When popular downtown Lawrenceville eatery The Local Republic announced last year it would relocate to a much bigger space a half-block away, owners Ben Bailey and Chris Collin acknowledged they had a plan for backfilling the building they were leaving behind -- but kept the specifics to themselves.
Until Monday.
"Fast-casual taco bar," Bailey told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, standing among debris and exposed brick in the Perry Street building that will hold The Local Republic come late July or early August.
Bailey and Collin said they hope their new restaurant, dubbed "Strange Taco Bar," will open about two months after The Local Republic moves out of the W. Crogan Street space it's occupied for about five years -- and the menu won't be traditional. Bailey likened future offerings to those at Atlanta chain Bartaco, saying tacos using meats like lamb and duck will be on the menu. Service will be of the walk-up variety.
There will be beer on tap and "a killer margarita," Collin said.
"The [Lawrenceville] square has a ton of lunch business," he said. "... But there's also a lot of people that don't have an hour for lunch, and there's nothing on the square that has that fast casual."
The Local Republic owner Ben Bailey gives a tour of the restaurant's future home on Perry Street in downtown Lawrenceville. TYLER ESTEP / TYLER.ESTEP@COXINC.COM
When The Local Republic opened at its current location, it quickly garnered praise -- and crowds -- for its craft beer selection and locally-sourced burgers and entrees. But within a year or two, Bailey said, it became obvious that the 1,300 square-foot building wasn't big enough, for diners or for chef Scott Smith. Bailey and Collin, both Gwinnett County natives, eventually got their hands on the building at 139 N. Perry St., a comparatively massive 5,200 square-foot space a short walk away.
Large-scale renovations -- led by ai3, the architects behind Atlanta restaurants like Miller Union, Holeman & Finch Public House and Gunshow -- began last week. When they're done, The Local Republic will move into a space built sometime in the 19th century, with exposed brick aplenty and two-story glass windows capable of opening onto Perry Street when the weather's right.
Bailey, Collin and Smith said the bigger space will allow for expansion of -- and experimentation with -- their menu. Among other things, they'll have room for a smoker and a fryer, the latter which will finally enable them to offer french fries with their much-ballyhooed burgers.
"I'm interested to see how people react to us...," Smith said, pausing, "I dont know about changing our cuisine, but elevating it a little bit."
The Local Republic's new Perry Street location will overlook the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse. TYLER ESTEP / TYLER.ESTEP@COXINC.COM
The Local Republic business owners Ben Bailey and Chris Collin and chef Scott Smith examine brick inside the restaurant's future home on Perry Street in downtown Lawrenceville. TYLER ESTEP / TYLER.ESTEP@COXINC.COM
The future home of The Local Republic, on Perry Street in downtown Lawrenceville. TYLER ESTEP / TYLER.ESTEP@COXINC.COM
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