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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Sabrina Gao set up a GoFundMe page and said of her mother, Jasmine Chen, that “I would really like to surprise her and try to help her rebuild everything.”
Chen has owned Chin Chin for the last 15 years, and was called to the scene in the early morning hours Tuesday as the standalone restaurant on 617 Johnson Ferry Road burned to ground.
Cobb Fire said 911 calls came shortly after 1 a.m. In her GoFundMe message, Gao said that she woke up to her mother on a phone call telling her about the fire, and she soon followed.
“I took my sister with me and drove to her restaurant at 2 in the morning. . . . My family is devastated.”
Gao, who attended Walton High School, said the restaurant became something of a second home for her and her siblings, who grew up without their father around.
“It makes me sad to think about how my mom feels. . . . My mom would always take me and my siblings to ChinChin to watch after us since she didn’t want us to be home alone.”
Gao has set a fundraising goal of $15,000, and has raised nearly $2,000 in the first day.
Cobb Fire said the restaurant’s roof collapsed and the fire spread quickly, and with more than 30 firefighters on the scene the blaze took nearly five hours to put out. The cause is still being investigated, according to district chief Justin Green.
“She is lost right now without a clue on what to do,” Gao said of her mother. “Lots of people lost their jobs today, but my family and I lost our homes today.”
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The daughter of the restaurant’s owner has started a fundraiser: “I would really like to surprise her and try to help her rebuild everything.”
ORIGINAL REPORT:
A fire has destroyed most of the standalone building that has been the home of the Chin Chin Chinese restaurant in East Cobb for nearly three decades.
The early Tuesday morning blaze consumed most the restaurant’s facility at 617 Johnson Ferry Road.
It’s located just south of Lower Roswell Road and across from the entrance to Parkaire Landing Shopping Center, in between a Waffle House and Dunkin Donuts.
Cobb District Fire Chief Justin Green told East Cobb News that a 911 call was received around 1 a.m. Tuesday, and firefighters arrived on the scene a few minutes later to find smoke and fire coming through the roof of the building.
Crews were inside when the roof collapsed, and the fire took five hours to contain, with more than 300,000 gallons of water needed to put it out.
Green said around 35 firefighters and other personnel were on the scene—five engines, three ladder trucks, a rescue vehicle and two battalion chiefs—and that no one was injured.
Two lanes of Johnson Ferry Road southbound were closed while fire crews were on the scene early Tuesday morning.
Green said the cause of the fire is still being investigated, and that it might take longer than is usual due to the roof collapse.
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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!
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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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Several restaurants in East Cobb will be participating in Cobb Travel and Tourism’s annual Cobb Foodie Week promotion.
The event takes place from Sept. 6-13, and customers will be able to redeem digital coupons for meals, appetizers and other menu items from more than 50 restaurants in Cobb.
The restaurants will be detailing their specific promotions at cobbfoodieweek.com by the end of August. Here’s who’s taking part in East Cobb:
Camps Kitchen and Bar (Paper Mill Village)
Cuban Diner (East Marietta Shopping Center)
Green Coyote Cantina (Paper Mill Village)
Marlow’s Tavern Merchants Walk
Marlow’s Tavern (Sandy Plains Shopping Center)
Mezza Luna Italian Restaurant (Pavilions at East Lake)
Peach State Pizza (Avenue East Cobb)
Press Waffle Co. (Avenue East Cobb)
Round Trip Brewing Company (Avenue East Cobb)
Seed Kitchen & Bar (Merchants Walk)
Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery (Avenue East Cobb)
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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.
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!
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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!
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!
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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.
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!
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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!
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!
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!
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!
victims of what’s apparently a burglary spree earlier this week.
