Just like the swallows to Capistrano, the students have returned to Athens once again. Hot townie summer is over, and parking exactly where you want to is once again a struggle. On the other hand, the locally owned bars and restaurants that managed to make it through what was, frankly, a rough summer now have more hope of surviving for another year. The Flagpole Guide to Athens was up to date when it went to press, and it remains the only truly comprehensive guide to our town, but things have already changed. Here’s some of what you missed if you were out of town from May through now, or maybe just checked out.
American Public House, a sort of coffee house/brewery/bar/restaurant, both opened and closed on Mitchell Bridge Road, in a building that’s never had a great reputation for longtime tenants. Signs and an Instagram account popped up for Traveling Chick’n, in the convenience store where Mitchell Bridge, Timothy Road and Atlanta Highway come together, and then, just as quickly, it was gone.
Downtown, Utage gave up the ghost. Across the street, Ahi Hibachi and Poke and Athens Wok are staying open for now as the hotel just behind them renovates under new ownership, but it’s possible the tenants will have to vacate post-renovation. Down the block, the downtown location of Amici closed (the Oconee County one remains open). Cravings, Philanthropy Fresh and the Warehouse, all on the same two-block stretch on Broad Street between Thomas and Jackson streets, are no more. Blenderz, a smoothie/açai bowl chain in The Mark, the massive apartment complex right next to downtown, closed just before the summer and isn’t coming back, but the complex applied for a permit to construct a food hall on what looks like its Hickory Street side. Maybe that’ll result in any sort of consistent food options in a location that has claimed many a business.
Things opened downtown, too, with Happy Lemon, a bubble tea place, opening in the William apartments on Newton and bb.q Chicken, a Korean chain, soon to follow. Poindexter Coffee in the Graduate Hotel became Iron Works Coffee in Hotel Abacus, with a rebrand. Bento Stop opened, with quick-service Korean food, at the base of the Washington Street parking deck. Kilwins, a franchise confectionery making chocolates, fudge, caramel apples and more, opened just this week near College Square on East Broad Street. Munch Hut added Indian food, then closed for renovations that aren’t completed yet. Is Athens Bagel Co. open yet? Nope. It’s possible Lucy will yank the football away again, but it does sound like things are getting close there.
Near downtown, Kenny Nguyen’s Pretty Boy is getting very close to opening in the Bottleworks and should provide another real-deal dining option. Normaltown Brewing, which was in the Tracy Street warehouses (not in Normaltown), has closed that location in preparation for a move to Barber Street, where it will occupy the former Jittery Joe’s Roaster (also not in Normaltown). Near there, the swanky Rivet House boutique hotel opened in the Southern Mill complex, off Oneta Street, complete with its own restaurant, Osteria Olio.
In Five Points, Bitty & Beau’s, the coffee shop staffed by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, closed, and ZZ & Simone’s has begun expanding into the space. In Beechwood, a location of Playa Bowls opened, and Jason’s Deli closed to make way for a First Watch. The former Hardee’s in front of Target is under construction to become a Metro Diner. Red Lobster closed, and San Angel Cocina and Cantina opened on the spot of what had been an Applebee’s and is now much nicer. The former Lickin’ Chicken, on Oak Street near downtown, has been demolished so that the next Cafe Racer can take its place, eventually.
Taqueria Morros, on Danielsville Road, has closed, which is a bummer, but Mitti Desi Cuisine opened on South Milledge, next to Achachi Market, offering a big menu of Indian food. Bon de Paris, on the Eastside, remains closed despite a banner promising that it would reopen that was installed months ago. Taqueria los Primos, on Highway 441 South, has new owners and a new name (La Laguna Express) but what looks to be a fairly similar menu. Two more Whataburgers (one in front of the Eastside Lowe’s, one on Highway 29 near the Space Kroger) have joined us.
Watkinsville got its own location of Baddies, at the former Crab Hut; a location of Crawford’s G Brand BBQ; a location of Winghouse Grill once again (in what had been Doughby’s); and Killer Crust Pizza Co., across from the University 16 movie theater and run by some folks who had been at Doughby’s. Small Cakes, a cupcake franchise, is open in Bogart. And the Oak Grove area continues to develop, with its own bubble tea franchise (Shake Tea) newly opened and a restaurant called Los Reyes that is not the same as the Los Reyes on Highway 29 North due to open soon. Between that and the La Parrilla set to open in Beechwood (unconnected to Athens’ longtime Taqueria La Parrilla), things are about to get considerably more confusing for families trying to meet up at a Mexican restaurant.
Now here’s to a successful football season that fills the pockets of service industry folks throughout town.
Like what you just read? Support Flagpole by making a donation today. Every dollar you give helps fund our ongoing mission to provide Athens with quality, independent journalism.
