ATLANTA, Georgia (Atlanta News First) – The Colonnade, open since 1927, is now for sale.
The Colonnade, considered Atlanta’s second oldest restaurant, was recently put up for sale.
“For me, it’s just time to move on. Let new energy come in and pass the torch. May the Colonnade continue to thrive and maybe even a little more,” said owner Jodi Stallings.
Stallings, who bought the restaurant from her father, said her decision to sell was not influenced by recent economic factors that have led to the closure of neighboring businesses in the Cheshire Bridge neighborhood.
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“Fortunately, the bridges are back open and we’re thriving. We’re just as busy as ever. It’s not because our business or our lease is in jeopardy,” Stallings said.
In recent years, several bridges along the Cheshire Bridge Road have burned down – resulting in lengthy road closures and preventing businesses in the greater Northeast Atlanta area from continuing their operations.
After the pandemic and again after the bridge closure, the City of Atlanta stepped in to provide financial assistance to some businesses along Cheshire Bridge Road.
The Colonnade also received tremendous financial support during the pandemic through a community fundraising campaign.
Earlier this month, the Original Pancake House on Cheshire Bridge Road suddenly closed.
“It’s terrible. I mean, you know how my staff felt, they were devastated. Because we always managed to get through it,” said Darryl Newton, former general manager of The Original Pancake House.
Newton said her sales dropped 50% after a large apartment fire temporarily closed the main access road to the restaurant.
“It was bad. It was bad,” Newton said. “People couldn’t come here.”
In the months following the fireTo offset the losses, Newton initially charged an additional tip on customers’ checks.
Newton said he would like to see the city of Atlanta do more to revitalize Cheshire Bridge Road.
“I think the city needs to get involved, the mayor needs to get involved, he needs to come and look at the Cheshire Bridge, inspect it and rehabilitate it,” Newton said.
In fact, Newton worked at the Colonnade before taking a job at the Pancake House.
“It was the food, the drinks, the atmosphere,” Newton said when asked about the culture at The Colonnade.
Stallings said she plans to spend more time at her home in the mountains of northern Georgia after the sale.
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