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Visions For Vacancies: Sushi Mania In Cherokee Plaza

The space next door to the old Brookhaven Post Office is now vacant. What do you think should go there?

 
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Visions For Vacancies
Both Sushi Mania and the old Post Office spaces in Cherokee Plaza are now vacant.
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I figured it was only a matter of time before Sushi Mania, one of my favorite spots, went out of business.

The restaurant cut back its operating hours to serve only dinner a few months ago. While I was out this past Tuesday night visiting Canyon Burger (for its Ashford Park Elementary School spirit night, nonetheless), I noticed that one of my favorite sushi spots had indeed bit the dust.

Currently, the only shop standing between Kroger and the end of the shopping plaza, where the old U.S. Post Office used to be, is a nail salon.

So what do you think should go into that location? Or should Kroger proceed with its expansion plans?

About this column: A weekly look at vacant spaces in Brookhaven and Chamblee, and a discussion about what kinds of businesses would be ideal for that location. Related Topics: Small Business 2012 and Visions for Vacancies

John McGrew

7:15 am on Sunday, September 16, 2012

Isn't the Kroger expanding into that space, or are they giving up on that?

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FreddieK

12:09 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2012

The Kroger expansion which literally extorted a record 15 Variances from DeKalb County despite all being required and part of the LCI is taking the Sushi space and the Post Office Space. In the future there will be even more less-than-mediocre employees to help ruin your day.

If you want to see an appropriately opinionated & sentimented letter sent to the Kroger's manager look here:
http://abetterbrookhaven.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Kroger-ltr_Bobby-Smith.pdf

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Jane

12:27 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2012

LCI is not working. Chamblee is having a terrible time with it.

People are shopping value, those who wish to shop 'high-end' may frequent the more costly, boutique stores, but Kroger will always be the popular choice. What was the purpose of the letter, to make Kroger build out it's store to meet with a 'vision' concocted by neighbors that is not based on their successful business model.

Get over yourselves!

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FreddieK

9:19 am on Monday, September 17, 2012

Jane - the LCI hasn't had the chance to work, it has only been in effect for a short time and people continually seek variances from it's requirements. It is not a quick fix, it is a great roadmap for the next 20 years. I promise you this Jane... Chamblee will become fully developed & even overdeveloped in the near future despite the LCI.

As for Kroger, their successful business model is "as cheaply as possible" which, in my view is not what I want built around me! Again, I promise that there will continue to be Krogers around the area rather than give up market-share to competitors. Oh, but they'll be prettier, better landscaped, safer & more pedestrian friendly, etc.

You sound like a person who has been thwarted by the LCI! Lastly, I will not get over myself.

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HamBurger

2:23 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2012

Mr. Grieg, beautiful women and special hamburgers go together! The old Hastings’s location with a party deck out back!

Please pass the yellow mustard!

HamBurger

2:20 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2012

I read the letter, what a hoot! Plus, some of the information on A Better Brookhaven is incorrect. Specifically, when Cherokee Plaza was developed and statements made by commenter’s are simply pulled out of their arses.

Kroger is in a strip center set back from the road. I agree with sidewalks, and although trees sound good, they can create issues. Sounds like some folks would not be happy until the entire shopping center is torn down and the property owner rebuilds to the demands of a select few. Is the Overlay meant to govern modifications to existing tenants wanting to expand? Or, new tenants locating in an existing shopping center or structure? Careful folks, requirements to extensively modify existing buildings will result in discouraging tenants. How long do you want that building or space to be vacant in a depressed economy? Interesting what you expect others to do with their money.

Now, about Kroger. I never go to Whole Foods, too expensive, and a lot of hype. Rarely to Publix unless I have to, but mostly for sale items. Although Kroger is not one of my regulars for food needs, I abhor visits to the location on Johnson Ferry; the Hampton Hall and Murphy Candler matrons with their whiney, undisciplined kids are a real turn off. However, as I motor up Peachtree and I have a reason to stop I relish my visits to the Kroger in Brookhaven. Talk about VERY HOT CHICKS!

Please pass the yellow mustard!

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FreddieK

9:32 am on Monday, September 17, 2012

Mr. Burger - the rules, almost wherever you go in this country, are if you change the site plan you adhere to current zoning. Cherokee Plaza is demolishing an existing building (Brusters/Nathans), changing the Use Group of the former Post Office & Sushi Restaurant, expanding the footprint of the building, oh... also... completely demolishing and building back the expansion space & substantial renovation of the rest of the space. So, in the end, only 20-30% of the existing shopping center remains as-is.

The existing pedestrian & vehicular traffic into & out of that center is bedlam & dangerous at best despite being an area with a significant number of walkers and non-ambulatory people using scooters.

The truth is that the lease for expanding Kroger was done and executed long before the variances were approved... at that point they simply wanted to see how cheap they could make it.

Personally, I think the female shoppers are far more attractive at the Publix at Town Brookhaven, but I digress.

Interplanet Janet

5:44 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2012

I'd love to have a Taqueria del Sol kind of place go in there, with $2 soft tacos!

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HamBurger

9:47 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Mr. Tim, when this restaurant first opened under the original owners it was a real delight, we visited regularly. However, under subsequent owners, the fascination with the food and the service diminished. Regrettably, it never had the traffic worthy of the delights prepared and served by the original owners. Our pictures remained on their picture board for years.

I wonder . . . A special hamburger with wasabi?

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Brooktrout Knickerbocker

12:09 am on Saturday, December 1, 2012

Alas, Sushi Mania (and before when they called it Harada) was our favorite sushi joint in the South.
Very few that we're this good, in New York, Ft. Lauderdale,
we loved the food and service so very much!
Does anyone know where the chef went?
They were good enough to follow... Seriously.
Where can we find out this information?
These people should not stop making sushi, even if it's at some other restaurant, the world is better off with them.

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Fritz Alders

12:42 pm on Sunday, December 2, 2012

Sushi Mania closed, but it didn't bite the dust. They're moving to John's Creek and will be opening soon. And as good as their sushi is, I can hardly wait!

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