (2100 Roswell Road) is moving, but staying within the same shopping center.

A sign went up recently at Suite 2176, near the T-Mobile store and the Mezza Luna restaurant, and that’s easily visible to foot and car traffic coming in the Roswell Road entrance.

Know of a business that’s coming or going in East Cobb? Moving? Changing key personnel or making other changes to its business? Let us know, and send photos if you like, to: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

Northeast Cobb Business Association luncheon celebrates back-to-school

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Northeast Cobb Business Association
From left, Northeast Cobb elementary school principals Debbie Blake (Kincaid), Kristin Erbskorn (Davis) and Felicia Angelle (Shallowford Falls). Blake and Erbskorn are in their first year at their schools.

Principals from a number of East Cobb and Northeast Cobb public schools were recognized Tuesday at the Northeast Cobb Business Association luncheon at Piedmont Church.

It was the first teach appreciation luncheon since the school year began in the Cobb County School District July 31.

School partnership programs, including a high school senior internship program are a major part of the NCBA’s community outreach efforts.

Robin Lattizori, a Cobb assistant superintendent for elementary schools, serves on the NCBA board.

The NCBA’s upcoming Upbeat event is an appreciation for school volunteers in the Northeast Cobb community. On Oct. 21, NCBA is holding a Casino Night to benefit the STEM initiative in Cobb County schools, and tickets and sponsorships are still available.

The guest speaker was Cobb County Manager Rob Hosack, an East Cobb resident (more about his remarks in a separate post) who succeeded David Hankerson earlier this year.

Northeast Cobb Business Association

Northeast Cobb Business Association
(East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

East Cobb Business Association presents donation to Cobb Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs

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East Cobb Business Association

Littie Brown, left, current president, and Rosan Hall of the East Cobb Business Association present a $250 donation check to Jimmy Gisi, director the Cobb Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, at Tuesday’s monthly ECBA luncheon at Indian Hills Country Club.

The donation was part of the ECBA’s community outreach project. (East Cobb News photo by Wendy Parker)

Former East Cobb Chuck E. Cheese restaurant being demolished

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Work crews are tearing down the former Chuck E. Cheese location at 4340 Roswell Road. This is the view looking west, with the intersection of Roswell Road and Johnson Ferry in the background.

Chuck E Cheese East Cobb

The building has been vacant since the restaurant closed in 2014. In December, the 1.7-acre parcel of land was rezoned for a Discount Tire location.

Chuck E Cheese East Cobb

Chuck E Cheese East Cobb

The property is located near other light automotive businesses on East Cobb Drive and between a Citgo station and the Pine Straw Village Shopping Center on Roswell Road. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

PHOTOS: East Cobb Pigskin Preview breakfast at Indian Hills Country Club

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East Cobb Pigskin Preview
East Cobb high school football head coaches, from L-R: Tab Griffin (Pope); Brett Sloan (Kell); Daniel Brunner (Walton); Brett Vavra (Sprayberry); Mike Collins (Wheeler); and Jep Irwin (Lassiter). East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker.

The banquet room at the Indian Hills Country Club was filled Thursday morning with local business leaders, hungry high school football players and their coaches at the annual East Cobb Pigskin Preview breakfast.

The six high school head coaches briefed attendees about the season ahead and answered audience questions at the event sponsored by the East Cobb Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.

East Cobb Pigskin Preview

Four of the six coaches are new to the job. Only Jep Irwin of Lassiter, and Mike Collins of Wheeler, both in their eighth seasons, return to the sidelines at the same school.

Two of the newcomers are returning to their alma maters: Brett Vavra of Sprayberry, and Tab Griffin of Pope. The other first-year coaches are no strangers to the East Cobb prep football scene. Brett Sloan of Kell was an assistant at Walton the last two years. Daniel Brunner, also a Raiders assistant, was named head coach when Mo Dixon resigned to take a job at south Georgia powerhouse Colquitt County.

Pope graduate Tab Griffin returns as head coach of the Greyhounds.

Griffin, who had been an assistant coach at Mount Paran Christian School, said returning to Pope is “kind of a homecoming for me. It’s been my dream ever since Pope opened to come back and be the head football coach.”

Vavra, who was an assistant at Etowah, echoed similar thoughts. “I’m super excited to be back home,” he said, noting “the great sense of pride in the community” that welcomed him back to Sprayberry.

Brett Vavra, Sprayberry football
Sprayberry head coach Brett Vavra.

The energetic Brunner said bringing the entire Walton football community together is an important objective for him, and last weekend the first “Raider Day” event took place (see East Cobb News coverage here).

Kell also went looking for a new coach when Derek Cook resigned in the spring after nine years on the job. The Longhorns tapped Sloan, who had come to Walton with Dixon from South Carolina, and who had helped guide the Raiders into the post-season.

Pope High School football
Pope football players

Sloan, who’s also anxious due to the upcoming birth of his first child, said Kell’s goal is simple: to reach the state finals. The Longhorns were eliminated in the semifinals, so there’s no need, Sloan said, “to replace what they’ve done at Kell, but to build on it.”

Wheeler is hopeful for a playoff berth after going 5-6 and reaching the region playoffs. The Wildcats’ main objective is to be more consistent; in 2016 they weren’t able to put together a winning streak. “It had a lot to do with the teams we were playing the following week,” Collins said.

Lassiter also reached the post-season with a 6-5 finish, and the Trojans boast one of the best high school players in the nation in defensive back Derrik Allen. He has been chosen to play in the Army All-American all-star game in January and will play college football at Notre Dame.

Some East Cobb teams are holding scrimmages this week and next. Walton and Kell will be playing next Saturday at the Corky Kell Classic in downtown Atlanta. The first full slate of games is Friday, Aug. 25.

East Cobb Pigskin Preview

Sponsors, donors sought for East Cobb Public Safety Appreciation dinner

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The East Cobb Business Association and the East Cobb Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce are organizing an appreciation dinner next month for Precinct 4 Cobb Police personnel.

Susan Hampton, one of the event co-chairs, said the first organizing committee meeting was Wednesday, and the groups are seeking sponsors and donors at all levels
East Cobb Business Association

The event first began in 2013 as a way of showing thanks to officers serving the East Cobb area, and the effort also includes a similar celebration for all of Cobb Fire Department personnel in March.

In addition to a dinner, public safety personnel being honored will receive gift cards, raffle prizes and other donated gifts of appreciation.

The presenting sponsor is the WellStar East Cobb Health Park.

Hampton said the sponsorship levels are as follows for both events:

  • Platinum ($1,000): Signage at police and fire events; 2 representatives at each banquet; official recognition at both events, and at ECBA and East Cobb Council events;
  • Gold ($500): signage at the police event; 2 representatives at the police event or the firefighters event; signage recognition;
  • Silver ($250): Signage recognition at both events.

Cobb Chamber of CommerceAs for the donor levels, Hampton said one of the most popular forms of giving for businesses, organizations and individuals alike is a $25 “Thank A Hero” contribution that includes a card at the events with the giver’s identification.

The $25 total, Hampton said, is ideal for those wishing to offer gift cards.

Checks are payable to “Public Safety Celebration” and are tax-deductible. They may be mailed to:

East Cobb Business Association

Attention: Public Safety Celebration

P.O. Box 70814

Marietta, GA 30007

Here’s more from Hampton and Kim Paris, another longtime East Cobb community activist, who’s the other co-chair:

“We continue to work together to plan these appreciation events, and to raise the funds necessary to insure their success. We are reaching out to individuals, businesses, civic and other nonprofit organizations, schools, neighborhoods and churches, and hope you will join us in support of our community’s public safety heroes!”

Contact: Susan Hampton: susan.hampton@lionbank.com; Kim Paris: kim.paris@wellstar.org.

The Wing Cafe gets perfect score after failing health inspection

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The Wing Cafe, East Cobb restaurant inspections

A couple of weeks after failing a health inspection, a longtime East Cobb restaurant and bar got a perfect score in a follow-up visit from Cobb and Douglas Public Health.

The Wing Cafe and Tap House (2145 Roswell Road, in the East Lake shopping center) got a 100 score during an inspection last Friday. Management posted the new report in a front window (above) and on the establishment’s Facebook page, with the following message:

“Please accept our apologies for anything that may have wavered your trust in us! We look forward to seeing you all back here soon! Thank you to all of our patrons who stuck with us during this trying time! We appreciate all of our loyal customers!”

On July 21, an inspection at The Wing Cafe resulted a score of 62 with six violations, including employees failing to wash hands, improper temperatures for food storage and a moldy ice machine.

Formerly known as the Wild Wing Cafe, The Wing Cafe marked its 22nd anniversary earlier this summer.

EAST COBB WEEKEND: Dog Days Run; Pins for Paws; real estate seminar; new Walton HS open house & more

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Walton High School

Because one school ribbon-cutting event this week isn’t enough (and also, because it’s right before the start of a new school year): The new Walton High School administration and classroom building will be officially opened on Sunday, starting with ribbon-cutting ceremonies at 1:30 p.m. and an Open House to follow (1590 Bill Murdock Road).

The next day, students will finally get to enjoy some elbow room as they start classes in a building that can better accommodate them. Having been subject to massive overcrowding myself (as a Wheeler student when Walton opened, too many years ago), I understand the feeling. We’ll be out there on Sunday to document all the proceedings.

The Walton ribbon-cutting comes at the end of a busy and varied weekend of events in East Cobb. See our full calendar listings for so much more, and send yours along if you don’t see it to: calendar@eastcobbnews.com). We’ve pulled out a few highlights here:

  • The Rotary Club of East Cobb is holding its 12th annual Dog Days Run that starts at 7:30 Saturday morning at the McCleskey-East Cobb YMCA (1055 East Piedmont Road), and race-day registration is available for both the 5K and fun run;
  • The East Cobb-based Good Mews Animal Foundation is holding a bowling fundraiser Sunday from 2-4 at AMF Bowling on Cobb Parkway. Pins for Paws includes lots of related fun, including raffle tickets;
  • If you’re thinking of buying a home for the first time, the Janice Overbeck Real Estate team is holding a free seminar from 11-1 Saturday at its Keller Williams North Atlanta office at 2249 Roswell Road;
  • At the end of a long week why not enjoy some Open Mic entertainment? From 7-10 p.m. Sunday at Keegan’s Irish Pub (4401 Shallowford Road), the local acoustic duo The Woodys (who were in action earlier this week at the Paper Mill Village food truck) will perform your requests. Sign-up starts at 6:30 p.m.

Did we miss something? Do you not see an event you think the community ought to know about? Let us know if you have calendar items to share, for this weekend and beyond. We’re working to have the best calendar listings in East Cobb, so have a look around and let us know what you think!

Have a great weekend, and stay in touch!

EAST COBB THIS WEEK: Summer library events; tax millage town hall; blood drive; business luncheons; greenways and trails meeting

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It’s not quite back to school—though it is hard to believe that’s exactly two weeks from today, on July 31—and the four branches of the Cobb County Public Library System in East Cobb have plenty of activities scheduled for the next two weeks.

We’ve included a good sampling of them in our East Cobb Events Calendar, and there are plenty more to peruse on the library system website. In addition to regular storytimes, this week’s events include a picnic at the Mountain View Regional branch, monthly adult book discussion groups at East Marietta and East Cobb, the monthly Gritters STEAM team event and so much more!

On Saturday, the East Cobb branch will feature a presentation on how to grow your own mushroom garden, with some expert advice from the Mushroom Club of Georgia.

Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce is taking some heat for proposing a tax millage increase, and on Wednesday he is holding a town hall meeting at the East Cobb Senior Center to solicit more input.

The Cobb school board is holding a final public hearing Thursday before voting on setting its tax millage rate for 2017.

The East Cobb Business Association and Northeast Cobb Business Association are holding their monthly luncheons on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. On Wednesday, the Ashley Homestore on Roswell Road is holding a Red Cross blood drive, and the East Cobb Lions Club will be offering free vision screenings.

If you missed last week’s public input meeting on the Cobb Greenways and Trails Master Plan at East Cobb Library, there will be another meeting Tuesday from 5-6:30 at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, Canton Road and Piedmont Road.

Another end-of-summer event for kids takes place Thursday at Terrell Mill Park. The Fairy House Workshop, presented by the Cobb Water System’s Watershed Stewardship Program, includes story-reading before kids ages 3-13 create their own fairy houses.

The Marietta Campmeeting continues every day this week through Saturday, with services at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. and an ice cream social after Tuesday’s evening service, starting at 9:30 p.m. The final service takes place at 11 a.m. Sunday.

We’ll come back later this week with a preview of weekend events in East Cobb, including live entertainment and other community activities.

Please feel free to send your items—including photos, flyers, maps and PDFs if you wish—to: calendar@eastcobbnews.com, and we’ll post them promptly.

Have a great week, and please stay in touch!

 

Black Swan Tavern taking shape in East Cobb; opening in ‘60 days or so’

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The Black Swan Tavern, East Cobb business
The Black Swan Tavern is the first East Cobb pub for the Dunwoody Restaurant Group. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

A new English pub, The Black Swan Tavern, is going in where the old Churchill’s Pub used to be at 1401 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 128, in the Merchants Festival Shopping Center.

Last week the new place’s Facebook page posted photos of the start of a full renovation—literally from the ground up—as plans continue to open in “60 days or so.”

We went by there over the weekend, and saw a full tavern menu posted on the window, plus the ubiquitous English red telephone booth outside, a standard feature at the other seven pubs owned by the Dunwoody Restaurant Group.

The Black Swan Tavern, East Cobb business

The 8th pub will be the first in East Cobb for the company, which operates the Dunwoody Tavern, The Bat and Ball Pub, O’Brian’s Tavern and King George Tavern in Dunwoody; The Royal Oak Pub and The Ship and Anchor in Sandy Springs; and The Iron Horse Tavern in Norcross.

The pub concept isn’t that widespread in East Cobb; Keegan’s Public House on Shallowford at Johnson Ferry and the Rose & Crown on Powers Ferry are the only existing restaurants of that genre. Churchill’s was open for more than 30 years but closed in 2013 after getting an eviction notice for back rent. A location of the Copa Cabana Cafe has come and gone in the same spot.

We’ll have more updates as The Black Swan Tavern opening draws near.

Got any business news tips? Know of openings or closings? Call/text at 404-219-4278 or e-mail: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

The Black Swan Tavern, East Cobb business

 

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