Leaving Behind All But The Hanging “Animal Heads”
UPDATE (Dec. 16, 2011): Buckhead’s Saskatoon to reopen as Olde Towne Tavern & Grille
Saskatoon Restaurant will soon meat its end at 360 Pharr Road in Buckhead. This steak, fish and wild game eatery which served items such as elk tenderloin, ostrich fillet, buffalo flank steak and venison rib chops, originally opened in February of this year (bull testicles, anyone?).
Taking space that had just undergone $1,000,000.00 in brand new improvements, furniture, fixtures, equipment, HVAC, and grease traps by previous tenant, Harry Bissett’s of Athens, the tenant was buying into a location that had already seen a multimillion dollar build-out.
The landlord is allowing Saskatoon to stay open while space is being marketed and is up for lease through the Shumacher Group.
Located in the heart of Buckhead, the Saskatoon space is at Atrium at Buckhead (formerly Alexan Buckhead), a luxury retail and residential complex between Pricci’s and Atlanta Fish Market.
Besides an unfavorable location, Saskatoon’s rental rates of $17,806.80 per month (6,816 square feet) with extras at $3,700.00 per month might have been a factor in their failure– not saying that people don’t want to spend discretionary income on eating deer during a recession (these figures are from the Shumacher Group)
For those interested in leasing the space: The Lease expires 2017 with two five year options to renew. The new Tenant with have full use of all assets with no key money required. The animal heads and art work will be removed at lease execution (we know what you’re thinking: “Damn it! I want those animal carcasses”).
Saskatoon Restaurant
360 Pharr Road Northeast
Atlanta, GA 30305
7 Responses
I’m sure it’s location was not ideal, but Saskatoon could have been on Peachtree and had free parking and I promise it still would have gone under. It’s main problem was that it was overpriced and mediore. Paying $30 for a poorly cooked piece of bison was not my idea of a good value.
I don’t think the space, or the Pharr Rd location are so bad, I just dont think there’s ever been a quality restaurant there. Harry Bissets was a generic bar that felt like a suburban strip mall watering hole, and in this town if you want suburban strip mall bar you have plenty of options that don’t involve paid parking or buckhead traffic.
I ate at Saskatoon three times and was never disappointed. The food was always delicious and the service was fabulous. What it really comes down to is marketing. Saskatoon followed the same business plan as Harry Bissetts – hoping the crowd who loved the originial would love the Atlanta space – therefore making no real marketing efforts.
Whoever comes into that space next needs to have a great marketing plan that appeals to both Buckheads young crowd as well as the business people with loads of expendable income. Host a great happy hour with real specials, offer a loyalty program, and get the brand exposed to the affluent local community.
That restaurant space is cursed without solid marketing.
This whole article is definitely without merit, the Saskatoon experience is alive and well and will continue on.
bkbsbryan, thanks for your comment! actually, this article is based on a published real estate listing through the shumacher group (an atlanta restaurant real estate brokers company that is leasing the space). this link will take you to the listing:
Caleb Im not talking about the Atlanta real estate brokers, your insidious remarks about bull testicles and “animal carcases”, let me guess you eat steak but Venison and Kangaroo aren’t in your area of expertise. I spoke with the owners recently as i was dining on DEER and they are staying open until the space is leased and plan to find a more hospitable location, When you say that the space is unfavorable its present and recent history do show that, you might want to find out things like Landlords and leasing company’s refusing to negotiate changes which results in the high prices of rent and extras you speak of; tenants of the building not liking any type of restaurant business there because it interferes with their parking and sleep. BTW Venison (DEER as you call it) actually can be less expensive than the Filet Mignon you like, and more nutritious without hormones and antibiotics.
As owner and manager of the restaurant I can assure you that Saskatoon is not closing any time in the near future, I can tell you that our present site is up for Lease and we will be here until the time another party agrees to lease. Please note any coupons that are bought for the restaurant are good now and in the forseable future. This aticle was premature in its assumptions of the closing of Saskatoon, we are open for buisness and we are doing very well, you can also check out the Hudsputh Report website who recently assured patrons that Saskatoon will continue to be open and at full buisness.
SASKATOON OPEN FOR BUISNESS AND WAITING FOR YOU !
We went for my husbands 40th bday. The gator appetizer was minimal and we all got 4 different dishes. The meat sizes were small like on weight watchers and the mashed potatoes were great, but again a dollup. For an average of $25 a plate, NOT work the money We were all still very hungry. it is a shame they food was very good. luckily we had a scoutmob coupon othwerwise. We will not be going back… too bad…