Atlanta soul food institution the Busy Bee Cafe has announced it will open its third location in downtown Atlanta's Centennial Yards development. The Busy Bee Cafe will open at The Mitchell residential tower at 125 Ted Turner Drive SW with a quick-service format and a bar program, according to a news release.
It will join a second Busy Bee Cafe location coming to Atlantic Station in 2026 that was announced in April. The eatery's expansion comes nearly 80 years after the original owner, Lucy Jackson, first opened the restaurant in Vine City.
The Centennial Yards location will offer a menu of fried chicken, Southern sides and desserts. The 2,985-square-foot outpost is across the street from Mercedes-Benz Stadium and will include indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a bar program with beer, wine and cocktails.
Milton Gates took over the Busy Bee in the 1980s, and his daughter and current owner, Tracy Gates, soon joined him in running the restaurant. Since then, it has earned national recognition from the James Beard Foundation and the Michelin Guide, and it's remained a popular spot for politicians and celebrities to visit in Atlanta. Both the Centennial Yards and Atlantic Station restaurants will have seating for customers — a return to dine-in service after the Vine City location became takeout-only during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Mitchell is a residential building with more than 300 homes and 16,000 square feet of retail space in Centennial Yards, the $5 billion mixed-use property being redeveloped by real estate firm CIM Group. Busy Bee Cafe will join other Centennial Yards tenants including Hotel Phoenix, Khao Thai Isan, Shake Shack, Irish Exit, and a Live Nation concert venue.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
