The team behind the renovation and relaunch of Bankhead Seafood is moving towards receiving city approval for its plans, according to a new filing with the Atlanta Department of City Planning.
A special administrative permit application was submitted on Friday for 1651 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW, where plans announced last year by rappers and entrepreneurs Mike “Killer Mike” Render and Clifford “T.I.” Harris call for reopening the Grove Park neighborhood’s Bankhead Seafood restaurant.
The renovation project comes after 50 years in business came to an end for the restaurant in 2018, when it was abruptly closed by longtime owner Helen Harden that January. The business was subsequently purchased by Render and Harris, who partnered with Columbia Ventures co-founder Noel Khalil.
Filings last week list architect and TaC Studios owner Jose E. Tavel as the project applicant and Anwar Khalil – next to the address of Columbia Residential – as the property landowner.
Plans call for large windows being added to the building shell for an improved street presence, a sidewalk patio addition to Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, and a roof terrace added to the south portion of a new roof. Designs also call for a revamped interior, with new dining areas and a new kitchen, among other features.
The development team also plans on incorporating the adjacent parcel to the north, 671 Florence Place, into the project. It was rezoned last year to create room for additional parking for the restaurant.
The site plan for the project has gone through the city planning department’s concept review committee and received approval, according to this month’s permit application.
The new SAP application will be reviewed by the city’s Office of Zoning & Development before the project can proceed.
Neither TaC Studios nor Anwar Khalil responded to requests for comment on the team’s latest plans.
4 Responses
This looks great – bringing back the seafood restaurant in an updated building, in an area needing this type of place.
I hope Render and Harris will stay true to the excellent customer service, and simple but delicious, seafood menu that Ms. Harden and her staff offered their customers for so many years. Those were the ONLY two things that her customers were willing to wait in those long lines for…even outside in the rain! As a former city employee who worked that area for years, the highlight of my week would be scarfing down her exceptional, fried Whiting Fish, fries and hushpuppies! It was the best seafood anywhere in the city! She set the bar high and I hope the new owners respect her ideals!
So excited for this. Right down the street from 2 of my properties. Bankhead is on FIRE and I am here for it
Thank you Dean for bringing us updates on developments Bankhead hwy