Home > Snellville.Talk > Archives > 2008 > February > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USA night on the town in Snellville
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At a party last Saturday I overheard a woman mention that she and several friends were going to see “Godspell” at the new theater in town. She invited another guest to come along, and a lively conversation ensued over the current show by the New London Theatre in Snellville.
New London, a community theater that has presented about 50 shows since it was founded in 2000, has done so using the facilities of schools and churches. However, “Godspell” is the premier production for the theater’s first real home - a small, renovated movie theater tucked in the corner of Snellville Plaza.
The conversation may not seem remarkable. In my mind, though, the discussion and the theater’s new home represent a significant step for Snellville. New London is no longer a group in search of a stage; it is a destination. The theater - together with restaurants in that strip shopping center — give the heart of Snellville the beginning of what could be - dare I say it? - an entertainment district.
“Godspell” is performed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It began Feb. 15 and wraps up this weekend. I attended Feb. 16 during the inaugural weekend. I wasn’t disappointed. The show was entertaining, I bumped into friends who had also ventured out that Saturday night, and the setting was intimate. The new theater features stadium seating for just over 100, a small lobby, concession stand and offstage areas.
Kirk Buis, co-founder and executive director of New London, said the earlier theater, known as the Jerry Lewis Cinema, closed in the ’80s. The space has since served other functions — recently it was a store selling rugs.
The theater’s transformation cost $35,000, which was raised by volunteers. While Buis hopes to make further improvements (balcony seating and more lighting), those must wait for additional funds.
“The thing that impresses me is the way the community has come together to support this,” said Susan McKenzie of Grayson, whose daughter Hope has participated in many New London shows, including “Godspell.” “People would show up and be washing the windows with Windex. Willie [McKenzie’s husband] and I got latches for the bathroom doors. Someone painted this mural [in the lobby]. It’s just been great! It’s very uplifting.”
New London Theatre shares a shopping center with an assortment of restaurants. There’s Provino’s Italian Restaurant — a landmark that is almost always crowded. There’s Sri Thai’s Kitchen and Sushi Bar, which has received good reviews and enjoys a steady stream of customers.
Two new names have been added.
Trinity Bistro, formerly Bagel Time Café and Deli, still offers bagel and coffee fare, but has added daily specials, an expanded line of sandwiches, dinner offerings, some Cajun dishes and Southern cuisine, including vegetables. Add the jazz background music, and the tiny bistro is a welcome addition to dining options in Snellville.
I dropped by for lunch recently and talked to owner Hank Reid, who previously managed other corporate restaurants that opened and closed in the same shopping center (Woody’s BBQ and Ground Round Grill and Bar). As I stood in line, regular customers told me how much they like the place.
Reid feels he has found his niche with the smaller, family-owned enterprise and looks forward to seeing how he can work with the theater and become a community mainstay.
Another new name is Snellville Diner, which opened late last year and serves breakfast, as well as Greek, Italian, Mexican and American fare. The place has seen good crowds, particularly on the weekends, and its open-24-hours schedule is something rare in this area.
“We used to live in Decatur, and when we moved out here and would come home late from seeing the symphony, nothing would be open,” said Laura Gravely of Snellville. Gravely and her husband went to see “Godspell” the same night I did and afterward stopped at the diner for a bite to eat.
Last week, however, the diner experienced problems. The store received a failing grade of 29 on a heath department inspection and closed its doors for several days to correct problems with kitchen and storage procedures and a plumbing issue. An inspection three days later was a 64. The next day’s inspection was 100. They reopened Feb. 23.
General managers Adam Elkurd and Nicholas Hahalis said the violations were the result of personnel issues that arose during a breakup of the original partnership owning the restaurant. One partner is buying out the other, a transaction that should be complete within weeks, they said. But during the process, there were problems with workers being uncooperative and not following instructions, Elkurd and Hahalis said. Eight employees have been replaced, and classes are being held for other workers, they said.
“We are sorry,” Elkurd said, “But we took care of it. They [customers] don’t have to worry. It will be even better than what it was before.”
Hahalis said business after the reopening has been about 85 percent of what it was before the temporary closing. He and Elkurd are optimistic people will return.
They may be right. As I left the diner Tuesday, a bus from Southern Plantation Retirement Community in Loganville pulled up and unloaded passengers. Another couple came to try the restaurant for the first time, excited by the foot-tall cakes and pastries in the display case.
Snellville does not lack shopping and dining offerings along its major strips. The city also is served by movie theaters and a bowling alley. But a theater within walking distance of restaurants provides a different feel to the city.
It’s one I like.
Permalink | Comments (33) | Post your comment | Categories: Susan Gast
Comments
By GoodChristian
February 28, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this
Snellville has plenty of cheap, not-so-great places to eat like the Snellville Diner.
All the really good restaurants are up in the Avenues, where they are not limited to when they can serve alcohol. It’s not a coincidence people!
No Sunday Sales = More Snellville Diners
By Norman
February 28, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this
Ha! No upscale establishment want’s to be associated with a city run by “Boss” and his gang. Think - vast plans with half-vast execution.
By Good Christian
February 28, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
Normam,
You really think who’s Mayor of a small town in Georgia has ANYTHING to do where upscale national chains locate?
HAHAHAHAHA!
All they care about is economics and making money, and in Snellville, you can’t make money on Sundays.
Who’s fault is that? Can’t be “Boss”, he supports Sunday Sales.
Oh thats right! It’s Jenkins, Auld and Kautz! They are the ones against Sunday Sales! Jenkins specifically said he’ll never vote for alcohol, and that pawn shops and used car dealerships are not “blight”.
You voted for these people! It’s YOUR fault!
By Pete
February 28, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
Uh, Texas Roadhouse and O’Charley’s seem to do pretty good as does Provino’s, Applebee’s, etc. Sydney’s in Grayson closed after getting Sunday alcohol approved. I don’t think there is such a direct link to Sunday sales as some will have you believe. IMHO, it is much more the business climate and governing authority (or lack of) that has the greatest impact.
The whole Avenues thing has more to do with the shopping center and the other stores than whether it is in the city limits. Prime real estate in the city is difficult to find as most of it is already built out.
By Norman
February 28, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
Well said Pete!
By Bob
February 29, 2008 6:45 AM | Link to this
Remember Jenkins BRAGGED in open Council meeting he hadn’t even read the liquor ordinance before the election in which voters passed it - then he, Auld, and Bruce (the election loser) looked at the pastor of Snellville First Baptist sitting in the audience, got their cue, and voted to overrule the will of the people. Go watch the tape.
By Theatre geek
February 29, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
The New London Theatre and the Snellvile Diner have a nice symbiotic relationship…the beginning of an “entertainment district.” They both have arrived at about the same time. The theatre shows what a community can do working together. It went from a shell to a nice, intimate theatre. Hopefully the beginning of a long stand in the middle of Snellville.
By GoodChristian
February 29, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this
Norman, Pete,
Texas Roadhouse, O’Charley’s, Provinos, Applebee’s “seem” to be doing well? Have you ever talked to their managers? How about staff or their corporate leadership?
Didn’t think so.
Each one will tell you that their business is lacking on Sundays, and that since the avenues opened up, they have lost 10 - 20% of the clientèle, especially on Sundays!
Sydney’s in Grayson closed down because of poor food quality and poor management.
As far as prime real estate, the Avenues first began their property search by looking into the property where Sam’s club is. All the restuarants that are now in the Avenues were slated to be built either across from Staples or in the Wisteria Square project.
But because of Sunday sales, the Avenues moved north and lured those restaurants away from Snellville.
Don’t you people realize that by “protecting” Snellville from the “evils” of alcohol you are actually accelerating it’s demise? Restaurants DO NOT CARE what city or county they are located in, all they care about is being close to their clientèle and making money.
…and right now, because of the irresponsible leadership of Jenkins, Auld and Kautz, that can’t happen in Snellville!
PERIOD! Even the folks in Loganville say Snellville’s argument over this issue is HELPING their dining scene.
By Norman
February 29, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
The problem is “Boss” and gang efforts to fast track commercial development expansion at the expense of homeowners. Time and again, those that stand to profit from such expansion try to trivialize the issue by saying it’s about the sale of alcohol on Sunday. Citizens of Snellville may prefer country living, but they are not backward country hicks!
By Seen It All
February 29, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this
The rezoning of Wisteria Square was after not before the county did rezone the Avenues. The Alcohol referendum was also after Wisteria Square was rezoned. Westeria Square developer must have known that alcohol might not even pass let alone Sunday Sales. Wisteria Square was much later then the Avenue.
Jerry Oberholtzer should have been upfront with the citizens of Snellville that all economic downtown development depended on Sunday Sales of Alcohol and when he ran his first term as mayor that Alcohol sales was part of his agenda like it is now.
Why did Jerry wait so long? Brett, Melvin, Jerry and Joe were on the council with four votes. How come it did not happen then? Haven’t you heard Wayne Mason has told every developer he knew not to develop in Snellville with Jessica Roth as Planning director and Jerry—- don’t trust him.
The Avenues wanted to go behind the Lowe’s —- but it was Mason’s property and Joe Anderson fought against it. Brett, Jerry, Melvin voted against the zoning and years later the Avenues is her anyway.
Just up the road a little outside of Snellville. Maybe that group did not want to vote for a Liquor referendum. Melvin is a Baptist preacher. Oh, that’s right he voted for it anyway. Then left the city council to run for a general assembly seat with the endorsement of Jerry. I wonder what would have happen if he didn’t vote for it? Would he have Jerry’s blessing?
Jerry reminds me of Glen Richardson.
Todd and Barbara vote right with him. Everyone has seen what Barbara is after we trusted her with our vote and Todd well we did not get a chance to vote on him.
By Pete
February 29, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
GoodChristian,
Interesting name given your arguments. Anyway, as a matter of fact I do talk to the managers of at least of those establishments on a weekly basis. Sure business went down when the other restaurants opened. It is called competition and additional supply to service the demand. Yes there is a drop off on Sunday but I see that at the Avenues establishments as well. I frequent restaurants in both locations and see the crowds. I can’t speak to the poor management allegations of Sidneys since I am not qualified to say but most everyone I talked to liked the food. That, of course, is entirely subjective and obviously you feel differently. That’s why there are multiple choices. We used to go to the Longhorn’s at Kilian Hill and 78 multiple times a month. Once we had other choices - Sidney’s, Texas Roadhouse, Ted’s, even the Longhorn’s at the Avenues as bad as it is - we cut down visiting the Killian Hill location and have only been there maybe twice in that past year. That has nothing to do with Sunday sales.
When you say that all of those restaurants where supposed to go across from Staples, are you talking about in the same center or across 124? Zoning does not exist for restaurants across 124 and in fact was recently denined for the old Snell property on North Road. As far as Wisteria Square, can you say pipe dream? Wisteria Square is a whole ‘nother discussion about the wrong thing in the wrong place. If it was such a great thing and there was so much demand for it, why hasn’t it proceeded?
I too have issues with the so called Snellville leadership. I just happen to believe that there are a lot of red herrings being thrown out about Sunday by the drink sales.
By Knightly Knews
February 29, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
Seen it All,
So why is Loganville claiming that Snellville’s loss (Sunday Sales) is Loganville’s gain?
Do you have any proof to back up your allegations?
Is Mason on tape saying these things? Any written memos anywhere?
What is your solution for Snellville, besides any personal vendetta on Jerry and his council members?
Do you have any real solutions for Snellville? Or just gripes?
I’m interested to hear!
By Mark
February 29, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
Knightly Knews
“So why is Loganville claiming that Snellville’s loss (Sunday Sales) is Loganville’s gain?”?
That’s because Loganville can sell alcohol, even on Sundays.
By do you read?
February 29, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
Loganville does not sell Liquor on Sunday. The AJC reported that a separate referendum was needed.
Also people are not going out to eat much - if you have not noticed. Haven’t you seen the foreclosures? Gwinnett is hurting. Snellville isn’t the rich side of town
Oh- Ryan’s closed it doors because of being bankrupt. Or is it because Snellville does not allow Liquor on Sundays? Oh that is right they were a restaurant and did not sell Liquor. WOW I did not know one existed!
By Part Time Snellvillian
February 29, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
I wonder if Jesus drank wine on Sunday? Hmmm…something for all the anti-alcohol, self-righteous people who call themselves “good” Christians should consider.
By Mark
February 29, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this
Susan, next time you come to Snellfrica, try visiting the not so nice areas. It’ll give you better insight.
By David Brown
February 29, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
Mark, I don’t what point you’re attempting to make with your continued use of the pejorative term “Snellfrica”, but UHaul is ready when you are.
By Norman
February 29, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
Off Topic (which is Snellville’s country living culture): we are anti-drunk and NOT anti-alcohol on Sunday!
By Part Time Snellvillian
February 29, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
If being drunk is wrong…Norman, it doesn’t matter if it is done on Sunday or any other day of the week. God is watching every day. If it offends your sensibilities to get drunk on Sunday, don’t do it. No one should legislate what amounts to a personal decision of whether to drink alcohol. Personally, I find glutonous people who stuff their faces and bellies until they are ready to burst to be quite offensive. Can’t we legislate overeating on Sunday too? Both are bad for you.
By Sounds Good
February 29, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
The Mayor pushed an ordinance to ban smoking? Isn’t that the same? Snellville was one of the first Gwinnett City’s to ban smoking in public places. Bad for your health, then right after that the Mayor wanted more Liquor available. Interesting.
By Norman
February 29, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this
Again - the problem is “Boss” and gang efforts to fast track commercial development expansion at the expense of homeowners. Time and again, those that stand to profit from such expansion try to trivialize the issue by saying it’s about the sale of alcohol on Sunday.
By Michael H. Smith
March 1, 2008 12:03 AM | Link to this
You know, Mr. Brown, people really should not talk so badly about their kin folk. Whatever will Poor Old Bubba do when he finds out that everyone walking around upright on two feet today probably has a great, great (so far beck it is hard to count) grand-momma black as Alabama coal.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/02/080221-human-genetics.html
By Kathleen
March 1, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this
My family went to the New London Theater on the 23rd. My husband and I met our son and his friends family at the theater to see “Godspell”. We planned to eat at Provino’s before the show, but the place was mobbed at 6:00. My husband was reluctant to eat at Sri Thai and not too interested in the diner. We got in the car, drove a short distance away from the strip and found nothing! We headed back to the strip, ate at Sri Thai and we were pleasantly surprised we enjoyed a nice meal in a pleasant atmosphere with very friendly and prompt service. We stolled over to the theater and enjoyed the show. It wasn’t a night out in the city, but it was a pleasant and entertaining evening a little closer to home and a little easier on our wallet.
Lighten up people, Sunday liquor sales is not what this blog is about.
By Scott
March 1, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
Well said, Kathleen. There’s a place and time for everything….and like you, I don’t remember this article being about Snellville’s liquor problems.
By Giles
March 1, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
We headed back to the strip, ate at Sri Thai and we were pleasantly surprised we enjoyed a nice meal in a pleasant atmosphere with very friendly and prompt service. We stolled over to the theater and enjoyed the show.
Please explain how one would stroll across US 78 … the journey from the Asian bistro to theater district should prove to be interesting tale!
By Brian
March 2, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
Giles, Sri Thai is in the same strip center as New London, so the stroll is quite easy. Give it a try! It is a nice place to eat, and a nice place to see a show.
By Norman
March 2, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
I’d like to see a stage version of “Dukes of Hazzard” at New London. It would be very appropriate.
By Blah, Blah, Blah!
March 3, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
I have never heard so much whining about not having Sunday (liquor)sales in Snellville!!! (Reminds me of a child whining for their blinkie!) It is beyond me the narrowminded people who have moved here and want to blame there not being “Sunday (liquor) sales” on everything from the city officials down to loss of upscale restuarants, etc. PITIFUL!!! When you finally get your Sunday liquor sales then WHAT!!! will you complain about!!! It is going to take far more than Sunday liquor sales to make Snellville a desirable place to live and dine. As far you Michael Smith … as much as you would hope that everybody that is white has a grand-momma black as Alabama coal . . they don’t. Get over it!!! Not everybody in the South had slaves and for your information there were blacks who owned slaves.
By Charles
March 4, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this
You will find a better example of what a theatre can do for entertainment if you check out Lawrenceville’s revitalized town square. They have the Aurora Theatre and several fine dining establishments just footsteps away. NOT CHAINS. They have Dominicks, McCary’s Tavern, Little River Grill and many more real restaurants and you don’t have to get in your car or risk your life walking from the theatre to the restaurants. They are really making positive changes in Lawrenceville.
By ReallyNow
March 4, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
Hey Mark, Must be a drag being a hating loser. Delta is waiting for you… GO!
By Mark
March 4, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
ReallyNow
I’d rather be a “hating loser” than a blind fool.
By Mark
March 9, 2008 11:38 PM | Link to this
Susan, What do you do for a living? Same blog for almost 3 weeks?
By Susan Gast
March 10, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this
Gosh, it’s great to be missed, Mark. But really, I only skipped one week — the first I’ve skipped in two years. (And to answer your question, I do have a separate full-time job). But I’ll be updating the blog soon.