News Nearby: After The Fire, Locals Lament Loss

Within a couple of hours, a 'Tucker institution' came to a dramatic end. We have reaction from residents.

Friday night's massive fire at Handy Ace Hardware obliterated what some are calling a "Tucker institution," and there's no word yet on what caused the blaze or whether the owners plan to rebuild.  The business had served the area for five decades, moving three times during that period, and ending up in a handsome, remodelled building with two stories on Cowan Road that was once the Tucker Bowling Alley.  "I used to work here when I was knee-high to a grasshopper," said Chris Shiver of Stone Mountain, gazing at the ruins in the cold light of Saturday morning. "It's heartbreaking to see this." Customer Gary Scott was also moved by the spectacle. "We've been coming here forever," he told Patch. "If you needed something, they'd get it for you…

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Donate to Sherwood Chiropractic's Mitten Tree

The Toco Hill company is donating outerwear to a local elementary school.

Everbest Market Closes a Year After Opening

The Briarcliff Road sandwich shop shut down last week due to poor business. It opened in October 2011.

It opened roughly a year ago, and it's closed now. Everbest Market, a sandwich shop near the intersection of Briarcliff and Clairmont roads, has shut its doors. The shop closed last week, according to Tomorrow's News Today, with an employee telling the retail blog that (obviously) it wasn't able to drum up enough business. The New American sandwich shop appeared to be well-liked, at least according to Yelp reviews. One review that seemed to echo others: Oh man they are really good, better than their predecessor, Mimi's in a Minute. GREAT sandwiches, sides, baked things. You can do window order and pickup if you might be about to go have a picnic and hike with your dog.  On Election Day the chef made patriotic red velvet cupcakes with …

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Eagle Eye Book Shop Named to Atlanta Mag's 2012 'Best Of' List

The magazine said the independent North Decatur store is an Atlanta rarity with helpful, knowledgeable staff.

In a world of Kindles and iPads, the book store – independent and chain-owned – is going the way of the Dodo bird. So, a spot like North Decatur's Eagle Eye Book Shop is a particular gem, according to the editors of Atlanta magazine. The mag named the independent new and used book store to its Best of Atlanta 2012 list. The store was named the best spot for "Indie Books" in the metro area. It hasn't posted all the winners to its website, but North Druid Hills-Briarcliff Patch dropped 99 cents to pick up a digital copy, and we'll provide you with the magazine's words on the store: Independently owned bookstores are rare, and those that don't seem like museum exhibits are practically nonexistent. Which is why Decatur has a gem in Eagle Eye …

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Jonathan Cribbs

8:09 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012

Easily my favorite book spot in Atlanta. Probably spend a few hundred dollars here over the last four years or so now that I think about it.   more ›

Ladies Workout Express Updates Name, Website

The fitness center is now called LOA Fitness for Women.

Lady of America (LOA) Fitness for Women, located in the Toco Hill Shopping Center, recently posted a new exterior full-color sign at its location near the corner of North Druid Hills and Lavista roads. "Our new sign highlights our exclusive focus on meeting the needs of women,” said owner Becky Tainter Brown. “We also updated our website, www.powerlady.com, to showcase all our classes, special events and expanded offerings.” Brown also manages the central DeKalb County full-service fitness center.   “My goal is to create and maintain an environment, where women can feel welcome, comfortable, empowered, involved, educated and successful,” she said. Membership at LOA Fitness for Women includes access to more than 30 weekly classes that …

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Briarcliff Dentists: No Matter What, We'll Continue to Serve Community

Eisenberg & Bogdanoff Cosmetic & Family Dentistry said they plan to stay in the area even if they're forced out of their office and replaced by a new McDonald's restaurant.

Two Briarcliff dentists said Monday they will continue to serve the community even if they're pushed out of their office of nearly three decades to make way for a McDonald's restaurant. Eisenberg & Bogdanoff Cosmetic & Family Dentistry posted to North Druid Hills-Briarcliff Patch to say that they're not involved in McDonald's plans to open a location at 2706 Clairmont Road adjacent to Briarcliff Shopping Center. From their post: As many of you are aware, McDonalds is trying to open a drive through restaurant at 2706 Clairmont Road where we have maintained our Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Practice since 1983. We want to assure you all that we neither instigated nor knew about this action until 5 weeks ago. We were not part of this process …

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Shop Small: Did You Take Part in Small Business Saturday?

Read reports from your neighborhood businesses. And tell us about the locally-owned businesses you like to support.

  What do you think of Small Business Saturday? Do you make an effort to Shop Small and Shop Local? Tell us about it in the comments area below. And if you're coming to us from a mobile device, you can follow our live blog at this RSS feed.

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Beer Growler Nation to Celebrate Grand Opening

The Saturday party will include live music and tastings from local restaurants.

On Saturday Nov. 17, Beer Growler Nation in Oak Grove will celebrate its grand opening from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. with special beers, live music, food tastings, giveaways and more. Plus, a portion of each growler purchase will go to benefit PAWS Atlanta. The event will feature live music from Sweetwater Creek Band (noon - 4 p.m.) and Shook Foil (4 p.m. - 8 p.m.). Food demonstrations and tastings will be provided by Sprig Restaurant, Pine Street Market, Scott Stroud from The Cheese Course and Frozen Pints Ice Cream. And some prominent local residents have signed up to help us guest pour throughout the day. We will also have hourly raffle drawings for beer merchandise and gift cards from some of our favorite neighborhood restaurants including: …

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Are Chain Stores Choking Our Communities?

Big chain retail locations are a permanent part of metro Atlanta's landscape, but some residents are saying enough is enough. What do you think?

Their names are instantly familiar, their logos immediately recognizable. Some of them represent the world's most famous brand names, while others are well on their way to prosperity and success. Chain retail stores are as much of the American way of life as hot dogs, baseball and apple pie. And over the past several months, their numbers seem to be growing throughout metro Atlanta. In Chamblee, a new Zaxby's - which tooks months longer to build than expected because of financing issues - will open on Monday. An old Stone Mountain Dairy Queen has been demolished, and another Zaxby's will soon take its place. After announcing plans to replace the old Atlanta Diner on North Druid Hills Road, McDonald's now plans a second location on …

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John McGrew

11:10 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012

Thanks! More domains to add to my client's blacklists!   more ›