Gio’s Chicken Siciliana, the popular chicken concept from Antico Pizza owner Giovanni Di Palma, will not reopen at The Battery Atlanta at Truist Park.
The 3,000 square-foot restaurant was located across from Cru Food & Wine Bar and next to Antico Pizza, in the space previously occupied by Food Chicken & Such.
“Gio’s was designed as a mid season pop-up, year to year testing the brand,” Di Palma told the AJC. “With the uncertainty and delay of baseball as well as COVID indoor dining restrictions, it doesn’t make sense to reopen at this time. Antico has been huge success during COVID. We love the Braves and the Battery and our relationship is (as) strong as ever.”
Gio's, which opened in 2019, featured a menu of wood-fired chicken dishes made with Bell & Evans poultry, along with a selection of pasta dishes, all served family style at communal tables.
In addition to Antico at the Battery, Di Palma also owns Antico, Gio's, Caffe Antico and Bar Amalfi in West Midtown, and an Antico at Avalon in Alpharetta. This year, he also launched online business Antico Casa, selling 14-inch par-baked pizzas and shipping them nationwide.
“We have to focus our energy on Antico and surviving the challenges presented by COVID on our business,” Di Palma said.
The Battery has seen most of its food and dining concepts reopen since they were forced to close in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, including Garden & Gun Club, Antico, Cru Food and Wine Bar, Goldberg’s Fine Foods, Haagen Dazs, Live! at the Battery, Ph’east, Superica, Wahlburgers, Terrapin Taproom, Yard House and Burn by Rocky Patel.
The bars and restaurants at The Battery that remain closed include Punch Bowl Social, C. Ellet’s, El Super Pan and H&F Burger.
Gio's is the latest food and beverage concept casualty due to the coronavirus economic impact. Other recent closures include Highland Bakery in Decatur, Genki Noodles and Sushi in Virginia-Highland and Amelie's French Bakery in West Midtown.
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