Editor’s note: This story has been updated with comments from 101 Concepts Restaurant Group.
Castleberry Hill restaurant Smoke Ring has closed after six years at 309 Nelson Street the restaurant posted on their Facebook page and Eater Atlanta first reported.
After serving Castleberry Hill for just over six years, Smoke Ring has unfortunately decided to close it doors for the time being. While deciding to close a restaurant is never an easy decision, sometimes the circumstances are so compelling that you find yourself with no choice. That being said, we decided that ceasing the current operation at Smoke Ring right now, would offer us the best opportunity for 101 Concepts to remain an integral part of Castleberry Hill in the future. We’ve enjoyed making a home here in Castleberry Hill, and we very much value the relationships that we have established and built over the past six years. We certainly would like to continue down that path, and further contribute to the exciting changes that are shaping Castleberry Hill. Our neighborhood has undergone a tremendous amount of transition over the past three years, and it continues to do so today. While digesting and understanding the path of this transition, we decided that it would be best for us to reconsider the direction of our business, and make the necessary changes to our concept and operation that better suit Castleberry Hill and its evolving culture for the foreseeable future. We can’t thank you enough for the all the support that you have given Smoke Ring over the past six years, and we look forward to updating you shortly after the new year, and bringing you a new restaurant this coming spring.
Former AJC food writer Jenny Turknett gave the restaurant two stars when she reviewed it in 2014, writing, “Serious barbecue seekers will appreciate the heaping platters built around specialties that come out of the kitchen's built-in smoker. The wings are its best expression, bearing the hallmark pink tinge and wood-smoked character beneath the cracklingly crisp flash-fried skin.”
The restaurant is owned by 101 Concepts Restaurant Group, which closed concepts Food 101 in Sandy Springs and Meehan's Public House at Atlantic Station earlier this year. The group still owns Meehan's locations in downtown Atlanta, Sandy Springs and Vinings, as well as 101 Steak in Vinings.
Eater reports that Smoke Ring could be turned into another Meehan’s location, however 101 Concepts marketing director Ron Eyester stated that was unlikely because there is already a Meehan’s location downtown at 200 Peachtree Street.
101 Concepts owns the property, Eyester said, which “gives them the ability to control the situation a little bit more.” He expects the ownership group begin discussion about reconcepting or rebranding the space in January.
“We had great success with games and events at Mercedes-Benz and State Farm Arena, but barbecue was kind of limiting our ability to make people happy in the immediate area and build a steady clientele to thrive,” Eyester said. “We know we need to cater to the demographic of the people who come to the restaurant because they are in the area for a special event, but we want to cater to the neighborhood where people are going to come there multiple times a week.”
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