Atlanta soul food institution the Busy Bee Cafe has announced it will open its third location, in downtown Atlanta’s Centennial Yards development.
The Busy Bee Cafe will open at The Mitchell residential tower at 125 Ted Turner Drive SW with a quick-service format and a bar program, according to a news release.
It will join a second Busy Bee Cafe location coming to Atlantic Station in 2026 that was announced in April. The eatery’s expansion comes nearly 80 years after the original owner, Lucy Jackson, first opened the restaurant in Vine City.
Milton Gates took over the Busy Bee in the 1980s, and his daughter and current owner, Tracy Gates, soon joined him in running the restaurant. Since then, it has earned national recognition from the James Beard Foundation and the Michelin Guide, and it’s remained a popular spot for politicians and celebrities to visit in Atlanta.
The Centennial Yards location will offer a menu of fried chicken, Southern sides and desserts. The 2,985-square-foot outpost is across the street from Mercedes-Benz Stadium and will include indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a bar program with beer, wine and cocktails.
Credit: Courtesy of the Busy Bee Cafe
Credit: Courtesy of the Busy Bee Cafe
Busy Bee Cafe’s Vine City location has been takeout-only since the dining room closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both the Centennial Yards and Atlantic Station restaurants will have seating for customers.
“Centennial Yards lets us honor our downtown Atlanta roots while welcoming new guests to the neighborhood,” Tracy Gates said in a prepared statement. “We’re bringing the same intentional flavors people grew up with, preparing true Southern dishes with seasonal ingredients and trusted farmer relationships that keep our cooking consistent year after year.”
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
The Mitchell is a residential building with more than 300 homes and 16,000 square feet of retail space in Centennial Yards, the $5 billion mixed-use property being redeveloped by real estate firm CIM Group. The group aims to revitalize 50 acres of land in downtown Atlanta’s Gulch by adding 8 million square feet of new commercial and residential space.
“As we continue to build Centennial Yards into Atlanta’s next great neighborhood, we’re extremely proud to welcome The Busy Bee, a legacy restaurant that represents the very best of Atlanta’s history, and hospitality,” Brian McGowan, president of Centennial Yards Co., said in a statement. “This lease underscores our vision to create a district that is authentic to Atlanta, where global entertainment meets local culture.”
Busy Bee Cafe will join other Centennial Yards tenants, including Hotel Phoenix, Thai tapas restaurant Khao Thai Isan, Shake Shack, New York-based pub Irish Exit and concert venue Live Nation.
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