We’re rooting for the Midtown restaurant and bodega, once an East Atlanta Village staple, to make a triumphant return.
UPDATE (September 24, 2017): Urban Cannibals, Madre + Mason To Reopen Under One Roof
Urban Cannibals, the beloved neighborhood restaurant and bodega that moved from East Atlanta Village (EAV) to Midtown, has temporarily closed its doors after an on-again, off-again summer.
Calavino Donati and Doria Roberts, the couple who owns and operates Urban Cannibals, have been met with a series of unfortunate events leading to the momentary closure, Donati and Roberts told What Now Atlanta in an email over the weekend.
Late last year the duo moved Urban Cannibals from EAV to 368 5th St NE in Midtown, with the intention of leasing to purchase when the time was right.
But because of some unforeseen repair issues, including needing a “new” and “expensive” air conditioning system, the landlord opted to put Urban Cannibals’ home up for sale much sooner and for a much higher asking price; something that Donati and Roberts would not be able to pull off.
In anticipation of listing the property, the landlord began making some building upgrades resulting in “many unexpected days and sometimes weeks that [Urban Cannibals] had to close randomly.”
Tragically, the investor Donati and Roberts had been working with, passed away in a car accident earlier this year.
“We finally decided that we should wait and see if the new owner wants to open their own thing and buy us out of our lease,” the duo said in the email.
“If they want us to stay on as tenants we will rehire, retrain, revamp, open for breakfast and turn Urban Cannibals into more of a neighborhood coffee bar and cafe with convenient grab and go groceries and meals.”
Donati and Roberts are working on purchasing the building themselves and continue to speak with potential investors to make that happen.
“Urban Cannibals will remain closed until we are certain there will be no more disruption of service, something that has been difficult on us, our the staff, and our customer base.”
