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!
A small vacant space at the Merchant’s Exchange Shopping Center looks non-descript for the moment, with its windows blocked out to indicate renovations.
Behind the scenes, a new franchise of a small chain, the Fluffy Fluffy Dessert Cafe, is being prepared for a likely November opening.
The franchisee is truly local.
After a long career in the technology sector, Tri Phan recently began considering entrepreneurial opportunities. His daughters attend Walton High School, and he wants his new business to be community focused.
“I’ve been looking for a place in East Cobb,” he said, initially pursuing a coffee/tea establishment. “Even if this wasn’t a franchise, I’d want to operate it the same way.”
He settled on Fluffy Fluffy Cafe, a dessert cafe with a wide array of coffees and teas, plus a few savory items (menu here.)
The headliner, Phan says, is Japanese souffle pancakes.
Fluffy Fluffy grew out of an original concept in Toronto, and has expanded to nearly a dozen franchises in the United States, including two in metro Atlanta, Duluth and Tucker, which is having a Nov. 9 grand opening.
The East Cobb location will occupy nearly 2,000 square feet next to Jersey Mike’s when it opens. It will be among several new eateries at Merchant’s Exchange, including Katana Sushi and Hibachi and J’MZ and artisanal coffee and tea spot with juices, light breakfast items, bowls and bakery items.
“It was just time for a change, said Phan, who left his technology job as a product manager earlier this year when it was purchased by another company.
For now, as the location is being built out, Phan—who earned an MBA from the University of Michigan—is laying some marketing and promotional groundwork.
He hoping for a soft opening by the end of October with a grand opening in November, but hasn’t set any hard dates.
Phan said the opening hours for Fluffy Fluffy Cafe will be 10-8 Sunday-Thursday and 10-9 on Friday-Saturday.
Pause Studio sets grand opening
Pause Studio will have a flotation therapy chamber.
Pause Studio, which provides holistic wellness services, will hold its grand opening at Avenue East Cobb on Nov. 2 from 12-6 p.m. (475 Roswell Rd, Suite B-420).
Based in Los Angeles,, Pause will be opening its first franchise location outside of California, featuring wellness treatments, including floatation therapy, infrared saunas, LED light therapy, IV therapy, contrast therapy, cryotherapy, and naturopathic medicine.
“It’s been our passion to open a state-of-the-art wellness studio in our own backyard, helping us realize our vision of providing the community with modern, holistic lifestyle solutions that nurture both mind and body,” says franchise owner Lisa Benson, who is local. “Our mission is to lead Atlanta’s wellness space through unparalleled service, education, and by offering approachable and affordable solutions that empower everyone to live healthier, happier lives.”
A company release said the new Pause Studio is the first in Cobb County to receive health department approval for cold plunges and float tanks.
The grand opening includes food, drink mini-services from partners, a raffle, giveaways, studio tours and more. Initial Founding Discovery Packages at are being sold for 50 percent off, along with 20 percent off other packages and founding memberships.
Helping those in need
A number of businesses, religious institutions and other organizations have been collecting donations for Hurricane Helene victims in North Carolina.
Suburban Tap has been loading up several vehicles to transport to those needing assistance, as the restaurant notes on its Facebook page:
They’ve been asking for the donations on their social media channels for the last few days, and last week offered specials for refugees from Hurricane Milton in Florida.
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!
An Italian restaurant, Luga, and an adjoining patisserie, Giulia, will occupy the former Drift space at Avenue East Cobb.
A full-service Italian restaurant and an accompanying patisserie will be opening at Avenue East Cobb in 2025.
North American Properties announced Wednesday that Luga will occupy the former Drift Fish House and Oyster Bar space, serving up Italian cuisine that includes an expanded bar, an open kitchen, a private dining room and patio. The one-page menu includes “fresh antipasti, crisp salads, Roma-style pizzas, and house made pastas.”
The restaurant is a new concept by Ben and Seth Gjuka, brothers who opened Giulia, an Italian bakery, in Peachtree Corners in April. Their second location will operate adjacent to Luga and will serve pastries, croissants, sandwiches and a variety of coffee drinks.
NAP said that Luga and Guilia are expected to open next spring.
Next summer, Tenku Sushi Elevation will be opening in one of the new “jewel box” buildings that’s part of Avenue East Cobb’s recent redevelopment.
Tenku’s first restaurant, in Woodstock, offers a variety of Japanese dishes that include nigiri and sashimi, signature rolls, robata grills, omakase, and flame-seared marinated octopus.
The Avenue East Cobb location will have a rooftop bar.
Two retail stores are slated to come to Avenue East Cobb later this year.
Women’s clothing boutique Nic + Zoe is expected to open for the holidays near the Kendra Scott store.
Over the winter, luxury bedding company Boll & Branch will be opening next to the Barnes & Noble store.
A Super Chix fast-casual restaurant recently opened at Avenue, adding to a slate of new eateries that includes Round Trip Brewing Co.
Also opening at Avenue is eLo Vegan Lifestyle, the flagship store for natural body products. Slated to open soon is a Pause Studio location.
NAP said the new additions will make Avenue East Cobb 96 percent leased, compared to the 75 percent occupancy rate when it took over management of the retail center in 2021.
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!
The Flying Biscuit Cafe at Parkaire Landing was among the restaurants in East Cobb that announced Friday it was closing due to weather stemming from Tropical Storm Helene.
But a social media posting from the restaurant also indicated the doors won’t be opening up again.
“We have made the decision to permanently close this location and focus our growth with our other Atlanta locations,” the message on its Facebook page said.
“Please visit us nearby in Kennesaw, Roswell or Sandy Springs!”
East Cobb News has left a message with the company seeking more information.
Flying Biscuit opened at the retail center in March 2021, then closed several months later due to a management change and staff retraining.
It’s the second time a location of the Atlanta-based breakfast and lunch chain has left East Cobb.
Flying Biscuit occupied an outparcel in the Woodlawn Commons Shopping Center until 2010.
Since its reopening in East Cobb, however, the local breakfast-lunch competition has grown. In addition to J. Christopher’s, Biscuits and More and Eggs Up, the Johnson Ferry corridor also includes a First Watch location, also in Woodlawn Commons.
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!
The fast casual chicken franchise Super Chix opened its third location in Georgia Monday at Avenue East Cobb, the retail center announced.
As we noted earlier this year, the eatery is occupying the former Victoria’s Secret space (3,800 square feet) andthe franchisee is East Cobb resident Missy Newks.
The Texas-based company serves grilled chicken sandwiches (which the chain dubs “The Last True Chicken Sandwich”), hand-cut fries and frozen custards (menu here).
The flavor options for the chicken sandwiches, salads and tenders include Nashville Hot, Cheesy BBQ, Buffalo Ranch, Blackened Cajun, Crispy Avocado and Cordon Bleu.
In addition to the fries, Super Chix also serves fried pickles, and coleslaw and kids’ meals.
The frozen custards are available in cups, cold fusions, shakes and pints. Flavors include Strawberry Cheesecake, Cookies n’ Cream, Butterfinger, English Toffee, and Reese’s Peanut Buttercup.
Super Chix is the fourth restaurant/eatery to open at Avenue East Cobb since the retail center’s overhaul, joining Round Trip Brewing Co., Peach State Pizza and Press Waffle Co. The existing Tin Lizzy’s also expanded to include a game bar with food service from the main restaurant.
It’s also the latest fast-casual chicken eatery in what’s becoming a competitive market in East Cobb. In April, Howlin’ Willy’s, a hot-chicken concept from Willy’s Mexicana Grill, opened at Pine Straw Place.
Guthrie’s Chicken will be opening in a drive-through-only capacity at the intersection of Lower Roswell and Johnson Ferry roads. Construction work is nearing completion but a specific timetable hasn’t been announced.
Super Chix hours are daily from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and online ordering is available.
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!
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!
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!
The fast-casual chain MOD Pizza has been closing a number of restaurants across the country in recent months, and recently that included its location at Sandy Plains Marketplace (3460 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 250).
The Seattle-based chain closed 26 locations in the first quarter of 2024, according to Restaurant Business Magazine, and earlier this month the company was purchased by Elite Restaurant Group as financial pressures mounted.
That report indicated that 44 closures have taken place following reports of possible bankruptcy.
MOD stands for “Made on Demand” and is the focal concept of a build-your-0wn pizza product. Nation’s Restaurant News says MOD has more than 500 restaurants remaining as it reorganizes under new ownership.
Five MOD Pizza restaurants operate in metro Atlanta, including on Cobb Parkway in Kennesaw and in Sandy Springs.
MOD was one of several nation and regional chain restaurants that opened at the then-new Sandy Plains Marketplace—on the site of the former Mountain View Elementary School—right before the COVID-19 pandemic was declared.
The others are still open: First Watch; Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar; Jim ‘N N ick’s BBQ; Panda Express and Clean Juice.
The major vacancy at the 72,689-square-foot retail center is the former GreenWise Market space. The Publix-operated organic foods grocery store closed in late 2021, after less than a year and a half in business.
WZ Tavern goes indie
After nearly nine years in business, the WZ Tavern located nearby at 3052 Shallowford Road has changed its name.
The “WZ” stood for Wing Zone, a Las Vegas-based chain which had an agreement with the East Cobb owners that has ended.
It’s now called Home Tavern, and it promises the same ambience with some menu changes. “Our new menu will include many of our long-standing favorites, along with new items that continue our Chef inspired commitment to delicious food!”
The situation is similar to another local wing institution, The Wing Cafe & Tap House, which broke away from the Wild Wing Cafe chain several years ago and has been at the same space at East Lake Shopping Center for more than 20 years.
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!
