Busy Bee bringing famed fried chicken, Oprah’s fave catfish to Atlantic Station
Classic Atlanta soul food restaurant Busy Bee Cafe will open a second location in Atlantic Station next year.
The nearly 80-year-old restaurant, designated an American Classic by the James Beard Foundation, announced the new location on social media Wednesday afternoon. The second Busy Bee will land sometime in spring 2026 at 230 18th St. NW. It will take over the Falcons and Atlanta United team store adjacent to Atlantic Green, according to a news release.
The new 4,000-square-foot cafe will feature indoor and outdoor seating, an expanded menu and a full bar. It will also reintroduce sit-down dining service after Busy Bee’s original Vine City location pivoted to offering only catering, take-out and delivery during the pandemic.
The Vine City eatery will remain open.
The original Busy Bee Cafe opened in 1947 in Atlanta’s Vine City neighborhood. In recent years, the restaurant famous for its fried chicken has racked up national recognition. Two years before the Beard Foundation pronounced Busy Bee an American Classic in 2022, Food and Wine magazine named it one of Atlanta’s best classics restaurants.
Today, the restaurant is owned by Tracy Gates and her family, and it remains a gathering spot and tourist attraction.
“(Choosing to expand) was about finding the right partner, place and moment to continue the Busy Bee legacy with care and intention,” owner Tracy Gates said in a prepared statement. “Every plate is a piece of our history, and we’ve worked hard to deliver that same comfort, joy, and flavor every single time. We didn’t chase the spotlight — we honored our roots, stayed true to the recipe, and let the love speak for itself.”
Vice President Kamala Harris and Oprah Winfrey appeared at Busy Bee during separate 2020 visits to Atlanta (Winfrey called the restaurant’s catfish the best she’s ever had), and rapper Killer Mike and Sen. Bernie Sanders famously stopped in together for a meal in 2016.
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About the Authors
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.
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.
