Local News
Local News

Progress in Atlanta: Tear it down, build apartments

Photo of the lunch crowd at The Brickery in Sandy Springs. (Phil Skinner/AJC 2006 file)

Credit: Phil Skinner

Credit: Phil Skinner

Photo of the lunch crowd at The Brickery in Sandy Springs. (Phil Skinner/AJC 2006 file)
By
Jan 4, 2016

“It’s almost like they lost their dog. This is where their memories happened. Sunday night with the kids. Celebrations. We underestimated what this meant to their lifestyles, memories and life patterns.”

That's Bruce Alterman, who with his wife Sally ran the 24-year-old Brickery in Sandy Springs. The popular family spot -- a small, authentic piece of Atlanta -- closed just before Christmas, and even Alterman was a little surprised at the intensity of customers' reactions.

ExploreThe site is being razed to build hundreds of apartments.

Likewise Alfredo's on Cheshire Bridge Road; the popular Italian spot is shutting down this year after 41 years. Another bit of Atlanta authenticity, disappearing to make way for progress.

In its place? Apartments.

Outrage? Heartbreak? Nope. It's just Atlanta. Read today's Bill Torpy at Large.

About the Author

Bill Torpy, who writes about metro Atlanta for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, joined the newspaper in 1990.

Follow Bill Torpy on twitter
More Stories

The Latest

A view down Howell Mill Road in the West Midtown neighborhood of Atlanta in March. The Howell Mill project aims to improve the highly used and congested stretch between Collier Road (north of I-75) and Marietta Street (south of I-75) in West Midtown. (Arvin Temkar/AJC 2025)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Gridlock Guy: ATL DOT asks to please pardon its progress

Fire gutted a DeKalb art studio. Creatives are now picking up the pieces.

Churches, King Center hold food drives as SNAP delays linger

Featured

Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Prosecutor takes helm of Georgia case against Trump. But will he move forward?

A veteran Georgia prosecutor will decide the fate of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' election interference case against Donald Trump and his allies.

With some solar power tax breaks expiring, Georgians rush to catch the sun

Georgia solar installers say they’re seeing a surge of customers trying to install rooftop solar systems before federal tax credits go away at the end of the year.

‘Automatic for the People’: Weaver D’s still bonds Athens as era nears end

After feeding everyone from R.E.M. to Brian Kemp, and coining a phrase that went global, Dexter Weaver is preparing to close his storied Athens soul food restaurant.