Thirty five years ago, Sally Johnson’s parents opened The Chandlery, an upscale home goods store in Roswell’s historic district. That was a different era, when the north Fulton County city was home to only about 6,000 residents.
Today, more than 90,000 people call the Roswell area their home, and that influx has created a solid base of support for the businesses that make up the historic district, from the Chattahoochee River to Woodstock Road.
“The change has been amazing,” said Johnson, who now runs The Chandlery and also heads the Historic Roswell Merchants Association. “For years, we wanted to be like Virginia-Highland, and now I think we’re even better.”
Not only is the area a wealth of antique shops, collectible stores and art galleries: It’s also become a dining destination. The last few years have seen a mushrooming of eateries with a range of culinary styles and price ranges. To celebrate the city’s food scene, the merchants are launching the first Historic Roswell Restaurant Week, actually nine days of dining deals that kick off today.
“It’s not a new idea,” said Johnson. “Midtown, Buckhead and downtown [Atlanta] all have their restaurant weeks. But we now have so many great places in the historic district that we thought it was about time we had our own.”
More than two dozen restaurants have signed up to showcase their food with 3-course lunches and dinners priced at $25. Many of the casual restaurants will also have daily deals on their menus. Chef and restaurant owner Andy Badgett is adding an assortment of sandwich specials and dinner dishes to the line up at The Fickle Pickle, his place on Canton Street.
“This area has really become a destination,” said Badgett, who has been a staple of the city’s culinary scene for more than a decade. “Having a restaurant week is the launching pad for us to do things throughout the year. It’s just a fun way to get people to try different restaurants.”
The promotion capitalizes on the success of another event the merchants sponsor. Alive After Five, held monthly from April through October, brings live music and crowds into the historic district for evening shopping, strolling and dining. The success of that event was a factor in Hicham Azhari wanting to have a restaurant in the area.
“We opened Salt right about the time Alive After Five was starting, and we loved the concept,” he said. “It made a big difference to this side of town, and not just to the restaurants, but to the shops and galleries as well. I particularly think that having stores that are privately owned is a big part of the area's charm.”
Another part of the charm is the district's look, said Johnson. The brick sidewalks, improved lighting, crosswalks and umbrella-shaded dining tables date back the 1996 Olympics, when the area underwent a major makeover.
“The charm grew exponentially from there,” said Johnson. “What was just some retail, galleries and a few cafes has really grown. Having a restaurant week is a chance to show people that it’s not only worth coming OTP but OTR -- over the river.”
Details about Historic Roswell Restaurant Week are online at www.roswellrestaurantweek.com./cq/
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