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Thursday, February 28, 2008
A 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.
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