Brown Bag Seafood Co. is opening its Colony Square doors on Thursday, October 1, the Chicago-based restaurant Tuesday announced in a press release. The counter-service restaurant, which specializes in “quick, fresh, sustainable” seafood, will initially offer take-out, pick-up, delivery, and limited in-store seating, in addition to dining on its 38-seat patio, at 1201 Peachtree St NE. It is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
For restaurateur Donna Lee, who founded Brown Bag Seafood Co. in 2014, the upcoming opening is “especially meaningful, marking the mini-chain’s first location outside of Chicago, where it operates eight restaurants,” according to the release. “We can’t wait to introduce ourselves to Midtown and Atlanta as a whole,” Lee said. “As we’ve prepared for this opening, we’ve felt more and more connected to this city, and it truly feels like a second home.”
Lee will keep most of her seafood-based menu intact in Atlanta but also plans to incorporate local and regional elements, most notably in the restaurant’s rotating Daily Catch protein option ($10.55). Other choices on the menu include Grilled Salmon ($11.25), Crispy Cod ($10.85), and Curry Fish Cakes ($11.55), to name a few. Proteins are paired with a variety of “builds” like the Veggiebox or Greens & Grains, allowing for customization of every entrée. The eatery also features a Seasonal Special, which will debut as the Maui Mahi Burger, served with pineapple-cilantro slaw and fries ($14).
The 1,700-square-foot restaurant, designed by SGW Architects and built by Couch Construction, features a coastal design, accentuated by blue and yellow hues, marine rope décor, and hand-painted signage. Guests can place orders at the counter with Brown Bag’s blue-bandana clad crew or order online and pick up at hand-crafted wooden shelves. Outside, casual picnic tables and yellow striped umbrellas provide open-air seating on the patio.
“At Colony Square, we’ve really been focused on the space between the buildings–creating a place where the community wants to gather from morning to night,” Adam Schwegman, partner and senior vice president of leasing at North American Properties, Colony Square’s developer, said. “Brown Bag’s detailed focus on design and decor, unique culinary offerings, and emphasis on elevating the consumer experience mirrors our vision for bringing the Art of Modern Life to the forefront of the redeveloped property. We are confident the concept will thrive within the Midtown community.”
The opening of Brown Bag Seafood Co. signifies another milestone in the $400 million redevelopment of Colony Square, as the restaurant joins 5Church Atlanta, Establishment, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, and Moe’s Southwest Grill, along with new eateries Freshii and Sukoshi. Still to come in the service-driven lineup at Colony Square includes American Barber (opening this fall), IPIC (opening soon), Holeman and Finch Public House (opening next spring), Rumi’s Kitchen (opening next spring), and Politan Row at Colony Square, the food hall opening next spring.
