Live For Buzz

Judging from the quality and quantity of Buzzer reviews, The Midway Pub is off to a really strong start. People love the space, what they’ve sampled so far from the menu, the big beer selection … and the free shots Midway staff was pouring during their opening nights.

I opened up a specific reviews topic for Midway, and in four days it’s generated 178 posts. In case you’re wondering - yes, that’s a lot. And that’s on top of 192 posts in the topic created leading up to the opening and another 87 in a “Midway is close to opening” topic. A lot of that traffic is a result of the big growth in Buzz membership I’ve seen this year (more than 600 new members since the first of the year), but I think it’s safe to say that The Midway Pub is opening strong. And that’s a great thing for their owners and for East Atlanta Village.

On EAV Buzz: Reviews: The Midway Pub and The Midway

Despite the aggravation of their recent sidewalk blockage, East Atlanta is eagerly awaiting the opening of The Midway Pub on Flat Shoals Avenue, and Buzzer Not Fred’s Nate confirmed that the opening will happen on Tuesday, April 29 at 5 p.m.

If history is any indication, The Midway staff had best be ready for anything but a “soft opening” on that night. Buzzers swarmed The Glenwood, Kasan Red and Holy Taco when they first opened, and packed houses on what might otherwise be quiet weeknight openings are to be expected with Buzzers get wind of it.

But the good news is by and large Buzzers understand that things aren’t going to go smoothly on opening night, but it’s been a real trial by fire for recent openings.

And April 29, 2008 will be a big day in East Atlanta. For about seven years the building where The Midway is going has been vacant and neglected, and Flat Shoals south of Glenwood has been a lonely place up until now. But with The Midway, East Atlanta Icehouse and the bakery planned for a small building right on the edge of the commercial district, things are picking up on EAV’s south side.

On EAV Buzz: - The Midway Pub Opens 4-29 5 p.m.

The Midway Pub, which is nearly ready to open on Flat Shoals Avenue in East Atlanta Village, built a big, wide, nice sidewalk out in front of their space (as required by the city), and they sure do like it. Or, at least, they sure to like to park on the sidewalk and block pedestrian access in our pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

Last week I came across a guy there who not only thought parking on the sidewalk was a swell idea, he made a real jerk of himself when I confronted him about it (as I was trying to walk by with my eight-month-old daughter). Buzzers didn’t all appreciate my approach, but save for a couple of edge cases, the group agrees that parking on the sidewalk shouldn’t be tolerated.

Then today I’m driving around, roll past The Midway Pub and see this:

Somebody working at The Midway Pub thought it would be a good idea to block the entire sidewalk with their Lexus SUV (with Henry County tags - I guess they don’t have sidewalks down there).

I’ve got a suggestion for Carsten Green and the guys at The Midway Pub. If you want to be welcomed in East Atlanta, don’t do things like block the sidewalk with your cars. It’s not the right foot to start out on.

On EAV Buzz: The Midway Pub folks sure like their sidewalk and Just don’t park on the sidewalk, man

UPDATE: The Lexus moved not too long after I posted this; apparently to make room for the giant SUV that needed to park on the sidewalk.

A lot of East Atlantans were fans of the now-closed Le Cafe Hinds, an out-of-the-way French restaurant tucked away on Stokeswood Avenue on the edge of EAV. Problem was, if you didn’t live in East Atlanta, you probably didn’t know the place existed, and despite generally good reviews, ultimately the restaurant failed.

Rumors have been circulating for a little while that Anderson Hinds may be looking to bring a new concept to the cafe space he still controls, and today Buzzer Kevy Duty ran into Mr. Hinds and confirmed that barbecue will be the concept for the restaurant’s rebirth.

Barbecue is a tough business - you gotta be really good to build an audience, and a bunch of Buzzers are fans of Fox Bros. BBQ up on DeKalb Avenue. But we’re all fans of non-empty storefronts, so this is good news for the neighborhood.

On EAV Buzz: BBQ is happening!

Some Buzzers love it, other Buzzers are scared to death of it, but the fat shack known as Burger Win (actual name should be something like “Burgers / Wings” except for some signage errors) has closed up shop for “renovations”.

Big question is - what will it be called when it reopens?

On EAVBuzz: Burger(s) Win(gs) - Closing for renovations!

It’s been a long, hard road to turn the old Tucker Auto Electric building into yet another EAV restaurant/bar, but soon the doors will swing wide for the opening of The Midway Pub in East Atlanta. Apparently held back by the city permitting problems and other roadblocks that are all too familiar trying to do business in Atlanta, the outward signs of the pending opening have emerged over the past couple of weeks.

A giant patio, new trees planted (a “streetscape” requirement) and a new sidewalk poured, the Midway is quite a transformation from the old Tucker Auto Electric building that sat vacant for years.

Buzzer Hollywood stopped by to chat with the owners this week, and he came away impressed. Other Buzzers, reacting to the word “sandwiches” rumored to have been spoken by the Midway chef, cast typical Buzzer doubt over The Midway’s prospects.

And I’ll give a little advanced link love to the Midway, though their site is nothing more than a parked page as I’m writing this.

On EAV Buzz: The Midway … 10-9-8 …

Spotted - a “LEASED” sign at this small building on Flat Shoals Avenue that was built several years ago by Inman Park Properties but has never been occupied.

Buzzers have heard that some sort of bakery is going into the space, and information being dug up now says it’s primarily a commercial bakery with some level of retail presence as well.

On EAV Buzz: Inman Park Properties leases building next to dog park

Nothing in EAV escapes the eyes of Buzzers. Shortly after the demise of Honey’s Diner, Buzzer Spanky stumbled upon news that the space would be reborn as Kasan Red.

Headed up by “that Australian guy John” who previously worked at Australian Bakery Cafe and Honey’s, Kasan was a welcome quick-flip of what had become the familiar site of a vacated storefront in EAV.

On EAVBuzz: Old Honey’s space

For a lot of people, Australian Bakery Cafe is a tough sell. It takes a certain amount of bravery to step up to the case of sometimes strange-looking meat pies and order up some lunch.

But recently Aussie Bakery has launched a line of burgers that are darned tasty and not at all strange. In a Village full of great burgers, those at Aussie hold their own quite nicely.

On EAVBuzz: Aussie Burgers

Good news on the restaurant / bar front - a place called The Glenwood is set to open, not surprisingly, on Glenwood Avenue. A welcome turnaround for a strip of East Atlanta buildings that has sat vacant far too long.

On EAVBuzz: The Glenwood?