JavaVino’s closure + holiday bar design magic

Dec. 11 — For today’s Side Dish, we offer a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to put on annual holiday pop-ups at five Atlanta restaurants. Plus, we have a story on the opening of Lewis Barbecue at Ansley Mall, and more on the closure of JavaVino in Poncey-Highland – including what the future holds for the space.  

 In other Atlanta dining news, get details on three big restaurant closures, the reopening of Mellow Mushroom in Decatur, and the upcoming opening of a new Irish bar and pub in South Downtown. We also have news on an Atlanta chef’s debut cookbook and the death of the founder behind Sonny’s BBQ. 

 In case you missed it in your inbox on Tuesday evening, here’s a link to the latest edition of “Family Meal“. In it, Beth includes a story on El Azteca and its 45-year legacy on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. She also tells you where to seek out jägerschnitzel in Atlanta. And Sarra shares The Daily’s recipe for oatmeal cream pies.

Cheers!

 Beth and  Sarra

Have You Heard?

 Restaurant Reopening

Five months after closing, the Decatur location of Mellow Mushroom reopened this week – and with a new look. The West Ponce pizzeria received a much-needed exterior and interior refresh, a dedicated to-go entrance and pick-up area, and a revamped patio and bar. Expect a few new items on the menu in Decatur, too, including a couple of salads and cocktails. 

“This location means a lot to Mellow Mushroom, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to return with new energy, [to] reconnect and deliver the best possible guest experience for the neighborhood,” Ahsan Jiva, Executive Vice President of Strategy, said in a prepared statement.

 More Restaurant Openings

Check out this brief roundup of recent restaurant openings and announcements of upcoming restaurants you might have missed in November.

 Airport Restaurant Opening

Celebrity pastry chef and TV personality Duff Goldman opened Duff’s Deli + Market on Concourse C at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Look for egg sandwiches, deli classics like hot pastrami and matzo ball soup, and baked goods such as Duff’s black and white cookies.

 Restaurant Closures

Right on the heels of the announcement that Daddy D’z BBQ would close on Memorial Drive at the end of December, the owners of Agave in neighboring Cabbagetown announced they will close the Southwestern restaurant on Jan. 31, 2026. Daddy D’z and Agave have been part of the Memorial Drive and Boulevard corridors for 35 years and 25 years, respectively. While the owner of Daddy D’z property plans to sell, Agave’s owners cited the “current economic climate and unsustainable conditions” as reasons for their decision to close. Learn more about the history of Agave and the Cabbagetown restaurant’s building from Victoria Lemos of Archive Atlanta. 

Tomorrow’s News Today reports that the Beltline location of One Flew South closed at the end of November. Calls by Rough Draft to the restaurant went unanswered, the location appeared dark on a recent visit, and the Beltline location is no longer listed on One Flew South’s website or social media. The original location remains open on Concourse E at Hartsfield. Backed by Jackmont Hospitality, One Flew South opened in the former Hazel Jane’s wine bar space on the Eastside Trail three years ago. 

 Coming Attractions

A Midtown location of Korean bakery-cafe White Windmill will open at 1331 Spring St. inside the Midtown Union building. White Windmill recently opened its first in-town location at Uptown Atlanta near the Lindbergh MARTA station. 

The owners of New York City bar Dead Rabbit plan to open The Irish Exit next year at Centennial Yards in South Downtown. Expect a drinks menu centered around Irish and local beers, whiskey, and cocktails, along with Irish pub food. The Irish Exit will join Wild Leap Brewery and Distillery, Khao Thai Isan, and Shake Shack at Centennial Yards. Check out Rough Draft for the latest restaurant and development news happening in South Downtown.

 ATL Chef’s First Cookbook

Lazy Betty co-owner and chef Ron Hsu will debut his first cookbook in March. Called Down South + East: A Chinese American Cookbook, Hsu will share recipes for dishes he cooks at home, as well as those inspired by his Chinese-American upbringing in Metro Atlanta. The cookbook will include a forward written by Hsu’s mentor and former Le Bernardin employer, Chef Eric Ripert. 

Hsu and restaurant partner and chef Aaron Phillips first opened Lazy Betty six years ago in Candler Park. The chefs relocated the tasting menu restaurant to the former Empire State South space in Midtown last year. Since opening in 2019, Lazy Betty has racked up numerous accolades, including one star from Michelin in its 2023, 2024, and 2025 dining guides. 

 Merger

STHRN Hospitality Co., the group behind Westside Motor Lounge, partnered with the owners of Atlanta institution Midtown Bowl. STHRN plans to help the 65-year-old bowling alley on Piedmont Circle attract new patrons by giving it a brand makeover – including food, drinks, and events – and upgrades to the kitchen and sound system. 

 RIP

Floyd “Sonny” Tillman, the founder of Sonny’s BBQ, has died. Tillman, who opened Sonny’s BBQ in 1968 in Gainesville, FL, was 96. Georgia features 14 locations of Sonny’s BBQ, including restaurants in Marietta, Buford, Jonesboro, and Lawrenceville. 

 Santa Loves the Dogs

Skiptown Bar & [Dog] Park in Kirkwood will celebrate the holidays with a series of festive events this month. Look for a Howliday Market on Dec. 13 and a photoshoot with Santa and the Grinch on Dec. 20.

 ICYMI

From Atlanta to Alpharetta to Marietta, we’ve compiled a list of more than 30 holiday-themed restaurants and pop-up bars decked in good cheer, serving festive cocktails, dishes, and desserts from now until the New Year.

Georgia Grown Holiday Gifts at Cook’s Warehouse

SPONSORED BY GEORGIA GROWN

 Georgia Grown goodies make the best gifts! Whether you buy them for stocking stuffers or you build your own beautiful gift basket, nothing says you’ve got great taste like a gift from our local craft food makers!

Stop by for chef demonstrations to sample a few bites, and meet the farmers!

 Join us Sat., Dec. 20 from 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. at Cook’s Warehouse at Ansley Mall.

Top Stories From the Week

JavaVino closing Dec. 14 and becoming a wholesale coffee business

 This week, the owners of JavaVino announced the Dec. 14 closure of the coffee and wine bar after nearly 20 years on North Highland. But JavaVino won’t go completely dark. Instead, it will shift to a wholesale coffee business, something co-owner Heddy Kuhl sees as a positive development.

Kuhl and co-owner Steve Franklin are also currently finalizing the sale of the space with a new owner who plans to open a similar cafe called At Arbeta. It, too, will serve JavaVino coffee.

 Read more about JavaVino’s closure and plans for the space here.

A behind-the-scenes look at how restaurants make the holiday pop-up magic happen

 Despite being hard hit this year by higher ingredient prices, tariffs, labor challenges, and rent hikes, more Atlanta bars and restaurants than ever before are getting into the holiday makeover spirit in December. 

For many bars and restaurants, operating a holiday pop-up is simply a continuation and an unstoppable acceleration of what’s become an annual tradition. 

 Read more from Rough Draft contributor Su-Jit Lin here.

Lewis Barbecue makes its big debut at Ansley Mall

 Charleston-based Lewis Barbecue opened this week at Ansley Mall in Piedmont Heights. The Texas-style barbecue restaurant flanks the Beltline, with a blue bridge spanning across a gully that provides pedestrians and cyclists on the trail direct access to Ansley Mall.

Owner and founder John Lewis has been scouting venues for an Atlanta location for about six years, finding the perfect spot this year within the sprawling shopping complex bordering Midtown, Piedmont Heights, and Morningside.

 Read more about Lewis Barbecue’s new Atlanta location here. 

At the Market + Two Recipes

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKETS

Each week, Rough Draft Atlanta and Community Farmers Markets are partnering to bring you two recipes that you can make using fresh ingredients from your local farmers market. This week, we’ve got two distinct recipes that are sure to delight – a tasty broccolini risotto and a hearty harvest pancake. Check out both recipes here.

Today’s Side Dish was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.

The post 😭 JavaVino closing appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

Check out opentable.com and Resy.com for a more comprehensive list of Atlanta-area restaurants open for lunch and dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve-Eve 

The General Muir Christmas Eve Eve (and Eve) Dinners 
Emory/Druid Hills 

The General Muir kicks off the holidays with a “traditional” Chinese Christmas dinner, available Dec. 22 and 23 for dine-in service. The restaurant also offers a special holiday takeout menu.

Christmas Eve 

Aria
Buckhead

Aria will open from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 24 serving the regular dinner menu. Reservations encouraged.

Carmel’s Feast of Seven Fishes Dinner
Buckhead 

Celebrate Christmas Eve by partaking in the traditional Italian-American dinner of Feast of the Seven Fishes at Carmel. The multi-course dinner will feature dishes like an Osetra caviar tart, striped bass, and crab-stuffed lobster. $95 per person, with optional drink pairings. Reservations encouraged.

Omakase Table 
Buckhead 

Indulge in Michelin-starred Omakase Table’s 20-course tasting menu for $295 per person on Christmas Eve.

The Southern Gentleman 
Buckhead

From 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., The Southern Gentleman will serve both brunch and dinner on Christmas Eve.

Le Colonial 
Buckhead 

Celebrate Christmas Eve at Le Colonial with festive food specials and the regular dinner menu.

MARTA Dining Guide: Doraville/Buford Highway
(Many restaurants on Buford Highway are open on Christmas Eve/Day.)

Your 3rd Spot
Underwood Hills, The Works

From 2-8 p.m. on Christmas Eve, families are welcome at Your 3rd Spot, an arcade-style restaurant, for a day that features a Christmas slide, photos with Santa, holiday craft station, and unlimited game passes for a $25 entry fee. Kids 3 and under, or 70 and older, receive complimentary admission.

Buena Vida Tapas Bar
Old Fourth Ward 

Celebrate Christmas Eve with a Spanish twist. Buena Vida will serve its regular menu, along with a few festive dishes.

Il Premio
Old Fourth Ward 

The Forth Hotel steakhouse will open on Christmas Eve serving its full dinner menu. Reservations encouraged.

Moonlight
Old Fourth Ward 

Head upstairs at the Forth Hotel to Moonlight cocktail bar with its skyline views for a holiday party on Christmas Eve. Reservations encouraged.

Little Bear
Summerhill

Little Bear returns with its annual Jewish Chinese Christmas dinner, taking place on both Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day. Reservations highly encouraged.

The Ashford on Dresden 
Brookhaven 

The Brookhaven restaurant will open for regular service on Christmas Eve.

Joey D’s Oak Room
Dunwoody

Joey D’s will open on Christmas Eve for lunch and early dinner from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Select
Sandy Springs

Decked out in its holiday finest, The Select will offer a three-course Christmas Eve dinner for $85 per person. There’s also a two-course kids’ menu for $42 per person. Vegan options available by request. Reservations encouraged.

Truth Be Told 
Roswell 

Truth Be Told on Canton Street will serve a festive pre-fixe dinner on Christmas Eve for $115 per person. Reservations required.

CRÚ Wine Bar & Bistro
Alpharetta, The Battery 

The Alpharetta and Battery locations of Cru Wine Bar will offer a Christmas Eve dinner from 4-9 p.m. The holiday menu, features three courses with dishes like lobster bisque, truffle-fondue tortellini, Barolo-braised short rib, and herb-roasted sea bass. Look for desserts, too, including molten chocolate cake and a Christmas crème brûlée. Reservations encouraged.

Cattle Shed Wine & Steak Bar
Alpharetta/Forsyth County

Cattle Shed Wine & Steak Bar at Halcyon will open for Christmas Eve serving a holiday menu, including bacon-wrapped scallops and Beef Wellington. Expect festive cocktails like a gingerbread martini and mistletoe margarita. Reservations encouraged.

Ocean & Acre 
Alpharetta/Forsyth County

The coastal cuisine-inspired restaurant at Halcyon will open on Christmas Even from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. serving its regular lunch and dinner menus.

Marlow’s Tavern
Multiple Locations 

All locations of Marlow’s Tavern will remain open until 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Stop by Santa’s Speakeasy at the East Cobb and Woodstock locations for extra festive fun.

Related: Get festive at these holiday pop-up bars around Atlanta

Christmas Day 

The Americano
Buckhead 

The Americano at The InterContinental Buckhead will open from noon to 7 p.m. for a prix-fixe Italian feast on Christmas Day. $100 per person. $50 for children 12 and under. Reservations encouraged.

Gypsy Kitchen 
Buckhead

The Buckhead Village restaurant will open from 4 to 7 p.m. on Christmas Day serving specials like Moroccan-spiced lamb chops with sumac tzatziki, seared scallops with saffron cauliflower purée, and duck breast with Manchego polenta and a port-cherry reduction.

The Waldorf Astoria: Brassica
Buckhead 

The Waldorf Astoria’s restaurant, Brassica, will open on Christmas Day offering a three-course prix-fixe menu from noon to 8 p.m. $180 per person. $95 per child. Reservations required.

The Sparrow
Midtown

The West Peachtree Asian tavern plans to open for lunch and dinner on both Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day.

Marcus Bar & Grille 
Old Fourth Ward 

From 1 to 6:30 p.m. on Christmas Day, Marcus Bar & Grill on Edgewood Avenue will host a Southern-inspired holiday buffet. Reservations encouraged.

Elektra 
Old Fourth Ward 

The Forth Hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant overlooking the rooftop pool will open on Christmas Day featuring holiday food and drink specials. Each reservation includes a s’mores and hot cocoa kit. Reservations encouraged.

Nakato
Cheshire Bridge

Nakato will open for dinner on Christmas Eve (3 to 9 p.m.) AND Christmas Day (1 to 9 p.m.). Reservations for sushi and hibachi highly encouraged on both days.

Holiday Takeout Service

Mary Mac’s Tea Room 
Midtown 

Mary Mac’s on Ponce will offer a family feast for takeout on both Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day, feeding up to 10 people. Dinner features dishes like turkey breast, smoked ham, Southern-style green beans, whipped potatoes, collard greens, sweet potato pie, and banana pudding. Order online.   

Ela
Virginia-Highland

The Fifth Group-backed Mediterranean restaurant offers a take-and-bake holiday feast feeding up to four people. The three-course dinner features dishes like feta-brined chicken, za’atar salmon, butternut squash and halloumi salad, and a mezze board for $120. The meal comes with Greek doughnuts for dessert. Order online.

Staplehouse
Old Fourth Ward

The Michelin-recognized restaurant and market will once again offer holiday meal kits that include Beef Wellington and optional sides like Robuchon potatoes, a kale Caesar, dinner rolls, and pecan pie. Order just the Beef Wellington ($120), or build a feast around the main. Order online to pick up by Dec. 23.

Wood’s Chapel BBQ
Summerhill 

Wood’s Chapel BBQ will offer Christmas catering, featuring rosemary and garlic roast beef, spiral ham, and apricot and maple-glazed duck, along with sides like cornbread dressing and butternut squash casserole, with gingerbread cheesecake for dessert. Check out the menu and order by Dec. 16 here.

Joey D’s Oak Room
Dunwoody

Grab Christmas Day dinner from the Dunwoody classic, including prime rib ($47), sides, the restaurant’s popular croissants with honey butter, and salad. A prime rib with sides costs $239 and feeds up to six people. Order online to pick up on Dec. 24.

The Select
Sandy Springs

The Sandy Springs restaurant will offer a Christmas feast for takeout this year to include Beef Wellington, herbed fingerling potatoes, and green beans, starting at $95 for two people. Order online.

Delbar
Alpharetta, Inman Park, Buckhead 

All locations of Delbar Middle Eastern Restaurant will offer harissa-spiced leg of lamb to reheat at home. The lamb feeds up to seven people. Order here to pick up at location of your choice.

The post Atlanta restaurants offering dine-in and takeout service on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

Here’s what you’ll find in the way of produce at the farmers market this week: Bok choy/pak choi, carrots, radishes, turnips, apples, winter squashes, kale, sweet potatoes, mandarins/satsuma oranges, beets, sunchokes, arugula, eggplant, tomatoes, garlic,  khlorabi, lettuce/mixed greens, potatoes, microgreens, peppers, gourmet mushrooms (oyster, lion’s mane, shiitake), herbs (parsley, chives, green onions, rosemary), and tomatoes.

Look for these specialty items: Pecans, smoked salmon and trout, flowers (marigolds, sunflowers, cosmos, mixed flower bouquets), pastured pork, wild caught shrimp, eggs, goat + sheep cheese, milk, jam, chocolate, honey, oils, tea blends, cold pressed juices, hot sauce, vinegars, nut butters, spice blends, ghee, pickles, pasta, tortillas, apple cider, and bone broth.

Atlanta non-profit Community Farmers Markets (CFM) has been building community through farmers markets since 2011. Operating weekly outdoor farmers markets as well as rotating farm stands are strategies by which the organization addresses food access in Atlanta. CFM also offers educational programming in the community, financial incentives to make local food more affordable, and professional development for small businesses.

See y’all at the farmers market!

Broccolini Risotto Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 5 oz Oyster Mushrooms
• 1 bunch and 1 bag of broccolini
• 1 quart Lamb Bone Broth 
• ½ bulb garlic, 6-8 cloves
• ½ bunch of parsley
• 5-6 cups of water
• Salt and pepper
• 3ish cups of arborio rice
• 3 tbsp white wine vinegar
• A dash of nutmeg
• 2 tbsp olive oil and butter 
• 1 onion, chopped small
• 1.5 cups parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Directions:

1. Chop all of your fresh ingredients: onions, parsley, garlic, mushrooms, and broccolini. 
2. While chopping, heat 2 medium stock pots over medium heat. Add olive oil and butter to one and your stock, water, and some salt and pepper to the other. 
3. Add your onion, mushrooms, and broccolini stems to the stock pot with oil and butter and sauté until soft. Then add your parsley, garlic, and arborio rice. Mix until well combined and toasted slightly. 
4. Start to slowly add your stock about 2 ladles or ½ cup at a time, stirring continuously until the rice absorbs all of the liquid. Then add more stock until the liquid is gone and rice is al dente, but soft. 
5. Add the broccolini florets, chopped small, white wine vinegar, nutmeg, and parmesan cheese and stir to bring it all together. 
6. Garnish with herbs or more cheese and enjoy!

Harvest Pancake with Satsuma Compote Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 5 peeled and chopped satsuma 
• 5 pink lady apples, small dice
• 12 oz ginger granola
• 3 TB cane syrup
• 2 medium sized sweet potatoes, grated 
• 1 box of your favorite pancake mix
• 2 C non-dairy milk
• 3 TB oil of your choice, plus extra for cooking pancakes 
• 1 tsp Chinese 5 spice, 
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp cardamom 
• pinch of cayenne

Directions:

1. Combine pancake mix, milk, oil, apples, sweet potato and spices in a large bowl, whisking together until a smooth batter is formed. 
2. In a large pan on medium heat, spoon 3 TBS amounts of batter and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. 
3. In a separate pan, heat the satsumas with the cane syrup until it begins to bubble, then turn on low heat and simmer for 10 minutes. 
4. Serve the satsuma compote over the pancakes, and then top with ginger granola. Enjoy!

You can also find the recipes for Broccolini Risotto and Harvest Pancake with Satsuma Compote on Community Farmers Markets’ Instagram.

The post This week at the Farmers Market appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

Restaurant Reopening

Five months after closing, the Decatur location of Mellow Mushroom reopened this week – and with a new look. The West Ponce pizzeria received a much-needed exterior and interior refresh, a dedicated to-go entrance and pick-up area, and a revamped patio and bar. Expect a few new items on the menu in Decatur, too, including a couple of salads and cocktails. 

“This location means a lot to Mellow Mushroom, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to return with new energy, reconnect and deliver the best possible guest experience for the neighborhood,” Ahsan Jiva, Executive Vice President of Strategy said in a prepared statement.

Restaurant Openings

Check out this brief roundup of recent restaurant openings and announcements of upcoming restaurants you might have missed in November.

Airport Restaurant Opening

Celebrity pastry chef and TV personality Duff Goldman opened Duff Deli + Market on Concourse C at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Look for egg sandwiches, deli classics like hot pastrami and matzo ball soup, and baked goods such as Duff’s black and white cookies.

Restaurant Closures

Right on the heels of the announcement that Daddy D’z BBQ would close on Memorial Drive at the end of December, the owners of Agave in neighboring Cabbagetown announced they will close the Southwestern restaurant on Jan. 31, 2026. Daddy D’z and Agave have been part of the Memorial Drive and Boulevard corridors for 35 years and 25 years, respectively. While the owner of Daddy D’z property plans to sell, Agave’s owners cited the “current economic climate and unsustainable conditions” as reasons for their decision to close. Learn more about the history of Agave and the Cabbagetown restaurant’s building from Victoria Lemos of Archive Atlanta. 

Tomorrow’s News Today reports that the Beltline location of One Flew South closed at the end of November. Calls by Rough Draft to the restaurant went unanswered, the location appeared dark on a recent visit, and the Beltline location is no longer listed on One Flew South’s website or social media. The original location remains open on Concourse E at Hartsfield. Backed by Jackmont Hospitality, One Flew South opened in the former Hazel Jane’s wine bar space on the Eastside Trail three years ago. 

Coming Attractions

A Midtown location of Korean bakery-cafe White Windmill will open at 1331 Spring St. inside the Midtown Union building. White Windmill recently opened its first in-town location at Uptown Atlanta near the Lindbergh MARTA station. 

The owners of New York City bar Dead Rabbit plan to open The Irish Exit next year at Centennial Yards in South Downtown. Expect a drinks menu centered around Irish and local beers, whiskey, and cocktails, along with Irish pub food. The Irish Exit will join Wild Leap Brewery and Distillery, Khao Thai Isan, and Shake Shack at Centennial Yards. Check out Rough Draft for the latest restaurant and development news happening in South Downtown.

ATL Chef’s First Cookbook

Lazy Betty co-owner and chef Ron Hsu will debut his first cookbook in March. Called Down South + East: A Chinese American Cookbook, Hsu will share recipes for dishes he cooks at home, as well as those inspired by his Chinese-American upbringing in metro Atlanta. The cookbook will include a forward written by Hsu’s mentor and former Le Bernardin employer, Chef Eric Ripert. 

Hsu and restaurant partner and chef Aaron Phillip first opened Lazy Betty six years ago in Candler Park. The chefs relocated the tasting menu restaurant to the former Empire State South space in Midtown last year. Since opening in 2019, Lazy Betty has racked up numerous accolades, including one star from Michelin in its 2023, 2024, and 2025 dining guides. 

Merger

STHRN Hospitality Co., the group behind Westside Motor Lounge, partnered with the owners of Atlanta institution Midtown Bowl. STHRN plans to help the 65-year-old bowling alley on Piedmont Circle attract new patrons by giving it a brand makeover, including to its food, drinks, and events, and upgrades to the kitchen and sound system. 

RIP

Floyd “Sonny” Tillman, the founder of Sonny’s BBQ, has died. Tillman, who opened Sonny’s BBQ in 1968 in Gainesville, FL, was 96. Georgia features 14 locations of Sonny’s BBQ, including in Marietta, Buford, Jonesboro, and Lawrenceville. 

Santa Loves the Dogs

Skiptown Bar & [Dog] Park in Kirkwood will celebrate the holidays with a series of festive events this month. Look for a Howliday Market on Dec. 13 and a photoshoot with Santa and the Grinch on Dec. 20. 

ICYMI

From Atlanta to Alpharetta to Marietta, we’ve compiled a list of more than 30 holiday-themed restaurants and pop-up bars decked in good cheer, serving festive cocktails, dishes, and desserts from now until the New Year.

The post Dec. 11 Quick Bites: big restaurant closures, Mellow Mushroom’s return to Decatur, new Irish bar in South Downtown appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

Three longtime Atlanta restaurants, Daddy D’z BBQ Joynt, Agave, and JavaVino will close within the next two months. The owners of all there businesses cited industry challenges, such as a reduced customer base and higher ingredient costs, as motivations for the decision to call it quits.

Daddy D’z, located at Memorial Drive and Hill Street, will cease operations after service on Dec. 31. The 35-year-old restaurant is considered an Atlanta classic, and was featured on Food Network’s “Sauced”. Owner Christianah Coker-Jackson told WSB-TV that the landlord is selling the building, but that she hopes to re-open Daddy D’z in another location. 

Less than a week later – and just a few blocks away in Cabbagetown – the owners of Agave announced plans to close the Southwestern restaurant at the end of January. Agave, which opened in 2000 on Boulevard, launched a GoFundMe fundraiser for the restaurant’s affected employees. 

Then, over in Poncey-Highland, the owners of JavaVino announced the Dec. 14 closure of the coffee and wine bar after nearly 22 years on North Highland. Unlike Agave and Daddy D’z, however, JavaVino won’t go completely dark. Instead, it will shift to a wholesale coffee business, something co-owner Heddy Kuhl sees as a positive development.

In addition to serving as a cafe and wine bar, JavaVino roasts coffee for local restaurants, along with “green,” unroasted beans for regional roasters. 

“[This] will actually help us get our family’s coffee and farmer-direct coffee into more hands,” Kuhl said of pivoting to wholesale. “We want to travel to coffee farms and build further relationships with farmers and roast and distribute the coffee.”

“We’re getting older and we want to focus on what’s most important. We decided that this was the best path for our family,” she added. 

The roasting facility in Stone Mountain will remain intact, and JavaVino patrons can still purchase its coffee at the Grant Park Farmers Market and local shops such as Candler Park Market. 

JavaVino loyalty program members will be able to transition the cafe’s physical stars into online credit. Kuhl compiled an FAQ page on JavaVino’s website for customers with further questions. 

Kuhl and co-owner Steve Franklin are currently finalizing the sale of the North Highland space with a new owner who plans to open a similar cafe called At Arbeta. It, too, will serve JavaVino coffee.

“[The new owner] reminds me of us when we were coming up with the idea [for JavaVino] and the enthusiasm behind it,” Kuhl said. “I think there was a lot of good energy between us and the buyer, and it worked out pretty nicely.”

“We’re replacing ourselves in the community with somebody that we trust [and who] is a good fit for the community,” she continued. 

JavaVino will close after service on Dec. 14. Look for a story with more details on the plans for At Arbeta in Poncey-Highland on Rough Draft soon.

The post JavaVino Coffee & Wine House closing Dec. 14, becoming wholesale coffee business appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.