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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Cobb Chamber’s Board of Directors have named Pete Quinones, CEO of MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service, Inc., as its 2027 Chairman of the Board.
Quinones will succeed Melissa Cantrell, President and CEO of CDH Partners, who begins her term as Chairwoman of the Board in 2026. Quinones will start his term in January 2027 as Board Chairman and will serve as Board Chair Elect in 2026.
“I am humbled and honored to have been selected to serve as the 2027 board chairman. I am deeply passionate about our community, and I am committed to promoting business opportunities for everyone’s success,” said Pete Quinones. “I am excited to be working alongside our Chamber leaders and local businesses to continue to build on its long-standing history of excellence and help shape the economic and business landscape of our county. I look forward to carrying on the Chamber’s mission as we continue to utilize our collective power to foster collaboration among businesses and advocate for policies that promote sensible growth and prosperity.”
Quinones is the Founder and CEO of MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service, a business that started and maintains its headquarters in Marietta, Ga. Over 25 years, Quinones has grown the business from one ambulance and four employees to now employing more than 800 employees, with a fleet of over 200 vehicles, serving more than one million residents in Bartow, Cobb and Paulding counties.
Quinones is a long-time member and investor in the Cobb Chamber and its economic development strategy, SelectCobb. He has served on the Cobb Chamber Board of Directors since 2012 and the SelectCobb Board of Directors since 2014. He has served on the Chamber’s Executive Committee since 2022 and on the Government Affairs Committee for decades. In 2022, Quinones played a critical role in leading the Cobb Chamber’s strategic planning process as the Co-Chair of the Strategic Plan Steering Committee.
Since launching MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service, Quinones and his business were quickly recognized with various awards and accolades from community organizations, industry associations and other entities. In 2006, MetroAtlanta Ambulance earned the coveted Cobb Chamber Small Business of the Year award. In 2011, the Georgia Hispanic Chamber named Quinones the Businessman of the Year. MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service and Pete Quinones have earned prestigious recognitions and awards by the Georgia Association of Emergency Medical Services, the American Ambulance Association, the Region III EMS Council, the State Office of EMS & Trauma, Georgia Institute of Technology, the City of Marietta and the WellStar Foundation.
Quinones has also served in many community and state leadership roles. He is the Chair of the Cobb County Board of Health, a board he has served on since 2018. He is a board member and treasurer of the Georgia Trauma System Commission. He is a member of the Governor’s Healthcare Task Force Commission and a board member of Highland Rivers and the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Scheller School of Business.
“Pete Quinones has been a steadfast leader, not only for the Cobb Chamber, but for our entire community and state,” said Sharon Mason, President & CEO of the Cobb Chamber. “His decades of commitment, from building MetroAtlanta Ambulance into a vital community asset to guiding our Chamber’s strategic plan, speak to his ability to lead with both vision and heart. We are thrilled to have Pete serve as our 2027 Chairman of the Board and know his leadership will strengthen our organization and the community for years to come.”
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She has struggled almost since opening to find qualified and reliable labor, weathered a major price increase for eggs and changed up her menu many times to respond to customer tastes.
But two and a half years in, the professional baker, who got the idea for a neighborhood cafe from customers at the Marietta Farmers Market, was wondering if it was worth it to stay open.
“I do love the work, there’s no question about it,” Savrin said near closings hours on Sunday, at the end of the first weekend since coming back to open during limited hours and with a slimmed-down menu.
For a couple of weeks this month, Savrin thought about closing altogether. But on Friday, Café Rivkah reopened, and is now serving from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday-Sunday.
Café Rivkah was closed briefly earlier this month, which caused some confusion for customers.
The family meals for takeout that she had prepared are on hold, and the cafe menu has been reduced, not only because of her smaller workforce but also to focus on breads and gourmet pastry items that have been the focus all along.
Savrin called the changes the latest of the “variations” she’s made in running Café Rivkah along with her husband, Phil Savrin, an attorney who has helped out on the weekends.
She admitted that her wide range of breakfast and lunch offerings, served up fresh and made-to-order six days a week, along with catering and family meals, might have been too much to take on, especially with a revolving staff.
Over the last two weeks, some customers were concerned by the sign on the door and a similar notice on the restaurant’s Facebook page indicating the cafe would close, and that the business would be focusing on catering, special orders and brunch and dinner events by reservation.
She explained to customers that “to maintain the quality of food and service that meets these standards, I’ve made the decision to scale back and take a more hands-on approach to everything we prepare. This will mean more limited production and operating hours . . . so that everything we offer reflects the standards I’ve set for myself and am committed to upholding.”
Breakfast items include Shakshuka, a Mediterrean dish of eggs cooked in tomatoes and spices, Khachapuri, a Georgian (the nation, not the state) baked dish of cheese bread, Challah French toast, bagels, croissants and pastries and some egg/omelet offerings.
The lunch menu is focused on a variety of personal-pan pizzas. Coffees, teas, juices and other drinks are also served.
Savrin admits that she’d like nothing more than to “bake and cook all day,” but said that simplifying her managerial tasks were imperative.
Gourmet pastries are a big draw at Café Rivkah.
Finding consistent help has been hard for many restaurants and retail businesses, especially since COVID-19. She said Café Rivkah had paid “above the market rate” for kitchen and front-counter help, and that “when we tried to limit pay, that didn’t work out well.”
The biggest obstacle has been keeping a cook. Café Rivkah opened with a chef go match Savrin’s desire for a Mediterranean-oriented menu, and has had several others running the kitchen since then.
One of the reasons she decided to keep the doors open is that “we have good people who love this place.”
That refers to her current staff of herself and three others, plus a doughmaker who comes once a week, on Sunday, to help expedite the new arrangement.
She waves to the latter, expressing a sigh of relief, as he heads out the door.
“He’s been my safety net.”
Café Rivkah is located at 2100 Roswell Road, Suite 2104. Phone: 678-402-5809.
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The sale was completed in coordination with the initial purchase of the practice by Innovetive Pet Care, a Texas-based firm that operates veterinary clinics nationwide.
The business will continue to go by the Dogwood name.
The release said that Dogwood’s 12,726-square-foot facility has been the only 24/7 emergency hospital in the Marietta area, and that the practice includes 17 full-time doctors and more than 70 total employees.
Dogwood operates in a standalone building in an office park off Powers Ferry Road, near the Delk Road intersection, and behind the China Doll and Brazilian Bakery restaurants.
“Facilities like Dogwood play a critical role in their communities by providing the specialized expertise and round-the-clock availability that pet owners depend on during emergencies,” said Daniel Eisenstadt, CEO of Terravet Real Estate Solutions, said in the release.
“Expanding our partnership with Innovetive reinforces our commitment to supporting practices that deliver this level of essential care.”
Dogwood is the first Georgia location for Terravet, which recently purchased veterinary facilities in Fairburn and Peachtree City and owns more than 1.5 million square feet of real estate across more than 165 veterinary properties.
Innovetive provides business support for veterinary clinics in 15 states, including three others in Georgia.
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The third metro Atlanta location of L’Occitane en Provence, a luxury beauty and skincare retailer, opened this week at Avenue East Cobb.
It’s located behind Press Waffle Co. in one of the “jewel box” buildings recently added to the retail center at 4475 Roswell Road, Suite 1850.
Based in the Provence region of France, L’Occitane sells a variety of beauty and skincare products, including shea butter hand creams, aromatic essential oil blends and fragrances.
L’Occitane stores also are located in Alpharetta and Buckhead.
The Avenue East Cobb store hours are Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Six years after opening in Merchants Walk, the Duck Donuts store in East Cobb will be closing at the end of next week.
Co-owners Christine and Andrew Doring made the announcement Tuesday on the store’s Facebook page, saying the closure is due to “reasons beyond our control” but they did not elaborate.
“We can not thank you enough for your support over the last six years. We have truly enjoyed serving you.”
The last day of business will be Sunday, Aug. 17 for the made-to-order donut business, which is based in Pennsylvania and has more than 100 stores nationwide.
“We are proud to say we are not closing because of financial reasons. We have built a nice small business here,” Christine Doring said in response to a comment from a customer.
East Cobb News has left a message seeking more information.
The Dorings opened the first Atlanta-area Duck Donuts at 1281 Johnson Ferry Road in July 2019. There are two others that have opened since, in Acworth and Alpharetta.
“Hope to see you at the store during these final two weeks for one more ‘Warm, Delicious, Made-to-Order Donut!’ ” the Dorings’ message said.
Customers will get 35 percent off their orders when redeeming Duck Donut gift cards through the closure.
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We mentioned a few weeks ago that the main entrance/exit at Avenue East Cobb was undergoing a makeover, and here’s a glimpse of what you’ll see when y0u come and go.
That view is from Chico’s and toward the traffic light at Roswell Road. The same traffic flow pattern is in effect, and the installation of the white tiling, we were told then, was to “create a smoother, more beautiful arrival experience.”
As for a couple of upcoming restaurants at Avenue we’ve been reporting on since last fall, there’s no new information on when they may be opening. Renovations are continuing at Tenku Sushi Elevation in one of the new “jewel box” buildings (the other is Press Waffle Co.) and Luga, an Italian concept by Ben and Seth Gjuka, brothers who opened Giulia, an Italian bakery, in Peachtree Corners last April.
Their second location will operate adjacent to Luga and will serve pastries, croissants, sandwiches and a variety of coffee drinks.
Luga had been planning a spring-summer opening, and when we went by over the weekend, there was a sign in front of Luga from Cobb County about an application for an alcohol license. East Cobb News has reached out to Luga for more information.
NCBA announces expo
The Northeast Cobb Business Association announced Monday that it’s holding a business expo on Oct. 9 from 5-7:30 p.m. at Piedmont Church (590 Piedmont Road).
It’s a chance for local businesses to market themselves to the community. Exhibitors tables cost $50 for NCBA members and $100 for non-members, and include a table, social media promotion, and more.
The event includes sponsorships by the Small Business Development Center at KSU, Cobb County Economic Development and the Cobb ranch of Work Source Georgia.
For more information and to reserve a table, click here.
The NCBA women’s networking event is Aug. 12 at Marlow’s Tavern at Shallowford Sandy Plains, and the main luncheon is Aug. 20, also at Piedmont Church.
The East Cobb Business Association has announced its slate of events for August.
The main luncheon on Aug. 19 at WellStar Healthpark includes featured speaker Jeremy Johnson, whose remarks are entitled “Stand Out without Selling Out.”
ECBA’s Toastmaster events are Aug. 6 and 20 at the Rich Hart Global Studios off Powers Ferry Road, and every Friday morning the ECBA hosts an East Cobb Open Networking session at IHOP on Johnson Ferry Road.
On Aug. 21 the East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual East Cobb Pigskin Preview, featuring the head coaches of six high school football teams.
The breakfast meeting is held at the Indian Hills Country Club, and registration and refunds will close on Aug. 15. Click here to sign up.
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The Cobb Youth Leadership (CYL), a development program sponsored by the Leadership Cobb Alumni Association and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta that focuses on developing leadership skills through interactive participation, has announced the members of its 2025-2026 class.
They include a number of students from high schools in East Cobb.
Here’s more about CYL from the Chamber:
“Created in 1989, the program provides students a unique opportunity to learn about their community as well as meet and interact with students from other high schools. Students attending public or private high schools or home-school students in Cobb County must complete and submit an application for CYL in the spring of their sophomore year. Students participate in the program during their junior year of high school.”
The Presenting Sponsor is Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and other sponsors include Six Flags Over Georgia, Walton Communities, and Kennesaw State University.
Johnson Ferry Christian Academy: Abby West
Lassiter High School: Julia Curtis
Mt. Bethel Christian Academy: Asher Adams
Pope High School: Abby Harsch
Sprayberry High School: Mary McGee
Walton High School: Gabi Angryk, Aashray Arun, Safah Patel, Young Kirkland, Jordyn Rubin, Emerson Webb
Wheeler High School: Takara Cannon, Jolie Charles, Raleigh Rhoden
According to the Chamber, orientation for the 60-member class begins on Aug. 11, with a fall retreat in September and several program evenings scheduled until graduation next April.
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The Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority, owner and operator of Cobb Galleria Centre, Georgia’s premier mid-size convention venue for tradeshows, meetings and special events, has approved the funding for a transformational, $190 million renovation and expansion project. It is scheduled to break ground in the fall of 2025 and be completed in early 2027.
“Over the past two years, we have conducted multiple supporting studies alongside design, master planning, pre-construction analysis, and financial reviews,” said Charlie Beirne, General Manager and CEO. “With this groundwork laid, we are poised to hit the ground running.”
The renovation and expansion will happen in phases. While the convention center will be closed for the last four months of 2025, it will reopen for business in January 2026 in the exhibit halls and ballroom.
“Cobb Galleria Centre will be open throughout 2026 and will continue to host trade shows, expos, meetings, conventions and social events in the exhibit halls and ballroom,” Beirne said.
The outside arrival area, new parking deck, and expanded meeting and event space will remain in progress until early 2027
RENOVATED BALLROOM, EXHIBIT HALL, ROTUNDA COMING IN JANUARY 2026
In January 2026, the rotunda, ballroom, and common area spaces will boast a major facelift with a completely new, contemporary look. From new carpet, wall coverings, new wood finishes and modern chandeliers, guests will be impressed with the lighter, brighter event spaces. The rotunda will be transformed with new terrazzo flooring and a new, large sculptural chandelier that will dazzle from above. Additionally, the 144,000-square-foot exhibit halls will feature updated entrance vestibules, upgraded restrooms, new electrical floor boxes, and LED lighting throughout.
The project master plan scope includes:
Demolition of Galleria Specialty Shops and 2nd floor meeting rooms;
Expansion to include:
An exciting new, two-story grand entryway
A new, 7,200-square-foot junior ballroom
11 new meeting rooms and an executive board room, totaling 24,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting room space with enhanced graphics and technology
A unique, 11,000-square-foot outdoor event courtyard and a separate garden, both allowing natural lighting to penetrate interior conference room spaces
New, connected parking with covered, all-weather access into the expanded facility
Overall addition of 13,000 square feet of indoor event space
Extensive renovation and facelift of existing exhibit hall, concourse, rotunda and ballroom.
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After nearly six years in business, the SPENGA East Cobb fitness studio has closed at Merchants Walk.
A notice was posted on its Facebook page on Tuesday saying “thanks for the memories East Cobb” with a heart shape. At the bottom of notice it said “location permanently closed.”
There was no explanation given after readers on the page inquired.
“SPENGA East Cobb was the absolute best!,” wrote one. “Everyone is going to miss the classes, staff and amazing instructors so much. How I wish someone would buy it and keep it going.”
Denese Faulkner, the studio’s owner, told East Cobb News that “I closed SPENGA because it was time for me to move on to a new chapter in my life. I would love for someone to buy it and keep it in the community!”
On July 1 SPENGA asked for customer testimonials for a chance to win a gift card, and had posted a full schedule of designated workout sessions for the month of July.
“Covid changed our trajectory and we had a hard time recovering,” Faulkner said. “Therefore, it’s time for me to start a new chapter. It was a hard decision to make but it was the right decision for me.
“The East Cobb community welcomed us 6 years ago with open arms and excitement and has embraced us with such kindness and warmth over the last few days. We had AMAZING members and I will miss them all terribly.”
Faulkner said that members received an e-mail letting them know that their memberships will be pro-rated and canceled.
SPENGA is a fitness franchise based in Evanston, Ill., and was founded in 2015. It features a trio of exercise concepts—spin, strength training and yoga—into a 60-minute workout, and has locations in more than 20 states.
SPENGA opened at Merchants Walk, across from Marlow’s Tavern, in the fall of 2019. The only other Georgia location is in Roswell.
The East Cobb area has become a magnet for a variety of national fitness franchises, including multiple locations of Club Pilates, Orangetheory Fitness and LA Fitness, as well as a number of yoga-specific studios.
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Leadership Cobb, the Cobb Chamber’s premier leadership development program, has selected 60 new participants for the 2025-2026 class. Founded in 1983, Leadership Cobb brings together diverse business and community leaders for a 10-month journey focused on personal and professional growth. The program accomplishes this through leadership training, teambuilding, and educational experiences highlighting our community’s greatest success stories and most significant ongoing challenges.
The 2026 Class:
Kimberly Allred, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
Kate Beasley, Walton Communities
Priti Bhatia, Georgia Institute of Technology
Mike Bonnette, Kennesaw State University
Nicholas Booth, O’Dell Hungerford Blanchard & Booth
Tonya Byrd, Gilbane Building Company
Carl Carlson, The Walker School
Lauren Cedor, Cobb & Douglas Public Health
Chase Clark, Brasfield & Gorrie
Vic Collins, Hounds Town Atlanta – Smyrna
Christina Cummings, Kidz2Leaders
Rodney Drinkard, The Coca Cola Company
David Esterline, CROFT & Associates
Richard Freeman, Wellstar Health
Chuck Gardner, Marietta City Schools
Jenn Garner, Papa Johns
Jessica Guinn, Cobb County Government
Jules Harper, The Four Walls Group
Gina V. Hawkins, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office
Karen Heard, Marietta Wine Market
Tim Henderson, LGE Community Credit Union
Molly Holm, Glory Haus
Amanda Hughes, Cobb Travel & Tourism
Stephanie Idland, Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Simon Janman, Nothing Bundt Cakes
Keisha Jeffcoat, City of Mableton
Kyle Johnstone, TK Elevator
Shea KonigsmarkMetro Regional Educational Service Agency, Metro RESA
Rachel Langelotti. City of Marietta
Kyoung Lee. Arcadis
Kafi London, Kafi London Intl.
Jose Lopez-Vera, Northside Hospital
Toby Mabry, Cobb EMC
Christopher McKellar, Mauldin & Jenkins
Daniel McKinney, RaceTrac, Inc.
Tomeca Mosley, Cox Enterprises
Ben Needle, Osborne High School
Scott Orr, Cetera Investors
Gina Owens, Verizon
Tahnicia Phillips, Cobb County State Court
Paul Powers, Powers Electrical Solutions
Brian Rutledge, City of Marietta
Courtney Santry, CDH Partners
Alisha Thomas Searcy, Center for Strong Public Schools
Abby Smith, Visit Marietta
Andy Stearns, Atlanta Braves
Zach Strickland, Croy Engineering
Darrell Sutton, Sutton Law Group
Jaret Usher, Cobb County State Court
Ryan Varchetti, US Air Force/Dobbins Air Reserve Base
Dan Vasquenza, id8
Heather Walker, Cobb County Tax Commissioner’s Office
Ashley West, Georgia Power Company
Anthony White, Adio Chiropractic
Megan Will, Cumberland Community Improvement District
LaTonya Williams, Vanderlande Industries
Jordan Wilson, Corporate Tax Advisors
Laurie Wong-Burns, Reflections of Trinity Inc.
Crystal Wyche, Vinsere Group
Darrell Young, Compliments Salon and Barbers
Joyette Holmes, Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, and Eddie Wade, Croy Engineering, will be co-chairs for the 2025-2026 program year. Andy Gaines, Earl and Rachel Smith StrandTheatre, and Tricia Newton, Waterworks Atlanta, will be the vice co-chairs for the 2025-2026 program year. This year’s class theme is “Lead the Way.”
The Leadership Cobb class of 2026’s Yearlong Presenting Sponsor is Kennesaw State University Executive MBA; and Legacy Sponsors, Accounting Consultants of Cobb, CDH Partners, Cobb Travel & Tourism, Croy Engineering, Genuine Parts Company, Johnson & Alday, and Mauldin & Jenkins. For more information about Leadership Cobb, contact Kai Lawrence at 770-859-2346 or [email protected].
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After several weeks of a soft opening period, Pho Hoa and Jazen Tea is holding a grand opening celebration this weekend.
The Vietnamese-style franchise opened its first Georgia location at Market Plaza in the former Kouzina Christos and Aurelio’s space (1255 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 22) in May.
Owner Leo Zheng announced that on Saturday and Sunday, pho entrees and drinks will be 50 percent off, and there will be other gift giveaways during the weekend.
In addition to a variety of pho specialties (spicy beef stock with noodles and protein, including brisket, chicken and shrimp), Pho Hoa serves up rolls, rice and vermicelli plates and banh mi, a baguette-style Vietnamese sandwich.
In addition to the Jazen Tea specialties, other drink offerings include tropical specialties and smoothies and slushies.
Pho Hoa is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; more updates on its Facebook page.
Einstein Bros. Bagel opens
The second Einstein Bros. Bagels shop in Cobb County has opened at Providence Square Shopping Center (4101 Roswell Road, Suite 801), between Sprouts and Mattress Firm, as we first reported in May.
The company sent out a release Monday with the following information:
To celebrate, for the next two weeks at the new Marietta location, guests can enjoy a BOGO Free Egg Sandwich when they order in bakery, online, or in the app with code BOGO.
“We’re thrilled to bring our fresh-baked breakfast to the Marietta community,” said Adam Modzel, Chief Operations Officer at Einstein Bros. Bagels. “Atlanta has always been a welcoming market for us, and we’re excited to serve even more guests in this vibrant area. There’s no better way to start the day than with a warm, delicious bagel – and that’s exactly what we’re proud to deliver.”
Hours are daily from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; here’s the store’s website with more information.
Wing Café bash
The Wing Café and Tap House (2145 Roswell Road, Suite 170) is celebrating its 30th anniversary Saturday with a Pig Roast starting at 2 p.m.
The event features a full pig roast, live music from Baditude, featured beers from New Realm Brewing and whiskey specials from WhistlePig (more details here).
An independent establishment for more than 20 years, Wing Café originally opened in the East Lake Shopping Center in 1995 as part of the North Carolina-based Wild Wing Café chain, which still has locations in Alpharetta and Dacula.
It still retains the neighborhood tavern and features a variety of live music on the weekends, and has a Tiki Bar that’s open seasonally.
ECBA July events
The Professional Women of East Cobb will hold its monthly luncheon on Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at J. Christopher’s at Woodlawn Square (1205 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 114).
The cost is $20 for East Cobb Business Association members and $30 for non-members, and you can register in advance at this link. The event includes networking and a speaker from among the membership.
The objective, according to the ECBA, is “to build relationships with other East Cobb businesswomen. This group is intended to support, learn, and grow from one another.”
The featured speaker at the July 15 ECBA luncheon is Rainy Lynn, who will discuss “Experience Over Exposure: Building Deeper Client Connections,” devoted to developing marketing experiences that “that drive real engagement, brand loyalty, and long-term growth.”
The event, which lasts from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wellstar East Cobb Health Park (3747 Roswell Road) includes lunch and open networking.
The cost is $20 for ECBA members and $25 for non-members and you can sign up at this link.
There’s no ECBA After-Hours networking event in July.
NCBA on hiatus
The Northeast Cobb Business Association will resume activities in August.
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Aloke Devalia (left), Farwa Khan (center) and their children break ground at the forthcoming Celebree School in East Cobb. ECN photos.
Aloke Devalia and Farwa Khan are not unlike a number of East Cobb married couples who’ve taken the plunge into running a local business.
Devalia, a corporate revenue manager with Delta Air Lines, is continuing in his position. After working at a Marietta private preschool, Khan had a dream to start one of their own.
They’ve been in East Cobb for the last decade and are raising their children here (and who attend Dodgen MS and Timber Ridge ES).
For the last 15 years, Devalia said, he and his wife have looked at a variety of franchise options, and began saving and planning.
Together, the couple decided to invest in an early childhood education franchise location that’s among the first in the metro Atlanta area.
The Celebree School is set to open in the fall for infants through the pre-kindergarten age, at a former CVS store (1099 Johnson Ferry Road). A groundbreaking was held last Thursday, as work crews continue finishing interior renovations and as Khan provides tours to prospective families.
Another Celebree School is opening in the Smyrna area, as a 31-year-old company based in the Middle Atlantic states is reaching into the Southeast.
“This one is owned by the founder,” Devalia said of the Celebree School, which has locations in 24 states. “It’s an investment for us, but we’re doing it for the children in this community.”
He said that a number of children whose parents have signed them up thus far “are literally living in our neighborhood.”
Khan, who’s been accredited in the early childhood field for 15 years, said a family-focused opportunity was a major factor in getting started.
“We want to create a place,” she said, “that’s just like home.”
For the last two years, she and her husband have been searching for space in East Cobb for such a venture, but they found a dearth of suitable commercial real estate.
They had even been looling in nearby areas of metro Atlanta when the former CVS site became available for lease.
Since March, renovations have been underway to convert 10,000 square feet of what had been open retail space into a facility with nine classrooms and common areas.
The school’s objective is to “encourage curiosity, creativity, and exploration, along with a new, inclusive playground designed to engage children in physical activity and imaginative play.”
Khan said that the building will be ready later in July, with tentative opening in August or September. Each room has a window—those had to be cut out of the brick walls of the former pharmacy—and in the back a playground is being constructed that can’t be seen from Johnson Ferry Road.
The couple’s children are active in youth sports and other activities in the East Cobb area, as the family has settled in like many others who have come here for the same reasons.
“Community, faith and family,” Devalia says, “those are big values for us. This is kind of an opportunity for us to give back.”
Celebree School is accepting enrollment. For information, call 770-574-4867 or visit its website.
(Click the middle button below to view the slideshow.)
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A couple weeks ago, a reader told us that the long-standing Sherlock’s liquor store on Roswell Road in the East Lake area had been sold, but didn’t know what the new name would be.
We went by there earlier today and the new sign is up on the marquee: It’s called Everest Spirits, officially the Everest Spirits Superstore.
The Sherlock’s that had been on Ernest Barrett Parkway near Town Center Mall is the Everest Spirits and Wine Warehouse, and it opened under that new name in April 2024, per its Facebook page.
Nadeem Hirani, the new owner, told East Cobb News that a number of changes are in the works that customers will notice, including a new beer cooler with a beer cave featuring an increased product line, new red lights inside and outside the store “for better visibility and a secure shopping experience” and a revamping of the liquor and wine selection “to keep up our customers with new trends in the market.”
Hirani, who also owns the Town Center store, said he plans to add military and teacher discounts at the East Cobb location, along with monthly raffles and a new customer loyalty program.
He also said he is “keeping the same staff and adding more help to increase customer service and shopping experience.”
Sherlock’s opened in 1986 at several locations in metro Atlanta, including East Cobb, offering a large variety of wine, beer, spirits and cigars. There also were Sherlock’s stores in Decatur and Brookhaven that have since closed.
There remains a Sherlock’s Wine Shop on Northside Parkway in Buckhead. That’s where our reader was told to take his gift card that wasn’t honored when he wanted to use it at the East Cobb store, but before the Everest Spirits signs went up.
The Everest Spirits Superstore (2146 Roswell Road, at Robinson Road West) is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 12:30-8 p.m. Sunday.
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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.
