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, 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.
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- KSU’s ‘HatchBridge Incubator’ lends a hand to biz startups
- Biz Scene: Frameworks Gallery marks 50th anniversary
- Biz Scene: Modern Dental Center opens on Lower Roswell Road
- Cobb Chamber of Commerce names 2026 board chairwoman
- Avenue East Cobb property manager acquired by Parkaire
- Round Trip Brewing Co. opens at Avenue East Cobb
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