Celebrity hairstylist turned restaurateur Gocha Hawkins has several projects in the works for 2025.
Gocha’s Breakfast Bar at Cascade, which opened in early 2019, will close temporarily to renovate and expand. Hawkins will also debut a new concept later this year at Atlantic Station in Midtown, merging the menus of Gocha’s Breakfast Bar and Gocha’s Tapas Bar.
In addition, Hawkins will release her first cookbook, “Cooking with Gocha: Easy, Flavorful Recipes for Breakfast & Brunch Lovers,” this year, as well as a retail line of pancake mixes, grits and honey hot sauce.
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Food and beverage distributor Rainforest Distribution has acquired P10 Foods, the distribution company owned by Atlanta-based frozen pops maker King of Pops for the last 10 years. The acquisition will expand King of Pops’ distribution network and accelerate the growth of its franchise business beyond the South, according to a news release.
“As we grew, we realized that having control over distribution was key to maintaining our values and supporting other like-minded brands,” King of Pops co-owner Nick Carse said in a prepared statement. “Starting P10 Foods allowed us to achieve that—but in the hyper capital-intensive distribution industry, scaling without outside investment was always an uphill climb. Partnering with Rainforest is the next step to ensure we can expand our mission and reach new heights.”
Nick and Steven Carse founded King of Pops in 2009, and have expanded in several ways since, including opening a farm, King of Crops, and several brick-and-mortar locations.
Rainforest serves more than 4,000 retailers in 22 states across the East Coast, with distribution centers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
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Cuban stall Don Fausto’s has closed in the Politan Row at Colony Square food hall, according to an Instagram post. The former pop-up opened in the food hall in early 2024.
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Caribbean restaurant Ms. Icey’s Kitchen & Bar at 1371 Clairmont Road in Decatur is temporarily closed, according to an Instagram post.
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Brazilian Bakery Cafe has opened a second location at 8363 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. The cafe also has a location in Marietta.
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Pennsylvania-based dessert chain Milkshake Factory will open its first metro Atlanta location at 920 Woodstock Road in Roswell, What Now Atlanta reports.
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Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com
Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com
Metal bar Halford’s has closed in Little Five Points after only two months and pizza spot Triple J’s is closing this month in Midtown, Rough Draft Atlanta reports.
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A Mexican restaurant called Rosa will take over the former DBA Barbecue space at 1190 North Highland Ave NE, What Now Atlanta reports. DBA Barbecue closed its original Virginia-Highland location in 2024, but still has restaurants in Buckhead and Clarkston.
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Toronto-based Meltwich Food Co. is set to open its first southeast location at 4367 Lawrenceville Highway in Tucker, Tomorrow’s News Today reports. The cheese-focused menu includes poutine, grilled cheese sandwiches and Philly cheesesteaks.
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Husband and wife Jessena and Michael Waldo will open wine tasting room Divinely Elegant Wines next month at 2730 Broad St. in Austell, What Now Atlanta reports. The tasting room will sell sustainably produced wines from California.
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Credit: Wendell Brock
Credit: Wendell Brock
Suwanee Mexican restaurant La Mixteca Tamale House will open a second location at 1465 Chattahoochee Ave. NW in the former Cafe at Pharr space, Atlanta Business Chronicle reports. Cafe at Pharr locations remain open in Dunwoody and Vinings.
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A breakfast restaurant called Brunch Run is set to open at 510 Fairburn Road SW in Atlanta, What Now Atlanta reports.
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Popular local Thai restaurant chain 26 Thai Kitchen and Bar is set to take over the former City Eats Kitchen space in the Maxwell development at 210 S. Main St. in Alpharetta, What Now Atlanta reports. There are seven 26 Thai locations in metro Atlanta, with another slated to open this year in the Politan Row at the Forum in Peachtree Corners later this year.
More metro Atlanta restaurant news
Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks opens in downtown Atlanta
Tapas bar Boqueria opens this month in Midtown
Skol Brewing Company opens in downtown Atlanta
New Zealand pie shop Heaps opens in Decatur
La Santa Tacos and Bar opens in Midtown
Minhwa Spirits opens in Doraville
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