Resolve to support local restaurants in 2026
Hello, food friends.
I hope your 2026 is off to a great start! Even though Atlanta’s restaurant scene finished last year with a flurry of closures, it’s hard not to be optimistic after getting the news that Eats will be resurrected at Wild Heaven Beer’s West End tap room. The restaurant industry is fickle and messy by nature, but it’s heartwarming to see fans of a humble, local favorite step in to preserve its legacy.
It will be interesting to see if the outpouring of support for Eats after its closure was announced continues in the new year. Saving the restaurant is a risk for the new owners; former Eats owner Bob Hatcher said dwindling traffic to the restaurant was a big reason he decided to close.
I was sad to see Bully Boy shut down at the end of the year. It was a restaurant I liked and frequently recommended, but, much like Eats, I hadn’t been there in a long time. I felt a twinge of guilt saying goodbye to both restaurants.
So, if you’re someone still looking for a New Year’s resolution, I have a suggestion: Support the local restaurants you love. If there’s a place you haven’t been in a while, especially in your neighborhood, go get a meal there. Don’t wait too long to show up for your favorite restaurants; unlike Eats, most of them won’t get a second chance.
Do you have tips, thoughts or questions for the AJC’s food and dining team? Reach out to me at henri.hollis@ajc.com
About the Author
Henri Hollis is a reporter and restaurant critic for the Food & Dining team. Formerly a freelance writer and photographer with a focus on food and restaurants, he joined the AJC full-time in January 2021, first covering breaking news. He is a lifelong Atlantan and a graduate of Georgia Tech.
