Tex-Mex restaurant and market Comunidad Taqueria is set to open in the former Highland Bakery space in Old Fourth Ward this spring.
The restaurant comes from Poco Loco chef and owner Nick Melvin, who opened the burrito eatery in Kirkwood in 2021 after operating it as a pop-up out of his house. He also worked at Atlanta restaurants Murphy’s Restaurant and the now-shuttered Tap in Midtown, Empire State South and Venkman’s.
Comunidad will serve breakfast tacos and other Tex-Mex fare and will have a market space with grab-and-go items.
Melvin said he hadn’t considered opening another concept until Vantage Realty Partners, the real estate group that owns the building at 655 Highland Ave., approached him about moving into the space. Melvin said he liked that Vantage would allow him to create a restaurant in his style, and he appreciated that they aren’t turning the property into “another mixed-use high rise.”
Highland Bakery closed its flagship location in January after its lease ended. A location at 25 Park Place NE on the Georgia State University campus remains open.
Melvin’s goal with Comunidad, which means “community” in Spanish, is to offer a comfortable spot for anyone to patronize, “from the construction worker to a plastic surgeon.”
“We need some more breakfast tacos in the city,” Melvin said.
Comunidad’s menu will feature five or six breakfast tacos (available all day) and five tacos with fillings like chicken chorizo, brisket and Pine Street Market bacon, all served on Melvin’s popular housemade tortillas. Other offerings will include salsa, queso, guacamole, quesadillas, chilaquiles, salads, soup and churros.
Credit: Courtesy of Nick Melvin
Credit: Courtesy of Nick Melvin
Melvin has also tapped Teresa Finney of bakery pop-up At Heart Panadería for baked goods like conchas and cake slices.
The bar program hasn’t been finalized, but Melvin said he wants the drinks to be “good, fresh (and) simple” with a low ABV and plenty of nonalcoholic options including drip coffee.
The counter-service restaurant will offer seating for about 80 guests at the bar, at a counter that overlooks the kitchen, on the outdoor patio and at communal tables and some two-tops and four-tops in the dining room.
The interior will include a mural from local artist Taylor Rushing featuring Melvin’s “spirit animal” Bill Murray, colors like blue, green and tan, and psychedelic tacos and talking cactuses, he said.
For those looking for to-go options, the market will have a selection of items made at Comunidad such as queso, salsa and fresh tortillas as well as a few burritos, products from Melvin’s pickle brand Doux South and other local goods.
“We’ve had some real magic here with Poco Loco, and we’ve learned a lot of lessons on what made that magic, and we’re just going to keep that going,” he said. “The goal is to be a bright spot for people, and if we can hit that, everything else is gonna come together.”
Comunidad will be open daily from 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
655 Highland Avenue. instagram.com/communidadatl
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