Rising Son to close this month after 10 years in Avondale Estates
Rising Son, Atlanta chef Hudson Rouse’s Southern breakfast and lunch restaurant in Avondale Estates, will close at the end of March after 10 years of business.
Rouse confirmed the closure in an email to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution after it was first reported by Rough Draft Atlanta.
Some menu items from Rising Son will appear in Rouse’s forthcoming East Lake restaurant Babygirl, which is set to open in April, according to a social media post.
Rouse’s other restaurants, Pure Quill Superette and Whoopsie’s, the latter of which received a Bib Gourmand recognition in Atlanta’s Michelin Guide, will remain open.
In a statement, Rouse said Rising Son would close primarily because of issues renegotiating the lease.
“When the landlord was unwilling to negotiate terms for the next five years, it became clear we couldn’t continue sustainably. I hate to see it go, but it was an honest concept that we stood behind,” Rouse said.
Rouse, who previously worked as a chef at HomeGrown, opened Rising Son in 2016 with a menu inspired by his experiences at the widely acclaimed diner, as well as cooking breakfast at farmers markets and for his family.
“More than anything, it was built out of respect — for the people I cooked under, the ingredients and the community that showed up for us,” he said.
Some of Rising Son’s dishes will carry over to Babygirl, he said, with a priority on “dishes I enjoy cooking and haven’t done in a while.”
Babygirl will be open 9 a.m. — 9 p.m. with separate breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, plus a collection of afternoon snacks. Rouse’s ethos of using seasonal produce guided by farmers’ availability will continue.
Industry veteran Justin Wickline, who Rouse said he has “respected and admired” for quite a while, will lead the beverage program. Rouse said they met while Wickline worked at the Porter Beer Bar, after which he went on to work at Torched Hop Brewery.
Rouse said to expect a concise wine list, “classic cocktails done properly,” beer and non-alcoholic options.
Babygirl’s space is slightly smaller than Rising Son, he added, but it has 60 indoor seats, outdoor seating in the front and a side patio. They’re working with design studio Claudhaus to create a singular room that still feels connected to nature. There will be an emphasis on “light, openness and balance, creating a calming and welcoming environment,” according to the statement. There will also be a fountain designed by Neil Carver of Carver Iron.
Babygirl is opening in the former Mix’d Up Burger space near Gene’s and Poor Hendrix at 2371 Hosea Williams Drive SE, Atlanta.
About the Author
Olivia Wakim is a digital content producer on the food and dining team. She joined the AJC as an intern in 2023 after graduating from the University of Georgia with a journalism degree. While in school, she reported for The Red & Black, Grady Newsource and the Marietta Daily Journal.
