Controversial UK Brewpub Giant Announces August Opening on the Beltline in Atlanta

After revealing plans for an Atlanta location along the Eastside Beltline last June, UK brewpub giant BrewDog should open later this summer.

Located at the Stove Works complex across from Krog Street Market, the sprawling brewpub features 28 taps offering local beers and beers brewed on site, a full kitchen serving standard pub fare, a beer school, indoor fire pits, and a large outdoor seating area.

Founded in Fraserburgh, Scotland, in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie, BrewDog has been embroiled in a number of controversies over the years, including hundreds of former employees accusing Watt and Dickie in 2021 of fostering a “culture of fear” and harassment, misrepresenting accomplishments on social media, and claiming the company is eco-friendly while not conducting business accordingly.

In 2017, the multi-million dollar company threatened legal action against a family-owned bar to prevent it from using the name Lone Wolf, a spirit distilled by BrewDog of the same name. Last March, a former location in Indianapolis was accused of discrimination after the mass firing of women and LGBTQ staff members.

Most recently, the company was accused of violating United States distribution laws between 2016 and 2017 when BrewDog allegedly shipped beer to its U.S. locations with ingredients not approved by alcohol regulators in the states.

Hoping to cool some of the ire surrounding the company, BrewDog just announced a new profit-sharing initiative for employees across the board, with Watt apparently planning to also donate an additional five percent of the business to salaried staff members.

BrewDog includes brewpubs, breweries, and hotels throughout the UK, Germany, Australia, and the United States in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. [Official]

Brewdog Atlanta

Brewdog Atlanta

Brewdog Atlanta

Howdy ATL cafe and coffee shop opens in Grant Park

Howdy ATL Biscuit Cafe is now open in the former Grant Park Coffeehouse space across from Zoo Atlanta on Cherokee Avenue. The cafe serves biscuits, biscuit sandwiches, scones, hand pies, and baked goods, along with soups and salads. [IG]

Spanish Restaurant Fogon and Lions serving wood-fired dishes opens in Alpharetta

Spanish-Latin restaurant Fogón and Lions, owned by chef Julio Delgado, is open on Roswell Street in downtown Alpharetta. Expect wood-fired dishes rooted in the culinary traditions of Spain, Mexico, South America, and his native Puerto Rico paired with wine and rum and tequila cocktails from the bar. Delgado also owns pizzeria Minnie Olivia next door. [IG]

Buenos Dias Cafe pop-up opens at Ponce City Market in June

Pupuseria stall Buenos Dias Cafe opens in June next to doughnut shop Five Daughters Bakery in the central food hall of Ponce City Market. Owners Ken and Jeannette Flores-Katz, who also own takeout operation the Window ATL at the Met, first opened Buenos Dias Cafe in 2012 near Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta. The couple closed the longtime cafe in 2020 due to the pandemic, bringing its popular pupusas to the Window on Murphy Avenue. The pop-up is expected to be at Ponce City Market for at least six months. [Official]

5Church opens in Buckhead June 3

A second Atlanta location of 5Church, owned by Ayman Kamel, opens June 3 in the former Sage Woodfire Grill space near Lenox Square Mall. Kamel says to expect an “entirely new menu” in Buckhead to include dishes like oysters with Champagne foam, sea bass served over black rice, and a pork chop served with a side of blue cheese grits. The Buckhead restaurant, which seats 140 people in the dining room, will also feature a chefs table and a glass-enclosed sunroom seating 75 people. [Official]