One of East Cobb’s longest-lasting Cajun-style restaurants has closed its doors.
AJ’s Famous Seafood and PoBoys (2100 Roswell Road, Suite 2148, in the Pavilions at East Lake) is listed as permanently closed on its Facebook page.
When we went by, we saw that tables and chairs had been removed and kitchen equipment was being cleared out of the 2,800 square feet of space next to Kroger.
Brixmor, the retail center’s leasing agent, has listed that space as being available. The restaurant’s website also has expired.
There wasn’t a sign on the doors announcing a closure, but like many restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic, AJ’s struggled with labor shortages and announced a number of short-notice closures.
East Cobb News has left a message with AJ’s seeking comment.
The restaurant—which specialized in Louisiana-style dishes like muffaletta sandwiches and fried alligator tacos—also was trying to reobtain an alcohol license.
AJ’s got an “A” score of 91 during a health inspection just last week.
Andy Erbacher opened AJ’s at the Pavilions 18 years ago as a neighborhood-style establishment, featuring seafood from the Gulf coast.
Shortly before COVID, AJ’s expanded with an oyster bar that took up space formerly occupied by a hair salon. The oyster bar closed early in the pandemic.
In 2021, Erlacher was outspoken about the Major League All-Star game being moved from nearby Truist Park due a Georgia election law, appearing on a live Fox News segment.
“We made it through COVID,” he said. “We were looking forward to things starting to get back to somewhat normal” in anticipating good business for the three-day All-Star event.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also visited AJ’s in the wake of that decision, critical of the boycott and its impact on the local economy.
Further down at the Pavilions, a new seafood restaurant will be opening soon—Captain Charlie’s Seafood & More—located next to the J. Christopher’s.
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My family+ had been going there since they opened, on a regular basis. It will be a tough act to follow for Captain Charlie. Having oysters might make up a little bit of the difference. Good luck to all who work there in the kitchen and the wait staff in your future endeavors❗️
We went just a couple of weeks ago. Prices have gotten too high, and a 3% add on it you use a credit card. We would not have been going back. Sad.
I would drive from Cartersville occasionally to have dinner there. My wife was from New Orleans and enjoyed the food there as much as any we’d get on our trips back to the Gulf coast. We were not regulars but always enjoyed our meals and the service when we dined there. Sad to see AJ’s close. Best regards for your future.
Sorry, but Andy was too busy drinking to focus on the business. He didn’t put anything into getting the liquor license back. Really sad cause it was a great place.
You can’t get the crony thugocracy upset or they’ll put you out of business.
Sorry to see it close as we were regulars, losing the liquor license and not able to get it back truly hurt the business, then owner started Nickle-diming loyal customers who supported him during the pandemic that’s when we stopped going. Can’t piss off the liquor board and expect to regain license!
Losing his liquor license was the death knell. That was where the profits were (and non meal time revenues). Not sure what kind of mistake he made or who he vexed in government to lose his license and not be able to get it back.
Having said that, the food was excellent, service always friendly and quick. One of my favorite places to eat. Really sorry to see him go.
Captain Charlie’s Seafood has a high hurdle to leap if they think they will replace successfully rellace AJ’s
Feel bad for him. Service was good although the prices were raised enough that I had to stop going. $20 just for a sandwich was too much for me. Fries were extra. He probably had to do all that due to sinking profits with inflation and labor issues. Good luck to him in other ventures.
Bummer. Great food, fair prices, nice folks. Sad to see it go.