[Exclusive] gusto! To Open On Downtown Corner in Fall 2021

Downtown this fall will become home to Atlanta-born gusto!, Founder Nate Hybl Friday shared exclusively with What Now Atlanta. Slated to debut before the end of 2021, the upcoming Downtown outpost will be the quick-casual restaurant’s ninth shop.

“Ever since opening the first gusto!, we’ve been hit up to have a shop downtown,” Hybl said. “Coming out of the pandemic, we thought this was a great opportunity to invest in an area that is about to explode. gusto! was born in the city, and while the drive-thru is a big part of our future, we want to do our part to support the growth of Downtown by planting our brand flag in the heart of old-school ATL.”

gusto! will be taking over the shuttered Kung Fu Tea space, located on the corner of Park Place and Edgewood Ave, at 2 Park Pl NE South. This location is situated right in between the Five Points Marta station and Peachtree Marta station among the Georgia State University campus.

“Our vision for gusto! Downtown is to create an oasis — an ultra-clean & safe shop serving vibrant and colorful food, quickly — and to serve as a catalyst for some good energy and make our downtown neighbors proud,” Hybl said.

The menu at gusto! Downtown boasts the same “bright and bold flavors” as its fellow Atlanta-area locations. To customize an entrée, guests start by selecting a base of mixed greens, seasoned brown rice, half and half (rice and greens) or a steamed flatbread wrap, then picking a protein such as grilled chicken, spicy grilled chicken, grilled umami tofu, grilled shrimp or the newest addition, grilled baby bellas.

To bring the bowl or wrap to life, guests choose a “gusto,” or signature flavor profile, like chipotle mango avocado, chili sesame BBQ, tzatziki lemon artichoke, and a regular rotation of vibrantly unique seasonal bowls like jerk ginger pineapple.

For this location, gusto! plans on hiring a “Local Operating Partner” who will oversee the restaurant.